1909: Hanna Labor Day
Notes by Bob Leathers
(Image from Hanna Basin Museum)
Labor Day festivities in Hanna were a big deal. Each year the day was celebrated with a parade and lots of activities for the town folks to participate in.
1909
Wigan Observer in England. Local Footballers in Wyoming, USA (Wigan Observer, September 25, 1909)
Labor Day in Hanna included many sporting events, even soccer. The photo above was taken by William Woods of Hanna, formerly of Crawford Village, England. The photo appeared in the Saturday, September 25, 1909 edition of The Wigan Observer and District Advertiser in Wigan, England.
Local Footballers in Wyoming U.S.A.
This photograph is of a team of Lancashire - and mainly Wigan district - players who recently met a team of Scotsmen at Hanna, Wyoming, U.S.A. The names of the players are: Jos. Jackson (Chorley), goal; Thomas Mellor (Ashton-in-Makerfield) and Chas. Anderson (Newtown), full-backs; James Norris and Wm. Norris (Chorley), and Chas. Mellor (Crawford Village), half-backs; If. Nowell and Jas. Briers (Chorley), George A. Brown (Crawford Village), Jos. Lucas (Chorley), and Colin Hodson (Blackpool), forwards, Jos. Woods, of Crawford Village, officiated as referee, and gave ever satisfaction in a game that ended in favor to the Lancashire team by 2 goals to nil. Mellor and Wm. Norris were the scorers.This is showing how the Lancashire lads enjoy themselves in the Western Country will doublers be interesting to their immediate friends and our readers generally.The game took place on what is known there as Labour Day. The first Monday in September is recognized throughout the States wherever there is organized labour, as a legal holiday. In connection with the celebration at Hanna there was a program of sports and $350 dollars were given in prizes. For the best football team a price of $25 dollars was offered and this was gained by the Lancashire men. (The Wigan Observer and District Advertiser in England, Saturday September 25, 1909)
1914
1914: Labor Day Parade, Best Decorated Automobile from the Hanna Hotel. (Gert Milliken Collection from Gary Milliken)
1919
1919: Hanna Labor Day 100 yard single girl's foot race (Picture by Nakaco) (While Family Collection from Bob Leathers)
1919: Hanna Labor Day Single boy's foot race (Picture by Nakaco) (While Family Collection from Bob Leathers)
1919: 100 yard handicap race. First labor day 1919. hanna Wyo. (Picture by Nakaco, Hanna, Wyo.) (McNulty Collection)
1919: 100 yard championship foot race, First Labor Day 1919. Note the Carbon County Coal Company No. 2 mine in the background. (Picture by Nakaco in Hanna) (McNulty collection)
1926
Hanna
Labor Day was celebrated in Hanna under the auspices of the United Mine Workers of America. First Ade Contests by the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts were engaged in on Sunday and on Monday the day was started by a Grand Parade, which was led by Mr. Tom Q. Powell as flag bearer and Mr. T. H. Butler leading the band. All the children and Union men followed and a number of automobiles wound up what was a very nice parade. After the parade the children received candy and ice cream cones, after which a great variety of sports took place. Our newly organized band added very much to the success of the day. (Union Pacific Coal Company Employe's Magazine, October 1926)
1926: Hanna Band. (Top) W. F. Milliken, Mark Jackson, George Warburton, Charles Stebner, J. Sherratt, Charles Anderson, Bert Travellie (Bottom) H. Brindles, J. R. Mann, J. Dickinson, John Milliken and Joe Briggs (Union Pacific Coal Company Employe's Magazine, October 1926)
Another Band Organized
Hanna Steps Out After the Drum
Now comes Hana with a newly organized band, with shining new instruments and heaps of enthusiastic plans, and a goodly number of experienced bandsmen. It has already played two public appearances the picnic of the Hanna Old Timer; Club and the Labor Day celebration, when it led the parade arranged by the United Mine Workers of America. in Hanna.
Not so very long ago we heard the prediction that at some future Fourth of July we should hear several bands crash out a musical acclaim of the day We probably will - or we may have a band number musical contes added to the day's events of the Old Timers' celebration. (Union Pacific Coal Company Employe's Magazine, October 1926)
1927
Hanna Labor Day
Labor Day was celebrated by a very interesting program under the auspices of the United Mine Workers of America, and consisted of a parade in the morning, led by the Hanna Band, contest of all sorts; races, jumping, First Aid contests and even a greased plot to climb and a greased pig to chase. (Union Pacific Coal Company Employe's Magazine, October 1927)
Labor Day, 1927 (Gert Milliken Collection from Gary Milliken)
Mark Jackson attempts the grease pole competition at the 1927 Labor Day celebration. Jackson, a well-known Hannaite for many years, seems to be having a hard time of it while an intrigued audience looks on. (The Hanna Herald, August 9, 1979)
(The Hanna Herald, August 9, 1979) (Gert Milliken Collection from Gary Milliken)
1928
Hanna Labor Day
Labor Day was celebrated on Monday, September 3rd, by a parade led by the Hanna Band which wound up at the ball grounds where all sorts of contests were held, and candy and nuts were given to the children, making a very interesting and enjoyable day for all. (UPCCEM, October 1928)
1931
Hanna Labor Day (UPCCEM, Oct 1931)
Hanna
Labor Day was celebrated in Hanna under the auspices of the U.M.W. of A. John G. Kelly, Earnest Bedford, Charles Russel, August Lappala, George Penman, Gus Collins and John Lehti made up the committee in charge. Promptly at 9:00 A.M. the day’s events began with a parade of school children which formed at the Finn Hall. Led by the color guard and the ever-peppy Hanna Band it was a stirring sight. The parade ended at the ball grounds, where all the children were presented with candy, oranges and ice cream. It was a great day for the youngsters. The remainder of the morning was given over to the races for boys and girls with the race for the men over fifty years of age a special feature. Sporting events consisting of shot-put, bicycle races, pole vault and discus throw occupied the afternoon. The committee in charge was: starters for all races, Ben Cook, Robert Norris and William Dickinson; judges, John Lehti, P. Forakis, Joe Lucas; announcers, Alfred Hapgood and John Boam; secretary, James Harrison and treasurer, Thomas Mellor. (UPCCEM October 1931)
1934
Hanna Labor Day
The United Mine Workers of America sponsored the Labor Day celebration at Hanna, commencing with a free dance upon Saturday night, September 1, at Love’s Hall, Jackson’s famous orchestra furnishing the music for the occasion. On Sunday, a baseball game was played between the Bachelors and the Benedicts. On Monday, the usual parade, followed by sports contests for young and old, were carried on. (UPCCEM, October 1934)
1946
The Color Guard in the Hanna Parade. (UPCCEM, Oct. 1946)
Mark Jackson’s new band-wagon. (UPCCEM, Oct. 1946)
Hanna Observes Labor Day
The two-day Labor Day Celebration held at Hanna this year was enthusiastically observed by Hanna residents with a gala parade as its feature attraction. Monday morning, September 2, bright and early, a large crowd had gathered for the affair.
Under the capable leadership and direction of Mark Jackson the occasion proved to be a colorful event. The colors, including the Wyoming State Flag, were carried by men on horseback followed by the rest of the participants in this order: Mark Jackson’s new band-wagon painted in very gaudy colors. Naturally the band was playing lively marches. Following the band were boys and girls riding ponies, another group of ponies hitched to the ancient buggies loaded with boys and girls, the children and members of the local union marching, then a long line of cars, which made the parade at least a half mile long.
The parade formed at the Finn Hall, paraded through town to the grounds where the children were given candy, oranges and ice cream. Along the line of march, tourists were taking pictures of this colorful event. Many of the townspeople also took pictures and two movies were made of the event.
Mark Jackson, who deserves much praise and credit for his efforts, made this a grand event for Hanna. He gave the citizens of Hanna something to talk about for some time to come and his efforts were well rewarded by the magnificent turnout displayed by the Hanna residents. Mark’s band seemed to play much better while riding in their new band-wagon. (UPCCEM, October 1946)