The fish tale led to the history of Labor Day…
The fish tale led to the history of Labor Day…
Just as readers asked their friends last week what they did for Labor Day 2023, a 1915 “Fish Tale” led this writer to research how and when Lancastrians first celebrated the holiday.
The Daily Eagle reported (September 8, 1915): “The first ‘Man-Fish’ exhibition was held about two years ago in Madison Square Gardens, the result of a wager that no angler alive could catch a human swimmer with light gear.” After learning of this competition, on Labor Day 1915, the Buckeye Lake Yacht Club held what they claimed to be the first “fish man” exhibition ever held in this part of the country. Gary Nutter and Ken Osborne of Columbus were expert swimmers. They wore a belt around their chest and an ordinary fishing line from a fly rod was fixed to it. George Tinkham and Nelson Bulkley were the two anglers trying to catch the “man fish.” Swimming as hard as he could, Nutter admitted before long that he was exhausted and defeated. Osbourne also conceded defeat after a ten-minute struggle.
The U.S. Department of Labor website tells us that many labor organizations, municipalities, and states have observed a “public holiday of the working classes” since 1882. It would be more than 10 years before President Grover Cleveland signed a law into law on June 28, 1894. He made the first Monday in September Every year is a national holiday.
Labor Day was first “officially observed” in Lancaster on September 2, 1895. This summary of the “holiday” appeared in the Gazette (September 4, 1895): “The observance of Labor Day in this city on Monday has been confined to a holiday for a year.” Mostly working men, as shops and workplaces were generally closed. The day’s attractions, aside from the opportunity for a break from work, were two baseball games at Eagle Park. The importance of what is now called “Labor Day” grows in importance every successive year, but there is still an open question as to whether it has materially helped in establishing better employer-employee relations…”
The first Labor Day celebration was held at the fairgrounds on September 7, 1903. The Knights of St. John and local union organizations banded together and held one event instead of two. The day began with a parade downtown and ended at the fairgrounds. Members of several local unions participated, including dye workers, barbers, window glass workers, and others. Speeches were made, dinner was served to 2,500 people, and bicycle, horse and car races were held.
Lancaster’s “first Labor Day celebration in years” promised in 1932 to surpass July 4 celebrationy With a giant fireworks display (August 11, 1932 Daily Eagle). Forty and Eight, a non-profit organization for American veterans, held its first Labor Day celebration at the fairgrounds, with the call “Let’s get the workers out of Labor Day and have some fun!”
They ordered posters, ties and window cards to advertise the Lancaster celebration. They wanted Lancastrians to stay home to enjoy the thrills rather than driving out of town to summer resorts or theme parks. They offered free parking, free grandstand seating, and something on the program for every hour throughout the day. Attendance was estimated at 4,000 at the grandstand and 2,000 at the speedway.
Two years later, the Daily Eagle reported (Tuesday 4 September 1934): “Twenty thousand people on Monday watched the first trade union-sponsored parade in Lancaster which culminated in an extraordinary program of speeches, races, competitions and other entertainment held in the county.” Fairgrounds.” M.J. Gillooly, president of the Flint Glass Workers of America, spoke in the afternoon.
The next day, the front page of the Daily Eagle reported: “To demand a store closure and the rehiring of 68 union members who insisted on being laid off, 800 employees at HC Godman Shoe Co. plants here today went on strike following the walkout.” City celebration of Labor Day.
In 1936 two events were held. Godman Shoe Co., Ltd. A day of games, dancing and a picnic dinner for about 3,000 employees and guests at Columbia Park. Hocking Glass also held a picnic for its employees and their families as well as employees of Lancaster Glass and the Bremen and Winchester Canal factories. This Labor Day celebration included everything imaginable from circus performances to a bathing camel show. It is estimated that about 20,000 people visited Miller Park at some point during the day, consuming 33,000 ice cream cones, 15,600 bottles of soda, and 300 gallons of lemonade.
Back in September 4, 1895, the Journal wrote: “There will come a time, and not long, when Congress will be forced to pass laws, the operation of which will tend to reduce the incidence of strikes by removing the annoying cause, and when that time comes, both employer and employee will have a duty He performs it, because the responsibility falls equally on both of them. How far have we come?
Readers can contact Harvey at joycelancastereg@gmail.com
