Why Celebrate Labor Day?

Labor Day is more than just another 3-day holiday.

It began in the late 1800’s, before Oregon made it a state holiday, the tradition of publicly honoring labor’s contributions to society was established by the workers themselves. Congress made it a national holiday in 1894, making the first Monday in September a legal holiday.  President Grover Cleveland pushed for Labor Day legislation to appease the workers at the Pullman Company out on strike. The railroad lowered its’ workers wages, but did not reduce the fees charged for rent, gas, or water in the company town where they lived. Naturally, this angered the workers, who demanded that the owner, George Pullman, lower the rates. Pullman refused, and the workers organized a strike, shutting down much of the rail traffic west of Detroit. It was resolved, but not without violence, and a new federal holiday.

Horse-drawn Wheel Plow

While 10,000 union members marched through downtown New York City in 1882, the west was still growing.  That was the year a patent was approved for the Horse-drawn Wheel Plow.  It has been a mainstay of the family farm, along with other horse-drawn equipment and vehicles ever since.  Thus, they were the collection of Gronway Parry that was purchased and become the focus of curation at the Frontier Homestead State Park Museum. The 36 horse-drawn vehicles plus machinery at the museum are the remnants of a pioneers life and are on display year round.  The special carriages and carts are housed inside,  but there are many outside to explore.  And you’ll find horse-drawn carts in the annual Iron County Labor Day Parade as part of the annual Iron County Fair. This year’s parade will be held on Monday, September 7^th at 10AM through downtown Parowan.  “Together Is Our Favorite Place To Be” is the theme chosen for this year’s fair and parade.  Come early to get your favorite shady spot so you don’t miss the floats, beauty queens, horses, old-fashioned cars, marching bands and dancers.  And of course, the horse-drawn vehicles and tractors are always a favorite.

Frontier Homestead State Park Musuem

Then come down to the Frontier Homestead State Park Museum, we’ll be open Monday. FIND THE WHEEL PLOW.  Take a selfie and post it to our Facebook Group. Admission is $4.00 per adult and children are free.  Or buy an annual membership pass at the door from our Friends Organization and bring the whole family for a year for free.  

Museum Foundation Mission

The Mission of the Frontier Homestead Museum Foundation Board shall be to:

• Provide guidance and assistance to the staff of the Frontier Homestead Museum State Park;
• Support their efforts effectively collect, preserve, interpret, and present historical materials;
• Develop a community presence through Foundation membership opportunities, encourage use and support of the State Park;
• Develop a financial base for supporting the Park through programs, special projects and endowments.

Your membership fees help us to support our mission.  Our membership goal for this year is 100 family memberships.  Come join the fun, get a quarterly newsletter from the Park, visit each time for free and learn about “Your Local Museum”. See You Soon - - -