These drillers were some of the few African American workers on the construction site. In 1933, there were only 24 African Americans in a work force of 4,000 men. Bureau of Reclamation.

"We want everyone to know that this is a requirement. They're required to use local residents," Gregory said, citing the current practice that mainly seeks labor from outside San Francisco.

The Mahoning Valley is full of rich history and some of it includes African Americans in the workforce that helped to lay the ...