Today, March 5th 2008 we had a class visit to Tamiment Library & Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives, Bobst Library, session with Michael Nash, Head Librarian. It was a very interesting meeting for me. Among the vast collection that he presented us regarding labor archives, one particular event captured my attention: the Triangle Fire from March 25, 1911. This is supposed to be a well known event in the history of Washington Square Park, yet unknown to me, being an international student. The first thing that capture my interest relating this issue, was the year 1911; the last three digits "911" reminding me of "9/11" tragedy - World Trade Center. I don't know if there is any connection between the two events, or just a coincidence but that was the first image that came into my mind and that is why i want to say a few words about this tragedy.
On March 25, 1911, a fire started in the Triangle Shirtwaist Company, killing 146 workers that were caught up on the top floors of the building during working hours. Their death sparked a new flame in New York City. The pleas of the working class for better factory conditions, long ignored, were finally heard after the Triangle deaths. Those deaths stimulated a guilty concern over the state of factory safety, a concern which called for action, for change. A Investigating Comission was built, which over 4 years, examinated thousands of industrial establishments, listen to hundreds of witnesses, held public hearings, and finally pushed through the legislation needed to reorganize the New York City labor and fire departments and to insure safer factories for the working class.
This tragedy had a great impact at that time in history. It followed the World Trade Center tragedy in 2001 which had even a greater impact in today's society. Although this last event's consequences are not yet well defined, it surely is a great "stain" in the NYC's history.