 |
| Not Numbered. | Prince George’s County | Visited: Sept. 20, 2014 | Plaque? YES! 🙂 |
| What is it? | A highway marker commemorating the place where “Mother” Jones, the “most dangerous woman in America,” died! |
| What makes it historical? | THE PLAQUE SAYS: Mary Harris “Mother” Jones, the legendary labor organizer, spent a lifetime fighting for unions and the rights of workers. She died at the Burgess Farm near here on November 30, 1930, aged 100 years.
OTHER TIDBITS: Like many heroes, Mother Jones rose from tragedy. After leaving her native Ireland to escape the potato famine, she then lost her husband and all four children to yellow fever in 1867! She moved alone to Chicago and opened a dressmaking business, which went up in flames during the Great Chicago Fire of 1871! So, she began to wander. As a dressmaker, she had become aware of the plight of workers by watching many of them shiver in the cold outside her window. Once she had nothing left to tie her to wealthy customers, she took up the cause for mine, railway, and dressmaking workers across the country. The railway workers gave her the title of “Mother.” She championed labor rights in at least seven states and even led 100 children on a march from Philadelphia to the New York home of Theodore Roosevelt to push for abolition of child labor! A brilliant organizer, orator, and champion for hungry people nationwide, she is best remembered for her rallying cry: “Pray for the dead and fight like hell for the living!” |
| How can I Help the Helpers? | HERE’S HOW:
|
| How do I find it? | Listed Directions: East side of MD 212 (Powder Mill Road) North of intersection with Riggs Road In front of Hillandale Baptist Church Adelphi, MD 20783 Annotations: 2601 Powder Mill Rd From Annapolis: ~31mi (50km) — 0.6hrs |
| When should I go? | Whenever the mood strikes you! |