Labor Day

"Ox Roast, Labor Day, 1910, Ind. Fire Co." This rather dark real photo postcard shows a festive scene at a Labor Day celebration held in 1910 by "Ind. Fire Co." (Independent or Independence Fire Company, location unknown but probably somewhere in Pennsylvania). The "ox roast" likely referred to roast beef that was sliced and served in sandwiches.

"Reading Fire Dept., on Penn Square, Labor Day, Reading, Pa." Printed on the back of this postcard: "Pub. by W. Chas. Lewars, Reading, Pa." The Reading Fire Department, Reading, Pennsylvania, marches in a Labor Day parade with horse-drawn fire equipment in this undated postcard view.

"Labor Day Novelties. Picnic needs, auto supplies, and holiday goods. September, 1922." A store sign that advertised special Labor Day sales in 1922.

Caption on front: "Labor Day, Cumberland, Md." Printed on back: "C. E. Gerkins, Cumberland, Md." A real photo postcard of men marching in a Labor Day parade along Baltimore Street in Cumberland, Maryland, circa 1900s or 1910s. The sign for "J. Gross, " a clothing store with an address of 169 Baltimore Street, is visible on the building at left, and a close examination of an enlargement of the photo reveals that "The Kenneweg Co., Wholesale Grocers" occupied the building on the right. The steeple that's visible at the far end of the street belongs to the historic Emmanuel Episcopal Church , which--as Wikipedia points out--was "built on the foundations of Fort Cumberland, where George Washington began his military career."

Caption on the front: "Nicollet Bay Camp Ground, Peninsula State Park , Wis. E-764." Postmarked: "Fish Creek, Wis., Sep 7, 1949." Addressed to: "Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Potter, Woodhull, Ill." Message on the back: "Labor Day. Dear folks: This is where we located--lovely weather, fine time. Everyone swell. Bye, Hilda & M."

"Bristol County Association. G.A.R. Clambake. Riverview Park, Labor Day. Seat No. 332." Handwritten additions to the front of this ticket: "C. L. Deane & J.D.H. Jr. Sep. 6/88. (over.)" Handwritten note on the back (see below): "Worst clam bake I ever went to. Tables set in open field. Broiling hot sun. Clams half done. One waiter to our table. Everything in the bake was smoky. Everybody disgusted. C. L. Deane." "C. L. Deane" was clearly displeased with the food and service at the clambake that he and "J.D.H. Jr." attended as part of an early observance of Labor Day in 1888. The Bristol County Association, based in Bristol County, Massachusetts, was a local chapter of the Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.), an American Civil War veterans' organization. C. L. Deane may have been Charles Learned Deane (1871-1955). If so, he would have been only 17 years old when he registered his complaints about the clambake on his ticket for seat no. 332.

"Worst clam bake I ever went to. Tables set in open field. Broiling hot sun. Clams half done. One waiter to our table. Everything in the bake was smoky. Everybody disgusted. C. L. Deane." Complaints about the food and service at a clambake that was held over 125 years ago. For more information, see the front of this ticket :

Handwritten caption: "Labor Day, 1905, Elitch's Gardens." This real photo postcard wasn't postally used, and there's no address, message, or postmark on the other side that might help identify these three individuals. According to Wikipedia, " Elitch Gardens was a family-owned seasonal amusement park, theater, and botanic garden in the West Highland neighborhood in northwest Denver, Colorado, United States, at 38th and Tennyson streets."

Handwritten message on the back of this real photo postcard (no address or postmark): "My dear Aunt Clara, this post card was taken in Bridgeton on Labor Day. See if you can find me. Clarence." The AZO stamp box on the other side (four corner triangles pointing up) suggests a date as early as 1904 to 1918. Clarence and his marching band probably played in Bridgeton, New Jersey. I took a close look at the uniforms, music sheets, and drumhead but wasn't able to spot any names, insignia, or other details that would help to confirm the location or identify the band.