'Today' in Herreshoff Mfg. Co. history

[rbgarr]

http://www.herreshoff.org/news/herreshoff_history.html

[Figment]

I didn't know this!

April 1, 1875 - Capt. Nat Herreshoff scrapped his plan to outfit the catamaran AMARYLLIS with a molded wing when irate cotton mill workers blockaded the plant and Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. employees refused to cross the picket lines.

[Binnacle Bat]

I didn't know this!

Yes, I was blown away by that too. From two directions at once.

First that NGH was considering a "molded wing" for a sail in 1875! Amaryllis was a mind-boggling machine to begin with. Would love to see his sketches.

Second that the Herreshoff workers would honor a picket line then was another. What organized labor there was at the time was very much sorted out by trade, of which there must have been half a dozen at Herreshoff Manufacturing at the time, and I would assume most, if not all, were not organized. I can see organized textile workers from Fall River hiring a small steamer to bring a bunch of folks to organize a picket line, but that it was effective is very surprising. Or maybe there was a Sailmakers Union. Organized labor was very much in its infancy in those days, and it was mostly the skilled trades.

Want to know more!

Allan

[Rob Hazard]

What's the date noted on that event?

[Binnacle Bat]

April 1, 1875. I still think Amaryllis is the ultimate steampunk boat, wing sail or no.

[rbgarr]

April 1, 1875.

April Fool's joke by the Herreshoff Museum staff?