Allen School

As I turned my calendar to the date of the 3^rd of the month and saw it was Labor Day I began to think how the day came to be called Labor Day and I began to do a little research.

Labor Day became a Holiday in 1894. It was created by the Labor Movement in the late 19^th Century. It came about because of a failed movement to break up a railroad strike. Ten thousand workers took time off to march in New York City for the 1^st Labor Day strike in history.

The work day for most workers was twelve hour days, even for children who were employed.

I was amazed to find that this movement began in 1894. How did so many workers get to New York City? What kind of transportation did they have to get from many parts of the country to New York City? By automobile or by train?

I have observed this day as a holiday for many years and never given it a thought. Was it called Labor Day because so many workers (laborers) were involved? Did Congress set the hours of the present work day? Grover Cleveland was President at the time. What part did he play except to sign the bill?

Years ago schools did not start until the first day after Labor Day. I thought at the time it was because of the heat of the August days and a lot of the schools did not have air condition in the class rooms.

I have learned a lot doing this research.