Labor Day in Charlotte, Union, Dilworth, Spartanburg, Sept. 5, 1921

Observance of Labor Day Here . . . Holiday More Extensively Celebrated in Charlotte Than in Previous Year

Labor Day is being observed in charlotte today more extensively than in past years, according to all appearances. The banks, post office, railway freight offices, city and county offices, schools, some of the stores and most of the manufacturing plants are closed, and several events have been planned to celebrate the day.

Union people have gathered at Independence Park for an address by J.E. Hunneycutt, commissioner of public safety, and a baseball game between the textile workers and carpenters’ unions. Special events have been arranged at Lakewood Park for the entertainment of hundreds of people who are expected to flock there during the afternoon. Boxing and wrestling, free moving pictures and a dance are among features of the special program arranged by Manager W.S. Orr.

The people of Dilworth will hold their first community picnic this evening and they are looking upon this day as a sort of celebration f Labor Day. The public is invited to hear addresses there at 7 o’clock by O. Max Gardner and Dr. W.H. Frazier.

Spartanburg and Charlotte are playing a special Labor Day doubleheader. One game was played this morning before a big crowd of fans at Wearn Field and the second game is scheduled to start at 4:30 o’clock.

The custom of celebrating the first Monday in September as Labor Day was originated 39 years ago, in 1882. At first the holiday was observed only in a few states of the Union but the spread has been gradual and there is hardly a State in the Union or a city of any size in which there is not some form of observance.

From The Charlotte News, Sept. 5, 1921

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Huneycutt Speaker at Labor Gathering

An address by Public Safety Commissioner J.E. Huneycutt at 1 o’clock and a baseball game between textile operatives and carpenters at 10 o’clock were the scheduled features of the Labor Day celebration at Independence Park. The events were arranged by local textile unions and attended by a great crowd of working people.

John J. Dean, textile organizer, was the captain and pitcher of the textile team, while Business Manager Edgar Smith of the North Charlotte local, stood behind the bat. The carpenters were expecting to put on a strong team and much speculation existed this morning as to which bunch would have the most runs when the game was finally ended.

A big picnic dinner immediately preceding Mr. Huneycutt’s address was also planned, and baskets enough to feed the big crowd were expected on hand when the dinner bell rings.

From The Charlotte News, Sept. 5, 1921. These two stories were on the front page of the paper, and the commissioner of public safety’s last name was spelled Hunneycutt in the first article and Huneycutt in the second. I don’t know which is correct.