By Fred Miller
President Grover Cleveland signed a bill in 1894 designating the first Monday in September a federal holiday called Labor Day. It was to recognize the contribution that America’s workers have made to the growth and strength of the country. Leo Bamberger, an Ocean City summer resident, is credited with helping found this annual summer holiday.
“Bamberger Labor Day Story in 500 Newspapers Across Nation” was the front page headline in the September 25, 1958, Ocean City newspaper. The article began, “Ocean City earned a mention in close to 500 newspapers from coast to coast by virtue of having Leo Bamberger, of Philadelphia, as one of its summer residents.”
In 1958, Mr. Bamberger, at age 90, was the last survivor of the group of labor leaders who started the movement for the observance of Labor Day. His son, Henry Bamberger, assembled some factual material about his father, and made it available to the press just before Labor Day, reasoning that it would have timely news value. Even he was astonished at the way the story sold itself to editors.
“Helping to aid its publicity valve the mention that Leo Bamberger was chairman of Ocean City’s first summer baby parade 49 years ago.”
