Pullman’s Labor History

Chicago’s Pullman neighborhood celebrated its labor history at the area’s historic sites, including the Florence Hotel and the Pullman Factory, on Sept 3, with various SAG-AFTRA performers portraying historical figures such as former Illinois Gov. John Peter Altgeld.  
“Altgeld pardoned three of the men wrongly convicted in the Haymarket Square bombing and sided with the workers in the Pullman strike,” Chicago Local 2nd Vice President Richard Shavzin said of the historical figure he was portraying. 
The Hotel Florence was built by George Pullman in 1881, and since 1991 it has been owned by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. The event was sponsored by National Park Service, Historic Pullman Foundation and the Illinois Labor History Society.

Photo: Chicago Local 2nd VP Richard Shavzin portrays former Illinois Gov. John Peter Altgeld at Hotel Florence.