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Joe Hill Historical Marker

November 17, 2023 by admin Leave a Comment

More than 100 years after his death, a historical marker is unveiled in Sugar House Park in Salt Lake City, Utah. The park is the former site of the Utah State Prison, and the marker is near the old execution yard, where Joe Hill was shot in 1915.

“We would be honored to have you in attendance to witness this historic moment in Salt Lake City, as we celebrate the life and legacy of Joe Hill, whose tireless efforts in pursuit of justice and equality have left an indelible mark on history. This historic marker will stand as a symbol of his enduring spirit and will serve as a reminder of the power of collective action.”

Members of the Hägglund family in Sweden sent the following message to be read at the ceremony.

We are really happy about the Joe Hill marker at last being placed in Sugar House Park in Salt Lake City. There are many markers in Gävle, his birth city in Sweden, including the house where he grew up with his five surviving siblings and parents. This house is now part museum, part office for union work and a place for outdoor concerts in the summertime. So we feel that the SLC marker closes the circle of his life.

Looking around us in today’s world, with wars and divisiveness almost everywhere, we see the need to look at all 7 billion people as brothers and sisters. Or world citizens as Joe put it. We have only one world and are all responsible to make it a good place to live for everybody.

And we still have companies that don’t want their employees starting or becoming members in unions. Right now here in Sweden we have Tesla working against employees joining a union to ensure good working conditions. This has resulted in blockades and other unions striking. And one of the biggest financial companies just signed on to let their employees organize after months of stalling.

So, the ideas and ideals Joe Hill stood for are still needed for a change for the better all around the world. As descendants of Joe’s family, we thank you for preserving his legacy through your work for many decades. And now this marker.

The Hägglunds, thru Rolf Hägglund and Pia Hägglund Samuelsson

Filed Under: Events Tagged With: memorial

Goodbye to Archie Archuleta

January 28, 2019 by admin Leave a Comment

Our great friend and colleague, Robert “Archie” Archuleta, died on Friday, January 25 at age 88.

Archie was a member of the Joe Hill Organizing Committee as we planned celebrations of Joe Hill for the 75th anniversary of Joe Hill’s death in 1990 and for the 100th anniversary in 2015.

Joe Hill House: school for young radicals

Archie was one of the young people who spent time in the 1960s with Ammon Hennacy, whose Joe Hill House of Hospitality in Salt Lake City served a population of homeless men so often ignored. The Joe Hill House also became a school for young radicals. Many young people—Archie Archuleta, Utah Phillips, and Gibbs Smith among them—found a fierce, firm radicalism in the ideas and actions of Ammon Hennacy.

Ammon Hennacy found Joe Hill an inspiration. Many people found Ammon Hennacy an inspiration, and many of them found their own way to spread social justice in the world. Archie Archuleta was one of those people. One of the ways Archie learned as a young man to be the quiet, sure activist he was had roots in the Joe Hill House.

Archie influenced so many

Over the past few days, we have seen an outpouring of personal experiences from people whom Archie nudged to take action in the world for social justice. He was an educator who loved working with young people. He was President of Utah Coalition for La Raza and served on many boards and commissions. Outside of institutional work, Archie gave generously of his time to those ready to make change in the world, especially young people. Many of the young people Archie has influenced already pass on that dedication to activism and action in their own work.

Archie Archuleta was an influential hub in social justice work in Salt Lake City. He joined the flow that came before him and will continue after him. He made it better. By observing the ways Archie embodied radicalism in the world, we all learned to be more fierce and more kind.

Filed Under: News Tagged With: archie archuleta, obituary, robert archuleta

Gibbs M. Smith

October 31, 2017 by admin Leave a Comment

Gibbs M. Smith

Gibbs Smith,
1940- 2017

Utah’s historical, artistic, literary and publishing communities lost an important voice with the passing of Gibbs Smith on October 29, 2017. For us in the Joe Hill Committee, he was a mainstay over the past 28 years as we sought to mark the impact Hill had on this state.

As the author of one of the most important studies of the case, Gibbs was sought out frequently for his knowledge as well as for his advice and counsel. He was possessed with a lively amount of intellectual curiosity–a quality in short supply these days. Gibbs always asked good questions, expanded the boundary of knowledge, and tried to see history and art in new ways.

He will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

~John Sillito


Ellen Fagg Weist, “Creative publisher Gibbs Smith reinvented Western stories from his Utah barn. 1940-2017 • Influential publisher, writer and artist dies at 77.” Salt Lake Tribune, October 30, 2017.

Filed Under: News Tagged With: gibbs smith, joe hill biographer, obituary

Rosalie Sorrels Just Died

June 13, 2017 by JoeHillOC Leave a Comment

Her friend Duncan Phillips came by to tell me, and her brother Jim also called, as did her long time friend and fellow performer, Gino Sky. She had been ill for quite some time now and had been living in Reno with her daughter, far away from the cabin her father built in Grimes Creek. Funny, Jim told me that the road to Grimes Creek flooded out this spring, as if the river knew its mistress was gone and never coming back.

How many of us have made that pilgrimage over the years, to see her in her lair, the cabin her father built at the end of the road alongside Grimes Creek, where Rosalie dwelled. Rosalie’s story, her heart, her life, and her troubles are far too big to cover in a brief memento mori like this one. And although she died elsewhere, her spirit will always inhabit Grimes Creek.

Hunter S. Thompson traveled the path to Grimes Creek. Rosalie knew him from his Kentucky gentleman days, long before his first book, Hell’s Angels came out , and long before he became the crazed gonzo journalist that we know him by today. I have it on good authority that Rose could drink with Hunter all night long and then go and cook breakfast for a houseful of people the next morning.

Ken Kesey and his Merry Pranksters, drove Further, the Magic Bus, to Grimes Creek to pay homage to Rosalie. As did many, many other musicians, authors, artists and friends. Over the years. Rose’s legendary fandangos were not to be missed. They went on for days and days, some lasting a week or more. The music was playing live off a homemade stage Gino Sky built, twenty four hours a day. The whiskey, the poetry and the music all flowed down the throats into the ears and the hearts and minds of those who came and drank the wine. Rosalie seemingly knew everyone in the music, literary and art scene from the 1950s to the 21st century.

I first met Rosalie Sorrels in the 1970s, in the Cosmic Aeroplane days, through her longtime musical partner and friend, Utah Phillips. We sponsored the pair at a concert at East High, but the police dusted off an old arrest warrant for Phillips, and we had to bail him out of jail, so he could join Rosalie on the stage. I don’t think we ever told Rosalie. Rosalie graced my book shop with her presence on many occasions over the years, performing solo, and with old friends like the poet Gino Sky, and with many of the poets of the Limberlost Press out of Idaho.

I loved to hear her sing the song, “Waltzing With Bears” There was a stained glass window at Grimes Creek celebrating that song. Jefferson Starship recorded a Rosalie Sorrels tune, “The Baby Tree.”

I have a photo of Rose that she autographed “Rosario Bizarrio the Outlaw Queen” hanging in my downtown Salt Lake book shop. Those who knew her well, will know what that means. Rose could be, and usually was, a handful.

She was a great lady with a great musical talent, and I wanted to honor her with a few brief memories.

Love from Ken Sanders

Filed Under: News Tagged With: ken sanders, obituary, outlaw queen, rosalie sorrels

One Big Union – play world premier

August 8, 2016 by JoeHillOC Leave a Comment

One Big Union play Debra Threedy
One Big Union, world premier of the play by Debora Threedy at Plan-B Theatre, November 10 – 20, 2016.

Joe Hill’s story of an immigrant worker framed and executed for murder and his songs of a better world under One Big Union continue to fascinate audiences more than 100 years after his death.

November at Plan-B Theatre

This year, share Joe Hill’s story and music with Plan-B Theatre audiences at the world premier of Debora Threedy’s new play, One Big Union, November 10-20. See One Big Union as part of your celebration of Joe Hill’s life 101 years after his death.

The play with music features Daniel Beecher, Carleton Bluford, Roger Dunbar, April Fossen, Tracie Merrill and Jay Perry. Musically directed by David Evanoff, choreographed by Stephanie Howell, designed by Keven Myhre (set), Jesse Portillo (lighting) and Aaron Swenson (costumes), directed by Jason Bowcutt.

Buy tickets to One Big Union now at planbtheatre.org.

Don’t wait for November for One Big Union

The New American Playwrights Project of the Utah Shakespeare Festival will hold staged readings of the play on August 12, 13, and 26 in Cedar City, Utah. Buy tickets for NAPP: One Big Union at bard.org.

From the author of THE END OF THE HORIZON, WALLACE and THE THIRD CROSSING. Developed in part at Utah Shakespeare Festival’s New American Playwrights Project. Sponsored by The George B. & Oma E. Wilcox and Gibbs M. & Catherine W. Smith Charitable Foundation.

#joehill101

One Big Union play by Debra Threedy at Plan-B Theatre

Filed Under: News Tagged With: play

Joe Hill play on DVD

February 22, 2016 by JoeHillOC Leave a Comment

Joe Hill's Last Will playWere you in Salt Lake City on the centennial of Joe Hill’s death? If you missed John McCutcheon’s performance of Si Kahn’s play, “Joe Hill’s Last Will,” you can now see the performance on DVD.
 
“The scene is November 19, 2015, Salt Lake City. 100 years to the day after Hill’s execution. Legendary labor songwriter, John McCutcheon, is performing a play, written by legendary labor songwriter, Si Kahn, about those final two hours. McCutcheon breathes new life into Hill’s music, offering a startling acting debut as Hill himself, still thinking, writing, fighting about worker rights, immigration, income inequity, love, war, and solidarity.”
 
https://www.folkmusic.com/store/dvd/joe-hills-last-will-one-man-play-si-kahn-starring-john-mccutcheon-dvd

Filed Under: News Tagged With: play

Come and Take a Joy-ride in My Aeroplane by Hill and Mantle

November 19, 2015 by JoeHillOC Leave a Comment

Come and Take a Joy-ride

“Come and Take a Joy-ride in My Aeroplane” by Joe Hill (words) and Lynn Mantle (music)

Joe Hill’s Last and Final Song contest winner is Lynn Mantle. Lynn actually wrote music for both of Joe Hill’s love songs, but she submitted just “Come and Take a Joy-ride in My Aeroplane.” How she came to be interested and involved with Joe Hill is a great story of activism and music passed down from her mother.

Lynn Mantle tells her own story:

I am a Toronto based singer, songwriter, activist and the daughter of the late Arlene Mantle, who was a well known labour singer, songwriter, social justice activist and worked with Pete Seeger and Bruce Cockburn and the likes. Many years ago my mom and a few other Canadian activists were given pouches made by the late Rick Fielding with a bit of Joe Hill’s ashes. So I now have my late mother’s pouch and I must say it kind of felt like I had some help from the other side, coming up with the music and melody for this song.

She is also the proud, new owner of a gorgeous guitar made by Rolf Hägglund from rough wood.

Lynn will be performing this song live tonight (November 19th) at a Joe Hill celebration in Toronto. We will share more video of the song as we have it.

Please share Lynn’s new song widely. Listen to the song via her ReverbNation profile.

Many thanks to all of the songwriters who shared their music for Joe Hill’s words.

Filed Under: News Tagged With: contest, joy-ride, songwriting

Utah State Archive Puts Joe Hill Collection Online

November 13, 2015 by JoeHillOC Leave a Comment

Utah State Archive Joe Hill documents

One of the largest single collections of original, historical documents concerning Joe Hill is in the Archives of the state of Utah. Given the greater context of his story, we know that these documents also give us clues how an innocent man was framed, convicted, and murdered.
 
These documents have now been digitized and made available online. You can read every heartbreaking letter and petition to stop then to condemn the execution. You can read the surveillance reports as the state of Utah infiltrated the local branch of the IWW. It’s a telling story of paranoia, corruption, and power—and, ultimately, murder of a poor, working stiff.
 
http://archives.utah.gov/digital/joe-hill.html

Filed Under: History Tagged With: documents, joe hill case, utah

John McCutcheon in Joe Hill’s Last Will

September 23, 2015 by JoeHillOC Leave a Comment

Joe Hill's Last Will play

John McCutcheon in Joe Hill’s Last Will, a play by Si Kahn.

The words and music of Joe Hill come to life in a new one-man production of Hill’s final day in prison.

Followed by panel discussion with John McCutcheon, Si Kahn, and John Sillito.

  • WHAT: John McCutcheon in Joe Hill’s Last Will
  • WHEN: Thursday, November 19, 2015, 7PM
  • WHERE: The State Room (638 S State St).
  • COST: Tickets on sale now for $18.

Date is the anniversary of the death of Joe Hill. Come to the play after the IWW’s vigil 6PM at Sugar House Park, the site of Joe Hill’s death 100 years before.

Filed Under: News Tagged With: event, play

Why Celebrate Joe Hill?

September 3, 2015 by JoeHillOC 2 Comments

Joe HillOne hundred years ago this coming November, legendary songwriter and Wobbly Joe Hill was executed by the state of Utah. To celebrate the life and spirit of Joe Hill, we have created an all-day concert in Salt Lake City at Sugar House Park (a few hundred yards from where Joe was killed) with fine musicians in a variety of styles and with creative activism. The all day festivities will be held Saturday, September 5th, from 11:30AM – 10PM.

During the past hundred years since Joe Hill’s death, we have seen significant improvements in labor rights and protections. But, with the advent of big money into big politics, these basic reforms such as the 8-hour day, fair wages, and worker protections are now under threat of total obliteration by today’s monied politicians.

Which is why Joe Hill’s story remains significant and relevant for today. He addressed the concerns that are now plaguing the 21st century: a new economic order that brings rising inequality and the myth of a classless society; the consequences of free speech and dissent; the separation of church and state; the right to a fair trial; the definitions of patriotism and democracy. Hill wrote about all of these critical issues in a manner that reached millions of workers and that has made him, in the words of the New York Times a day after he was killed in 1915, “much more dangerous to social stability than he was when alive.”

Contributing to this post:
Nancy Snyder
Recording Secretary Emeritus, SEIU Local 1021

Filed Under: Labor Unions Today Tagged With: 21st century, dissent, fair wages, free speech, inequality

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