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Chim-chim-cheree: Boston's only Jewish chimneysweep hangs up the broom after 70 years

By adamg on Thu, 09/05/2024 - 12:26pm

The Jewish Journal interviews Erwin Liverman, who started sweeping out chimneys, with his father, when he was just seven and retired only this past July - after a career that also included getting a master's in education in counseling psychology at Cambridge College.

"It just got to the point where I thought, 'Oy, this is enough,' " he said, interviewed at home in Newton. "I may be the most senior sweep in the world."

Neighborhoods: 
Newton


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Comments

By Frelmont on Thu, 09/05/2024 - 2:44pm.

“I didn’t even have time to light a fire in my fireplace before,” he said.”

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By Username Unknown on Thu, 09/05/2024 - 3:12pm.

There were Jewish chimneys?

Do folks in this trade usually list their religion or ethnicity as part of the job description?

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By adamg on Thu, 09/05/2024 - 3:33pm.

If you read the whole article, you'll see he actually has had quite an interesting life, but, yes, he discusses the rarity of Jewish chimneysweeps.

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By Irma la Douce on Thu, 09/05/2024 - 3:33pm.

....and while there likely no way to verify the "only" claim, he says he's only ever met one other Jewish Chimney Sweep in his very long career, and that Sweep lived in New York.

Unrelated, but also worth noting: the headline in the linked article features Adam's favorite word: "venerable".

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By adamg on Thu, 09/05/2024 - 3:34pm.

And yes, you bet I noticed that! I've set 40 years as my criteria for "venerable," so he certainly qualifies.

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By anon on Thu, 09/05/2024 - 7:09pm.

A life well lived.

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By dvg on Thu, 09/05/2024 - 5:30pm.

Erwin seemed to be plenty smart and educated to pursue a career that would be less sooty and better suited to keeping up with the Newton Joneses but he said; nope, I am just going to sweep chimneys. I love it; great story!

He reminds me of legendary steeplejack Fred Dibnah
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKPApAsJbj4&t=9s

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By Lee on Thu, 09/05/2024 - 7:02pm.

…. compared to those in chimneys and if either profession shed light on the other.

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