Barre's Old Labor Hall

Primo Maggio 

The May Day celebration of the

Barre Historical Society: April 30-May 2

Grandson of Galleani To Speak

At Italian Dinner on April 30 at 5:30

Call for reservations: 802-456-7456

Tickets $20.00 in advance

$22.00 at the Door

Sean Sayers is coming to Primo Maggio.   His grandfather, Luigi Galleani, published America's most important anarchist newspaper in Barre 100 years ago.  Sean's mother , the daughter of Luigi and Maria, was born in Barre in 1909.

Sean Sayers

Primo Maggio at the Old Labor Hall

The first Primo Maggio observance at the Old Labor Hall occurred on May 1, 1901.  A notice in the Barre Evening Telegram read, "The members of the Italian Colony are observing today, May 1st as Labor Day...At 10:00 this forenoon, a well attended mass meeting at Socialists Hall was addressed by G. Miani, Messrs. Cassi, Calgani, Estev.  Philp Halvosa was the last speaker and delivered an interesting address...This evening the celebration will be continued with dancing and a dramatic presentation at Socialists Hall."

Galleani Returns to Barre!

Galleani's Grandson Speaks at

Primo Maggio

100 years ago the most influential Italian anarchist in America lived in Barre.  Luigi Galleani came to town as a fugitive - wanted for incitement to riot during the silk-dyers strike in Patterson, New Jersey.  He and his wife and family lived in a home on Pleasant Street.  His devoted followers included Sacco and Vanzetti; and Emma Goldman, no stranger to Barre, made a special trip to the Granite City to meet him.

Luigi and Maria Galleani at home

Befriended by the great Barre artist Carlo Abate, to whom the statue of the Italian Stonecarver on Main Street is dedicated, he was able to publish the most strident anarchist newspaper in America, Cronaca Sovversiva.  His Cronaca was read all over the world.

Years later, when he was extradited to Patterson, hundreds of Barre residents demonstrated on his behalf petitioning the governor to block the extradition order. 

Galleani and his family lived in Barre for about 10 years before he moved his publishing enterprise to Lynn, Massachusetts.  His dedicated followers (or Galleanisti) espoused "direct action" or a confrontational mode of opposition to the established order.

Galleani was deported in 1920, perceived as a threat to American institutions.  His wife and children remained in the U.S. for a time and some children later emigrated.

Luigi Galleani's grandson, Professor Sean Sayers, of the University of Kent in England, will join us for Primo Maggio as our featured speaker.  Sean's mother was born in Barre.