|
1898: |
S.A. Smith & Co. begin running on 12 hour time today. The men go into the factory at 7 o’clock and work until 9 at night, with an hour at noon and another hour out for supper. |
S.A. Smith was a toymaking company in Brattleboro from the late 1800s through the early 1900s:
http://www.oldwoodtoys.com/s_a_smith.htm
We shut down earlier now
Brattleboro used to have busier evenings. : )
People were working more and longer, plus stores in town stayed open until much later. There are often old news stories about certain types of businesses (grocers, barbers, etc.) agreeing to close early at say, 7 or 8 p.m.
Then there were all the balls and entertainments going on, and club meetings, more active church organizations, book clubs, etc.