Some somewhat creepy local history

[ardeegee]

I've lately been attempting to find historical records about the spot where I live (an unincorporated rural area) without success, but have found some interesting facts about the nearest town a few miles away. This reflects back on earlier threads here about working conditions/wages in "3rd world" factories and is about a town in the US that 100 years ago was owned by a company, and lives of the residents controlled by one man like a personal fiefdom. Attached is a PDF I formatted from the original Harper's Magazine article from 1902.

The original article at Google.

Amongst the facts, all children younger than 12 in the family of a worker were required to go to school, which is of course a good thing. But according to this, all children 12 and over were required to work in the mill-- and employees weren't allowed to own dogs because "The Captain" didn't like them.

And a few more tidbits:

http://www.textilehistory.org/EllisonAdgerSmyth.html

http://www.archive.org/stream/cu3192...59617_djvu.txt

http://www.thejournalonline.com/cont...&MemberID=1499

[kindlekitten]

company towns are always extremely creepy!

ok, I gotta ask... what's the avvy this time?

and, where ya' been!?

[ardeegee]

Originally Posted by kindlekitten

ok, I gotta ask... what's the avvy this time?

That is (as my "User Title" alludes to) Danbo. A cardboard box robot suit that was featured in a single chapter of a light comedy manga (and, much later, had a return appearance) that gained it's own "action figure" and a whole genre of photography.

http://arkarthick.com/2010/06/15/cut...oy-robots-art/

http://www.photographyblogger.net/20...anbo-pictures/

http://iniwoo.net/inspiration/danbo-photos/

http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&q...iw=800&bih=490

I don't have a Danbo myself-- I'm geek enough to want one, but not geek enough to pay the fifty freaking dollars or more one (of either size) would cost me on Ebay.

Hey-- if I had a working printer (who need a printer when you have an ebook reader?) I could make one now!

http://paperkraft.blogspot.com/2008/...ft-mascot.html

The origin.

The reunion.

and, where ya' been!?

I've been around. I haven't posted much, but I see I have made around 50 posts so far this year.