My son's interest in the labor movement most likely comes as a result of his political leanings, but perhaps also might be attributed to some "weird" genetic link from our family history. On my side of his family, his great grandfather actually organized and helped to found a labor union.
My grandfather and my son's great-grandpa, Joe Lewis (born in Russia, now Latvia, in 1887), was an immigrant to Portland, where he arrived with his family as a boy in 1901.
According to a dog-eared, yellowing newspaper article I have from the Oregon Labor Press, dated, October, 1955, my grandfather, my son's great grandfather, Joe Lewis, helped to organize and found the Meat Cutters Local 143 and became the union's first president. His name appears on the charter issued by the International Union in 1912!
When his family first arrived in Portland, Joe Lewis and his younger brothers began working by selling newspapers on the streets of downtown. But "Poppa Joe" (as we affectionately called him) apparently moved on and went to work as a delivery boy at Friedman's butcher shop at S.W. First and Columbia. I remember hearing "Poppa" tell stories of driving a delivery horse and buggy up S.W. Vista Avenue to homes in the West Hills, where he took meat to Mr. Friedman's customers.
"Poppa" must have been a very strong young man, as he distinguished himself early on in the meat industry by winning many of the veal skinning contests at the annual butchers' picnic! (perhaps a precursor of today's Labor Day affair?) I was a little girl, and could not imagine my warm and fuzzy "Poppa" actually cutting the skin off an animal. However, as a butcher, he surely cut a lot more! The article in the Labor Press praises Joe as "a versatile worker and an accomplished craftsman in all phases of the industry, including cutting, curing, and sausage making."
In 1924 Joe Lewis went into the butcher business for himself. Later, he took in his three brothers, Bill, Harry, and Max, as partners. In 1934 they established a market in the Portland Public Market (which later became the Oregon Journal Building on S.W. Front Avenue) In about 1941, Joe and his brothers established Lewis Brothers Alder Market on S.W. First and Washington.
Apparently he mentored many young people along the way and trained numerous apprentices who went on to careers in the meat industry. I have had people stop me when they found out I was his granddaughter to tell me what a fine person he was, and how many times he had taken kids on the verge of trouble, and taken them into his "shop" and trained them for a career. He was a special man, Joe Lewis, an early pioneer in his industry, a meat cutter, union member, and later business owner and industry leader.
We are so proud of you, "Poppa Joe", and we are thinking about your special life and accomplishments on this Labor Day.
***in addition to my recollections, most information is taken from the article "Joe Lewis, Industry Leader and Union's Friend, Retires", by Tony Wolleck, Oregon Labor Press, October, 1955.
