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The Carpenters in Philadelphia
Builders of History
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you learn one of the branches of the Trade associated with the United Brotherhood
of Carpenters and Joiners of America, you become a part of one of the oldest
and proudest of all the Building Trades. Long before there were labor unions,
organizations known as Trade Guilds existed in Europe. These organizations
brough together men with similar crafts, provided social occasions, helped
set prices for labor, and ensured that vital skills would be taught and
passed on to new Guildsmen. |
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| This tradition
was brought to the New World by the early settlers. Of all the crafts that
were represented with guilds and associations, one of the strongest and
most important to our growing country was the Carpenter. This fact can
be seen most graphically in Philadelphia. The Carpenters' Company was founded
in 1724, and was the first American version of a European guild. These
Master Builders organized to set prices, establish standards and take care
of family members.
The Carpenters' Company was
also at the center of history when the First Continental Congress met in
their newly constructed hall in 1774. Carpenters' Hall was one of the most
impressive buildings in town and was located between Third and Fourth Streets
on Chestnut Street. The Carpenters of Philadelphia were honored and proud
to give up their meeting hall for a while so the new nation could get on
its feed. Carpenters' Hall stands today as a testament to those early Craftsmen,
as well as to our Founding Fathers.
The current version of the
Carpenters guild developed in the mid-1800s and for a number of years had
its national headquarters right here in Philadelphia. The founder of the
modern United Brotherhood of Carpenters, Peter J. McGuire, also gave birth
to the idea of the Labor Day holiday. Eventually the association grew to
include the Joiners, an old term for craftworkers who finish interior woodwork,
as well as serveral other related trades. |
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the last 275 years, the Carpenters Union in Philadelphia has continued
to grow so that today it represents 10,0000 skilled Craftsmen. Nationwide
it is one of the largest of all unions, as well as the largest of all Skilled
Trades (with more than 500,000 members).
An Apprenticeship with the
United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners is a chance to join a Trade
that has helped build our cities and made the growth of civilization-and
democracy-possible. It is also a chance to make a little history of your
own. |
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