Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it, says the old cliché©. There's less need to worry with Richard Padova on the case.
The Andover resident leads the Bread and Roses tour at Lawrence Heritage State Park every Wednesday at 11 a.m., teaching people about the events of the mill workers strike of 1912. There is an introductory video at 10:30 a.m.
The strike of 1912, otherwise known as the Bread and Roses strike, was over workers' rights in the mills. Massachusetts was the center for the textile industry and Lawrence outranked most cities in production of wool and other products. Conditions in the mills were poor and unhealthy with employees overworked and underpaid.
Workers started to strike on Jan. 12 and the work stoppage lasted two months.
One of Padova's favorite aspects of the job is telling random bits of information. One of his favorite bits of trivia is how the strike got its name.
"It wasn't called the Bread and Roses strike at first. For a long time it was called the Great Strike of 1912," said Padova. "It got its name because during the strike workers didn't have much money so they couldn't afford food like bread. Also, women strikers, who were an important part of the strike, were seeking dignity and roses represent dignity. That's how it became the Bread and Roses strike."
Eventually, the mill bosses met the workers' demands for wage increases, extra pay for overtime, and a promise of no repercussions for strikers when they came back to work.
Padova takes tour goers around Lawrence to the focal points of the strike all the while enriching them with local history of the city. Padova has been giving this tour for six summers and his love of history - especially local history - is what made this job so appealing to him.
"I enjoy teaching people the history of Lawrence and local history in general," said Padova. When he isn't giving tours, he teaches history, government and geography at Northern Essex Community College. He's been teaching at NECC for six years.
"I enjoy talking about the past and how we can learn from it and how it pertains to the present and future," said Padova.
He grew up in Lawrence and spent his first 30 years in the city. He eventually married and moved to Andover. Padova believes is important for all local residents to come and experience the history of the tour.
"Most people who live in the suburbs like Andover have ancestors from Lawrence," said Padova. "It's their ancestral heritage. This is the perfect place to learn where they came from and about their past."
Every Labor Day, the Lawrence Heritage Park holds the Bread and Roses festival to commemorate what the strikers did to help worker's rights. "For a while, the strike was looked down upon," said Padova. "It recent history it has gotten a positive light."
In two years the Heritage group will celebrate the centennial anniversary of the strike. "We will certainly make a big deal out of it," said Padova.
Before then, the Lawrence Heritage State Park will celebrate its 25th anniversary. The building at One Jackson St., Lawrence, is one of the oldest buildings in Lawrence.
"We are grateful for this building and that it didn't fall victim to the wrecking ball," said Padova.
Padova's love for local history is contagious.
"It all about conveying a point and getting people interested in local history," he said. "It's about finding out who we are and why we are the way we are."
