They Called Me Mayer July: Painted Memories of a Jewish Childhood in Poland Before the Holocaust

Chimney sweep

There were two chimney sweeps in our town. This was not a Jewish occupation. The chimney sweep would walk around town with a ladder and ropes on his shoulders. He would attach the rope to one of several brushes. They were of various sizes, for large and small chimneys. He would then attach a heavy metal ball, similar in size, to the rope below the brush. The ball provided the weight that pulled the brush down the chimney. He would haul the brush back up with the rope.