jan 7, 1893 - Packinghouses Strike

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1893 Packinghouses go on strike, but their efforts failed, and the companies dealt harshly with those who had been involved. By the early 1900s, most Swedes left. They were primarily Baptist, and had no ties. Later, a new wave of immigrants entered into Strawberry Hill from Eastern and Southern Europe, the Balkans, Poland, Russia. Armour and Company was the principal employer in the West Bottoms in 1894. New employees were given the most difficult, lowest paying jobs. Life in the plants was hard, on the kill lines from early mornings to late at night, earning as little as 3.5 cents an hour. Companies showed little support toward disabled or injured workers, and life was hard. Those that stayed valued the togetherness of community, church, and cultural festivities in order to survive and build themselves out of the deplorable conditions and poverty. They made up the Patch. Early organizations of the Patch were the lodges, formed among nationality groups and dues collected were used to pay sick and death benefits. At the time of their arrival, only Poles had a church of their own. Source: Strawberry Hill: A Neighborhood Study, Susan Greenbaum 1978

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