Customer Reviews

Disaster in Lawrence: The Fall of the Pemberton Mill

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Disaster in Lawrence: The Fall of the Pemberton Mill is a fascinating book about the little-known collapse of one of the major mills in late 19th century Massachusetts that resulted in the deaths of many workers, including young children put to work to support immigrant families. The tragedy is the tremendous loss of life when women and children were forced by poverty to work long hours six days a week for wealthy mill owners. Occurring in the Robber Baron era of the late 19th century, the disaster is movingly brought to life by Oickle 's amazingly detailed account. The book includes loads of illustrations from contemporary sources--I found it very sad but compelling reading and highly recommend it to those who love history and anyone interested in social justice as well as those who just enjoy a good read.

Being raised in Lawrence I am interested in all books about Lawrence. I don't remember where or when I first learned about the Pemberton Mill Disaster. William Moran wrote several emotional pages on the Disaster in his book "The Belles of New England." Bruce Watson did a bang up job on his book "Bread and Roses." And now we have Mr. Oickle filling in some of the gap with regards to the Pemberton Mill in his "Disaster In Lawrence." This is a very good history book - lots of historical stuff. Mr. Oickle gives us lots of names, people, places and facts. The last two or three chapters get into the controversy over the mill's construction. I am sure another whole book could be written on this area alone.
This was a very positive book for the town and community of Lawrence. A number of very familiar names to all Lawrencians pop up everywhere and are made real as opposed to just a name on an old school or a plaque at the Common. I enjoyed the book and will add it to my personal Lawrence bookshelf. I would never have thought when a child wandering the streets and hanging on the corners of Lawrence that I would one day be writing and collecting books on the town. So there you go.

Richard Noble - The Hobo Philosopher - Author of:

"A Summer with Charlie" Salisbury Beach

This is a fact filled book covering a story that every New Englander should know. The Pemberton Mill disaster was (and still is) one of the worst industrial calamities in the United States history. And yet many Massachusetts (and New England) residents don't know the story. In 1860 the Pemberton Mill, a textile mill, located in Lawrence, Mass collapsed. The workers, many of them woman and children, were crushed, trapped and some miraculously left uninjured. The rumble of the building's fall was heard all across the city as people came rushing to the aid of the hurt and trapped workers. The situation turned for the worse as a fire broke out during the rescue and quickly engulfed the still ensnared victims. People could do nothing as they heard the cries of pain as the buried workers burnt to death.

2010 marks the 150th Anniversary of this tragic event. In honor of these poor souls lost I recommend that you read this book.