Along the Blackstone: Episode 12: Mill Life

Transcription

1 Along the Blackstone: Episode 12: Mill Life Mill Towns> Along the Blackstone: Episode 12: Mill Life Preread the questions. Then watch the video through once. Go back to answer the questions you remember, watch the video a second time listening for answers you may have missed. I have listed the times for easy viewing pleasure. How did the pace of the workday change after industrialization? Scott Malloy, URI professor, Labor History Professor 3:19 What geographic feature determined where a mill was built? Malloy describes mill times as a time when community relationships were Describe the mill Malloy is standing in front of? Was an 8 hour day normal in mill towns? Why did people not travel far from their home in mill times? What kinds of groups did the mill workers belong to when they were not working?

2 How did they strike out against their mill owners? What small steps did they take to fight for their rights? How were Blackstone Valley Mills paternalistic? (circle all that apply) - families owned the mills - mill owners knew their workers - sense of closeness - paid great wages What were benefits for mill workers living in a small town? Malloy defines mill owners as benevolent despots. Circle the answer that best demonstrates what he means. - Unfair tyrants who were cruel - someone who is nice because they want something in return - cared little for the welfare of their people - cared like a father for his children - Why would owners hire mean overseers? How could it benefit the owner of the factory? Why would workers hang their lunches on a moving string in the factory? Time: 11:14 How did the workers know when to go to work and when to leave?

3 Who rang the bell and when? How man times would the bell ring before the workers needed to be at work? How did the mill workers feel about the bell? Were the mill owners always honest with the time? Why were owners able to stretch out the time? How do the mill workers retaliate? Hopedale: 14:40 Elaine Malloy, librarian at the Bancroft Library in Hopedale The Draper Company was established in what year? (circle) What did workers do with their days off?

4 How did the workers look upon the Drapers according to Ms. Malloy? Once a year, the Drapers gave each a homeowner what items to improve their homes? What was a field day? When did they start? What time of year did this happen? Who attended? Who paid for this day? What activities were offered? How many types of wheelbarrow races were offered? What other leisure activities were popular?

5 What contest was offered in town to help its beautification of the town? What did the Draper s build to enhance recreational opportunites in town? What was meant to be the center of the garden? How many duplexes were owned by the Draper corporation? What does that tell you about the influence of the Drapers and the size of the company? What was Cotton Chats? Were people ever concerned they would be without a job? What sacrifices were made during the Depression to ensure people kept their jobs? What casualty did the librarian s father suffer as a result of working in the mill?

6 What is the last recreational feature Ranger Chuck talks about in this segment? 20:32 Emotional Aspect of Mill Life How do the workers remember factory life? According to the union official was a strike worth it? Why was the second man 1878: Rumford Chemical Works The company decided there was a need for entertainment for their workers, what did they do to entertain their employees? 1n 1925, what happened to kill the recreation park? Why was recreation an important part of mill life?

7 Drawing Conclusions After watching the video, what benefits were there in living in a mill village? What were the drawbacks? In what way has community changed from mill times to now? In what ways has work changed from mill times to now