Labor Day celebrates workers, summer’s end

Labor Day, designed to appease city workers in the 19th century, serves as the unofficial end to summer and gives recognition to the contributions of the nation's workers.

“Labor Day means time for a family to get together,” said Donna Jones, who moved to Maricopa six months ago.

Three-year Maricopa resident Theresa Petriello said Labor Day celebrates “the freedom to do work.” She said she will spend the day with friends.

The first celebration of Labor Day was on Tuesday, Sept. 5, 1882, in New York City's Union Square, but it wasn’t until June 28, 1894 that Congress passed an act to make it a legal holiday.

More than 100 years later, the founder of Labor Day is still debated. Some say the cofounder of the American Federation of Labor, Peter McGuire, first suggested it, while others claim secretary of the Central Labor Union Matthew Maguire conceived the idea.

Maricopans are observing the day in their own special ways.

Maricopa resident Andrea Linden said she will be camping.

Mike Heineman has one thing on his mind.

“I’m going up north to get out of the heat.”