To most of us, Labor Day is little more than another day off of school and work. A time to relax, barbeque and anticipate the advent of the NFL and NCAA football seasons, and to every child’s dismay, the school year. Unfortunately, many of us are blind to the holiday’s rich history and growth throughout the last century.
Labor day is a celebration of the social and economic achievements the U.S. Labor force has made through persistent and steadfast dedication to the well being of our country.
Oddly, over 125 years after the first Labor Day holiday was celebrated, there are still doubts as to who first proposed the idea of celebrating the U.S. workforce’s achievements. Some records indicate that Peter J McGuire, general secretary of the Brotherhood of Carpenters first proposed the holiday, and still others believe it was Matthew Maguire, secretary of the Central Labor Union. There is no doubt, however, that in 1882 the Central Labor Union adopted what would become the Labor Day proposal and appointed a committee to plan a picnic and parade.
And thus, on September 5, 1882 The Knights of Labor organized the first Labor Day parade in New York City. They held their second Labor Day holiday exactly one year later in 1883.
In 1884 The Knights of Labor organized resolutions to make Labor Day an annual, national holiday. The idea caught fire, and though still not recognized by the U.S. Government, Labor Day was celebrated by many industrialized cities around the country on the first Monday of September 1885.
Surprisingly, Oregon became the first state to pass official legislation recognizing Labor Day on February 21, 1887. New York, New Jersey, Colorado, and New Jersey followed soon thereafter. By 1894, 23 other states had adopted the holiday. Congress quickly followed suit and made it a federal holiday in that same year.
I hope all of you enjoy your long Labor Day weekend. And to all of you prospective homebuyers out there... avoid the heat that accompanies driving around OPEN houses. Call one of your local Realtors and have them post a profile for you on BuyerHunt.com. Give yourself the opportunity to see homes first, before they're listed.
And any prospective sellers... search our site today to find out if there is a buyer looking for a home like yours right now!
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Posted by: North Face | October 26, 2011 at 05:57 PM