Tom Mulkern

Tom Mulkern, Portland, 1982

Tom Mulkern, Portland, 1982

Item Contributed by
Maine Historical Society

Tom Mulkern (1906-1996) was universally known as "Midnight." He worked longshore for 55 years, from 1926 to 1981.

Mulkern loved to reminisce about longshore work and the old Irish neighborhoods.

He said,, "We always had better [longshore working] conditions than they had in Boston, 'cause we made them. We sat around the table and we made these conditions.

"Even the priest calls me [midnight]…The Bishop calls me that, O'Leary says, 'Hi, Midnight.'"

He was interviewed January 22, 1982.