Volume 14 , Issue 36

Duchess of Weaselskin

NW Okie did not stay awake for the late night bear and raccoons sightings this last week, nor did she get any pictures to share with you all. But we did hear about some rock throwing by some of the humans around here that scattered the raccoons away late in the evenings. Way after this Pug's normal bedtime, of course.

Have you ever wonder about when the first "Labor Day" celebration was held and where? We did a search through the old newspapers at Chronicling America's Historic American newspapers and found that the first Labor Day celebration was held the first Monday in September 1881, in New York City (121 years ago). According to the Weekly Journal-Miner, out of Prescott, Arizona, Wednesday, 8 September 1909, headlines reading, "Day Dedicated To Labor Is Observed Throughout Country."

The Associated Press, New York, stated on September 6, 1912, that Labor Day, generally was observed in every important center of population in the United States. The first Labor Day celebration ever held was on the first Monday in September, 1881, in New York City. The general assembly of the Knights of Labor was in session at that time and a parade of 20,000 members was reviewed by the general officers in Union Square. It was on this occasion that the name "Labor Day" was first used.

There was a remark, overheard by George M. Lloyd of the New York Central Labor Union, that led him to introduce a resolution in his local, setting aside the first Monday in September as a day to celebrate labor's progress.

To the ringers may be given the credit for the formation of the first union of modern type. In 1852 the National Labor Union, a sort of federation of labor unions, was organized. Its field became political immediately and it was only three years later that the Knights of Labor, with Terence V. Powderly at its head, first dared to manifest itself.

Happy Labor Day (3-day) weekend to all the toilers (workers) out there and a "Big Thanks" to those unions and organizations that fought for decent hours, wages for all!

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