By Michael Bushnell
Northeast News
August 31, 2011

The postcards shown this week are real photo postcards from the estate of long-time Northeast residents Bill and Mary Ann Davis.

Bill and Mary Ann lived in the lovely Victorian home at the corner of Thompson and Askew for many years. Both were graduates of Northeast High School, Bill graduating in 1941 and Mary Ann graduating in 1942.

The cards show two different shop settings, one a Blacksmith or wagon wheel shop, the other a leather or fabric dying company. With these glimpses of blue collar America at the turn of the 20th Century, we celebrate the traditional close of the summer season and the celebration of the Labor Day weekend.

In 1884, the first Monday in September was selected to be the traditional Labor Day holiday by the Central Labor Union in New York. The Union urged other labor organizations in other cities to celebrate the holiday on the same day as a working man’s holiday, already observed in an unofficial capacity in other states.

The state of Oregon became the first state to pass official Labor Day legislation in 1887. The holiday became nationally recognized in 1894 when Congress passed legislation designating the first Monday in September to be the national holiday recognizing America’s labor force for their accomplishments. As one would expect, Labor Day was a highly celebrated holiday in the industrial centers of the United States, such as Pittsburgh, Detroit and Chicago. Parades, festivals and picnics all featured speeches and rallies led by industrialists and union leaders of the day.

Today’s Labor Day holiday, while still celebrated in observance of the American worker, is looked upon more as the traditional end of the summer holiday and kids returning to the classroom. Whatever your professional affiliation, take a moment this Labor Day to celebrate the achievement of the American working family.