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Labor Day                                

American Federation of Labor was first in suggesting a day called "Labor Day" to honor those "who from rude nature have delved and carved all the grandeur we behold." The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City, in accordance with the plans of the Central Labor Union.

In 1884 the first Monday in September was selected as the holiday, as originally proposed, and the Central Labor Union urged similar organizations in other cities to follow the example of New York and celebrate a "workingmen's holiday" on that date. The idea spread with the growth of labor organizations, and in 1885 Labor Day was celebrated in many industrial centers of the country.

Through the years the nation gave increasing emphasis to Labor Day. The first governmental recognition came through municipal ordinances passed during 1885 and 1886. From them developed the movement to secure state legislation. The first state bill was introduced into the New York legislature, but the first to become law was passed by Oregon on February 21, 1887. During the year four more states - Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York - created the Labor Day holiday by legislative enactment. By 1894, 23 other states had adopted the holiday in honor of workers, and on June 28 of that year, Congress passed an act making the first Monday in September of each year a legal holiday in the District of Columbia and the territories.

The form that the observance and celebration of Labor Day should take were outlined in the first proposal of the holiday - a street parade to exhibit to the public "the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and labor organizations" of the community, followed by a festival for the recreation and amusement of the workers and their families. This became the pattern for the celebrations of Labor Day.

The reasons for the holiday and celebration are generally lost on the average American today. It is important for each of us to remember that it has been the American Worker that has been responsible as the creator of much of the nation's strength, freedom, and leadership. And it will be responsibility on the part of each individual for self, company and nation that will allow us to remain strong in future years.

Friday Funnies

Did you hear the joke about Labor Day? It works for me!

If a train station is where the train stops, and a bus station is where the bus stops, what is a work station?

One seventh of your life is spent on Monday. However, the only person to get his work done by Friday was Robinson Crusoe.

If people are not working, shouldn't we call today `No-Labor Day?'

Dalton Electric Heating Co., Inc (978)356-9844
28 Hayward Street Ipswich, MA 01938 USA

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