Carl Sylvan Anderson

I started work early in life. I was a Kansas City Call Newsboy. They sold us two papers for a nickel and we sold them for five cents each. From 1928 to 1932, I worked at Mueleback Field Ball Park, picking up sold a bottles after the games and putting them in cases and received two cents for each case, which was not a bad deal for youngster during that period. mueleback Field was located at 22nd and Brooklyn Streets - - the home of the Kansas City Blues and the Kansas City Monarchs. During this time we lived near the park at 1802 E. 22nd Street at Woodland Avenue.

I spent a few months in the CCC Camps, a conservation camp to help care for the environment and help youngsters make a few dollars.

My first adult job was at Swift Packing Company in Kansas City, Kansas, as a trucker. I was laid off in February, 1937. My next job was at Grennan Bakeries, Inc. as a janitor; then Continental Baking Company at 30th and Troost, as a janitor. I worked at the Union Station for the Pullman Porter, "To Make Beds and Shine Shoes with a Smile." I was able to see some of the Western United States on this job. I next wen to work for Sunflower Ordnance Works, De Soto, Kansas City, as a hod carrier.

In 1943, I left Kansas City on July 12, for Vancouver, Washington, to work in the shipyards during the War effort. I work as a painter for Kaiser Steel Corp., Shipyard. My family came out in September for the beginning of the school year. We lived at Burton Homes in Vancouver.

After the War, the family went back to Kansas City Missouri, and I went to Seattle. Washington and got a job as a waiter on the army transport Fried C. Ainsworth C3. This job lasted seven months. When I left the ship, I arrived in San Francisco December 19, 1946, and stayed in my in my mother's apartment building at Post Street. My family later joined me there.

My first job in San Francisco was as a painter for S. Zeiler Painting Company at Divisadero Next was E.J. Finnerty Painting Company at Mission. Then, D. Zelinksky & Sons, at Grove Street.

In 1953, I worked at Alcatraz Penitentiary, on Alcatraz Island, from May to September. My job was painting the Water stack and smoke stack.

I then went to work for John W. Bell Painting Contractor, as a painter.

In September, 1955, I was hired, along with John W. Bell, a painting contractor, to paint Bethel A.M.E. Church, exterior and interior Reverend Love was the pastor. The painters were three brothers; John, Charles, and Allen Bell, and me (Carl Anderson).

For a short while, I drove a Municipal Bus and Cable Car for San Francisco. Then I returned to painting and worked as a painter for the San Francisco - Oakland Bay Bridge from 1962-1974.

• Bethel A.M.E. Church, San Francisco
• Freedom West Homes
• K. June Booker Neighborhood Network Center
• Rosa Parks Senior Center
• Fellowship Manor (Senior Citizens Home)