March 25th is the Anniversary of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire
| 146 people died in a half hour. This was a history-altering tragedy that affected almost every family living on the Lower East Side of Manhattan in 1911. Many of these deaths could have been prevented. All the more reason, we need to Remember the Triangle Fire and the lessons it taught us. Sadly, the ones responsible got away unpunished. But, the fire left lasting effects, and a few good things did come from it. |
1. MANY new laws and safety protocols that are enforced today.
2. Attention to poor working conditions and worker abuse.
3. A new respect and acceptance of women in unions and the workplace.
There are more, but these are the main ways the fire changed industrial history forever. For more details about the fire and its aftermath, stay tuned for my upcoming webinar on this topic.
We will never forget the sacrifice and tragedy that occurred on the Lower East Side that day. Each year there are still events to commemorate the victims.
The Remember the Triangle Fire Coalition is also still working to build a permanent memorial to honor the victims. They are an amazing resource of firsthand accounts of the fire, educational resources and more. If you have not visited their website, I definitely encourage you to do so. I’m also attaching a link below for you to see how you can take part in aiding in their efforts to remember this historical event and the victims for future generations.
I also wanted to offer my own memorial to the victims today. I wrote a short story with true faces and their accounts of that awful half hour. I found these details by digging through a number of records and testimonies from survivors that day. If you’re interested in reading, Click below to get this free short story. Thank you for joining me in remembering these women, their families and their stories.