Who knew that the very first Labor Day was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882 at Union Square in Manhattan? The parade launched from City Hall and some 10,000 sober* marching men joined in from side streets. Take a look at the crowds! This is what folks did pre-TV, pre-radio and pre-swiping smart phones. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:First_United_States_Labor_Day_Parade,_September_5,_1882_in_New_York_City.jpg According to the book "Gotham," the Jewelers Union of Newark led the parade. Its Grand Marshall was William McCabe of the typographical union. Peaceful protests picketed for a shorter work week and tenement reform. Cigarmakers, tailors, dressmakers, butchers, bricklayers, and pressmen were just some of the labor unions represented. For more details, check out the New York Times account of the day.>>> http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9A01E3DA1E3EE433A25755C0A96F9C94639FD7CF Finally President Grover Cleveland declared Labor Day a federal holiday on the first Monday in September 1894, after a failed attempt to break up a railroad strike. *a pre-requisite Barb [email protected]