There is little documentation on the history of the men who built New York's underground cities. Many of the incredible events of these obscure and pioneering days of tunneling have been past down as oral histories through the generations. Thus, a rich collection of legends developed. Although mining has changed substantially since their first job of the Brooklyn Bridge, with technology and the lives of sandhogs have greatly improved with safety and labor regulations, the amazing stories of the past continue to tunnel through the minds and imaginations of today.
As the hog of 30 years, Martin Housteader, stated "it's important to document our history, so we can learn from those who went before us..." I have started to document the fascinating stories by re-creating tableaux using present-day hogs. Each legend has an accompanying narration, so be sure to click on the shouting hog for audio. The Legends await...