The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in New York City on March 25, 1911, was the deadliest industrial disaster in the history of the city of New York and resulted in the fourth highest loss of life from an industrial accident in U.S. history. The fire caused the deaths of 146 garment workers, who either died from the fire or jumped to their deaths. Most of the victims were recent immigrant Jewish and Italian women aged sixteen to twenty-three.
Many of the workers could not escape the burning building because the managers had locked the doors to the stairwells and exits. People jumped from the eighth, ninth, and tenth floors. The fire led to legislation requiring improved factory safety standards and helped spur the growth of the International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union, which fought for better working conditions for sweatshop workers.
The factory was located in the Asch Building, at 29 Washington Place, now known as the Brown Building, which has been designated a National Historic Landmark and a New York City landmark.
As the centennial of the Triangle shirtwaist factory fire is commemorated, Downtown Art and FAB invite our neighbors to join us for a brief commemoration to Rosie Friedman, who lived on our block, and her co-workers at the Triangle Factory
1) Downtown Art
Friday, March 25 at 4:30pm, Outside 64 East 4th Street
East 4th Street was home to Rosie Friedman, 18, who perished in the fire; we are also the birthplace of the International Ladies’ Garment Workers Union, her union.
Program
Ringing of bells to mark the time of the fire alarms going off
“Wide Ocean” sung by Alice Quinn Makwaia, 15
Brief remarks by Ryan Gilliam, Downtown Art
‘A Letter to Rosie Friedman’, by Lena Feliciano Hansen, 17
‘Twelve Dollars a Week’, composed by Michael Hickey,
sung by the teen company of THE WAISTMAKERS’ OPERA
We invite you to share rugelach and hot chocolate at the FAB Cafe after the remembrance.
2) NYU exhibition
“The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire: One Hundred Years After,” is on exhibit at New York University through May.
SB
