Labor Day, September 7, 2020

The Jennie Woodworth Library will be closed on Labor Day. Our dropbox on the north end of the building will be available for those that are returning materials. 

While your government offices and buildings are typically closed on Labor Day and the vast majority of Americans enjoy family get-togethers and such, do you know why Labor Day is a holiday?

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Labor Day is the first Monday in the month of September. This day is set aside in order to honor the laborer. Labor Day became a federal holiday in 1894 because of the American labor movement during the height of the Industrial Revolution.

Why we celebrate?

Just before the end of the 19th century, American workers had 12-hour workdays, 7-days a week. This labor was just to squeak by on. There were even children as young as 5 or 6 that would be working in factories and mines.

The conditions of the workplace for the manufacturing industry was often precarious. Fresh air, sanitary facilities, and safe working conditions were a luxury. Those that were susceptible to these jobs were the poor and recently immigrated.

The labor unions that first developed in the late 18th century became more prominent and began organizing strikes and rallies in order to compel employers to improve both the conditions and the workload. Unfortunately, many of these events became violent. This included the infamous Haymarket Riot of 1886 in Chicago where both policemen and workers were killed.

Other events can be attributed to the tradition of "Labor Day", on September 5, 1882, some 10,000 workers took an unpaid day in order to march in New York City from City Hall to Union Square. This became the first Labor Day parade in U.S. History.

12 years later the employees of the Pullman Palace Car Company went on strike protesting their treatment on May 11, 1894. This was followed by a boycott on June 26, 1894, of the Pullman railway cars that was led by Eugene V. Debs and the American Railroad Union. The resulting onslaught of riots and death forced Congress to legalize the "workingmen's holiday".

Who created Labor Day?

President Grover Cleveland signed the law instituting Labor Day on June 28, 1894. This was done in hopes to repair the relations with American workers and squelch the unrest.

The individual that came up with the idea of the holiday, although both Peter J. McGuire of the American Federation of Labor and Matthew Maguire of the Central Labor Union have both been credited.

Labor Day Celebrations

Many state and local governments went on to adopt the holiday and thus celebrate it. Since Labor Day falls on a Monday, it typically encompasses the entire weekend that it is attached to.

In the past, these celebrations have included parades, picnics, barbeques, fireworks, and other celebrations. Often Labor Day is acknowledged as the end of summer and return to school.

Concluding Thoughts

“The vital force of labor added materially to the highest standard of living and the greatest production the world has ever known and has brought us closer to the realization of our traditional ideals of economic and political democracy,” notes the Labor Department. “It is appropriate, therefore, that the nation pays tribute on Labor Day to the creator of so much of the nation's strength, freedom, and leadership— the American worker.”

References:

History of Labor Day. (n.d.). Retrieved August 11, 2020, from https://www.dol.gov/general/laborday/history

History.com Editors. (2010, April 13). Labor Day 2020. Retrieved August 11, 2020, from https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/labor-day-1

Longley, R. (2019, September 04). The Purpose and History of the US Labor Day Holiday. Retrieved August 11, 2020, from https://www.thoughtco.com/labor-day-purpose-and-history-4052473

New Books in the Kids Room

 Juvenile Nonfiction

Who Was Helen Keller? By Gare Thompson

At age two, Helen Keller became deaf and blind. She lived in a world of silence and darkness and she spent the rest of her life struggling to break through it.

With the help of teacher Annie Sullivan, Helen learned to read, write, and do many amazing things. This inspiring illustrated biography is perfect for young middle-grade readers.

Black-and-white line drawings throughout, sidebars on related topics such as Louis Braille, a timeline, and a bibliography enhance readers' understanding of the subject.

Juvenile Fiction

Bad Kitty Gets a Bath by Nick Bruel

When she is forced to take a bath in this hysterical new illustrated how-to for young readers. The following are some items you will need for Kitty's bath: one bathtub, plenty of water, dry towels, a suit of armor, a letter to your loved ones, clean underwear (because stressful situations can cause "accidents"), an ambulance in your driveway with the engine running, and, oh, yeah, you'll also need Kitty…but good luck with that! Since its publication in 2005, BAD KITTY has captured the hearts of cat lovers and haters alike. This time Kitty is at her worst in this riotous how-to guide filled with bad smells, cautionary tales of horror, and hopefully by the end…some soap. The funniest of any of Kitty's adventures, though don't tell her that.

Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky: Tristan Strong Series, bk. 1 by Kwame Mbalia 

Seventh-grader Tristan Strong feels anything but strong ever since he failed to save his best friend when they were in a bus accident together. All he has left of Eddie is the journal his friend wrote stories in. Tristan is dreading the month he’s going to spend on his grandparents’ farm in Alabama, where he’s being sent to heal from the tragedy. But on his first night there, a sticky creature shows up in his bedroom and steals Eddie’s journal. Tristan chases after it — is that a doll? — and a tug-of-war ensues between them underneath a Bottle Tree. In a last attempt to wrestle the journal out of the creature’s hands, Tristan punches the tree, accidentally ripping open a chasm into the MidPass, a volatile place with a burning sea, haunted bone ships, and iron monsters that are hunting the inhabitants of this world. Tristan finds himself in the middle of a battle that has left black American gods John Henry and Brer Rabbit exhausted. In order to get back home, Tristan and these new allies will need to entice the god Anansi, the Weaver, to come out of hiding and seal the hole in the sky. But bartering with the trickster Anansi always comes at a price. Can Tristan save this world before he loses more of the things he loves?

The Sword of Summer (Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard #1) by Rick Riordan

Magnus Chase has seen his share of trouble. Ever since that terrible night two years ago when his mother told him to run, he has lived alone on the streets of Boston, surviving by his wits, staying one step ahead of the police and the truant officers.

One day, Magnus learns that someone else is trying to track him down—his uncle Randolph, a man his mother had always warned him about. When Magnus tries to outmaneuver his uncle, he falls right into his clutches. Randolph starts rambling about Norse history and Magnus's birthright: a weapon that has been lost for thousands of years.

The more Randolph talks, the more puzzle pieces fall into place. Stories about the gods of Asgard, wolves, and Doomsday bubble up from Magnus's memory. But he doesn't have time to consider it all before a fire giant attacks the city, forcing him to choose between his own safety and the lives of hundreds of innocents. . . .

Sometimes, the only way to start a new life is to die.

The Hammer of Thor (Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard #2) by Rick Riordan 

It's been six weeks since Magnus and his friends returned from defeating Fenris Wolf and the fire giants. Magnus has adjusted to life at the Hotel Valhalla—as much as a once-homeless and previously alive kid can. As a son of Frey, the god of summer, fertility, and health, Magnus doesn't exactly fit in with the rest of Odin's chosen warriors, but he has a few good peeps among his hallmates on floor nineteen, and he's been dutifully training for Ragnarok along with everyone else. His days have settled into a new kind of normal.

But Magnus should have known there's no such thing as normal in the Nine Worlds. His friends Hearthstone and Blitzen have disappeared. A new hallmate is creating chaos. According to a very nervous goat, a certain object belonging to Thor is still missing, and the thunder god's enemies will stop at nothing to gain control of it.

Time to summon Jack, the Sword of Summer, and take action. Too bad the only action Jack seems to be interested in is dates with other magical weapons. . . .