New Research Shows That Labor Day Came From a NJ Machinist

You can thank New Jersey for your day off on Monday.

Are you excited for the long weekend? That's what excites everyone the most when Labor Day is suddenly right around the corner. If you think too hard about it, you start to lament the fact that summer is quickly coming to an end. However, Labor Day weekend is the final "hoorah" for many as they return to their permanent residences from their summer homes to prepare for the year ahead.

This is the time of year Jersey residents get excited for because that's when our "local summer" starts. We get all of our favorite places like the beach, the boardwalk, our favorite restaurants, etc. to ourselves again. Labor Day isn't such a downer for us here in South Jersey.

As for the rest of the country, Labor Day may not be your favorite holiday of the year since it essentially celebrates the departure of summer, however it does give you that long weekend you've been looking forward to for the last few weeks. With that, I believe some "thanks" are in order.

You see, according to the Department of Labor, it was long believed that Labor Day was the brainchild of Peter J. McGuire, a man who hailed from New York, but was a laborer all his life and rose through the ranks to become the co-founder of the Union Brotherhood of Carpenters in the 1800s. Peter did end up settling in modern-day Camden County and died in the city of Camden. However, recent research seems to point to another man who may actually be responsible for the birth of Labor Day.

The Department of Labor says on their website:

"Recent research seems to support the contention that Matthew Maguire, later the secretary of Local 344 of the International Association of Machinists in Paterson, N.J., proposed the holiday in 1882 while serving as secretary of the Central Labor Union in New York."

- DOL

This means that New Jersey is essentially responsible for everyone's three-day weekend. If you'll be spending time this weekend with family members from out-of-state, just tell them they're welcome.

Source: DOL.org