Dover Doins: Remembering historic women's strike at city mills

Ron Cole
Ron  Cole

Here in Dover, we recognize March for many things, one of which is Women’s History Month. This gives us an opportunity to highlight the contributions of women to events in history.

The commemoration takes place throughout the United States, Canada and other parts of the world.

We in Dover hold a special place in U.S. history as home of what has been known as the location of the first women’s strike in the country. In 1828, Dover was the home of the Cocheco Manufacturing Company, a cotton mill employing 800 women and girls. The factories changed hands, reducing wages for women workers, but not men who were already paid at a higher rate.

In December 1828, the women rebelled with some 600 walking out and parading through the mill and town, eventually stating their feelings and concern for their treatment.

The strike was unsuccessful, but the actions were significant as they served as an inspiration for other women to shine a light on their poor and less than equal treatment.

Yes, in Dover U.S. women began a long and continual struggle, one that is apparently present here in New Hampshire even in 2021.

House Bill 170 was introduced and sent to committee. The bill is entitled Commemoration of the First Strike By Women in the United States Recognition. It was amended to “The Dover Mill Girls Recognition Day” and it reads “The Governor shall annually issue a proclamation calling for a proper observance of December 30th in recognition of the first labor strike in the state of New Hampshire which took place on three days in Dover, starting December 26 1828." This was a seminal event in United States history for both labor and women’s rights movements. Schools and libraries are encouraged to commemorate the day with appropriate ceremonies and activities as close to the date as possible.

The bill was just retained by the House Education Committee. This doesn’t mean it is dead, but it will be held in committee until next year.

Apparently some members of the House are concerned that a strike in Pawtucket, R.I., took place four years prior and women were involved as well as men and boys. Labor challenges had been taking place for several years in Pawtucket before things spilled over  According to the words of a prominent judge of the day, he saw  “a most gloomy assemblage of people he had ever witnessed was a street literally filled with Men, Women and Children pulling and hauling, screaming and shouting in the streets.”

Hopefully this does not turn into another finger-pointing exercise on the part of our elected officials. Perhaps it would be best to reword the bill somewhat as the first women’s strike in N.H. and known to be one of the first in the U.S.?

Most recently another controversy has raised its ugly (perhaps suitable attribution) head - that of tagging and graffiti, and what to do about it. In our lovely community, scribbles, pictures, paintings and some indescribable scratchings present themselves throughout the city. They’re on private property and in some beautiful locations.

What do we do about it and which is even remotely acceptable? Talking the legality of it is one thing that determines what is unacceptable, while there are some things that might be “well done.” 

This controversy isn’t new. In Dover, it spilled over as recently as last year. Things got out of hand in some wrong places for it and it has become prevalent again.

Back to the “artwork.” How do we know what is acceptable and what is not?  Now we’re getting into an area which is almost indescribable except to say good art is in the eye of the beholder.

Suggestions have been made to locate an area, a wall for example, which certain members of the community (Hmm ... shall we call them street artists?) can use to exhibit their skills. How do we determine who can use the area, which can be cleaned off occasionally and reused. Others suggest that tasteless scribbling of trashy graffiti and tagging performers will write over the "acceptable" street art. Whew, this is getting confusing, isn’t it?

I have a suggestion for you. We have a strong, bright, concerned City Council that individually and collectively represent all 32,000-plus residents of our bright, shiny community that is getting besmirched by these would-be modern-day Michelangelos. How about we ask them to take care of this? 

Also, we have 32,000 folks, many of whom are not happy about it. What are your thoughts about this? Send me a note and contact local officials.

This challenges my empathy concerns, but hey, some of them need understanding. Is some graffiti and street art something Dover can live with?

Next week we’re going to talk about what is “emerging” in Dover. How do you see it?

Ron Cole can be reached at