At the end of long, hard day, the washhouse offered cleansing
relief. The water was hot and your clothes were dry. (Usually!)
The unions were responsible. They fought to make hot showers a
reality.
Miners worked hard. By shift's end, they were sweaty and
black. A hot shower was the only way to get clean. The washhouse
was a double blessinggood because of what it was, better
because there was no running water, hot or cold, at home.
The washhouse was a place to unwind, make plans and engage in
reflective thought. It created an arena for humour and practical
jokes. And it housed boisterous communion among the tough men
who had just emerged from the dark reaches of the perilous
underground.
Down Deep in a Coal Mine, J. B. Geoghegan
|