I Saw a Century Blossom

A Brooklyn plumber born at the turn of the twentieth century looks back on his life in this 1984 memoir.

Frank J. Fitzgerald was born in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, in 1902. As a teenager, he took a job as a plumber to support his family, and grew up quickly. His personal life and work gave way to many fascinating and unusual experiences. Now, in I Saw a Century Blossom, Fitzgerald recounts his storied years, tracing a path through pivotal events of the twentieth century and sharing a view of old New York not often seen in history books.

Fitzgerald begins his account as the dust is still settling from the Spanish–American War and Theodore Roosevelt has taken office as president of the United States. He concludes with the 1980 presidential election. His perspective allows readers to see what happened in everyday life while countries fought world wars and disasters struck, like the Wall Street bombing of 1920 and the Black Tom explosion. Along the way, he experiences technological advents like modern plumbing. Tag along for his first job as a plumber, back when many employers were unwilling to hire Irish Americans. Meet Fitzgerald’s interesting family and even see what a boy does for fun in early-twentieth-century Brooklyn, like swim in the East River. With stories that are sure to charm and entertain. I Saw a Century Blossom is a great choice for readers interested in New York City history and daily life during the early 1900s.