Solving the Mystery of the Billy Club
from the Violent Lawrence Mill Strikes
of 1912
presented by Louise Sandburg and Bruce
Wilson
Wednesday September 20, 12:30 pm
Memorial Hall FREE
The national PBS program "History
Detectives" recently focused on the
Merrimack Valley when they learned of
the existence of a billy club inscribed
with "Lawrence Strike 1-12-1912." Come
and listen to how librarian Louise
Sandburg and the program investigators
determined where the billy club came
from. The strike was one of the biggest
in labor history, involving some 30,000
textile workers who destructively
protested cuts in pay and long hours.
About 400 strikers were arrested and two
people were killed during the nine week
strike.
Author Bruce Watson spent two years
researching
Bread and Roses, the first
full-length narrative of the legendary
1912 textile strike in Lawrence. His
book, which the New York Times called
"fast paced, well-researched...and
exciting read" takes readers back to the
gritty, snowy streets of "Immigrant
City." Joining us, Watson will
share stories of strikers and millmen,
recount highlights, and explain the
origins of the much maligned strike
nicknamed "Bread and Roses."
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