1911 NYC Garbage Strike: Overturned Horse-Drawn Cart

This photograph from 1911 captures a pivotal moment in New York City’s history during a garbage collectors strike. The image features a horse-drawn garbage cart overturned on a bustling street near 72nd Street and 1st Avenue, reflecting the tensions of labor unrest that marked this era. Garbage collectors were demanding better working conditions and wages, highlighting the growing labor movement in the early 20th century. This strike was significant as it revealed the vulnerabilities in municipal services and the dependence of urban life on sanitation workers.

The photograph was produced by the Bain News Service, known for documenting significant events of the time. This striking image not only illustrates the methods of refuse collection during the period but also serves as a historical record of the social challenges that garbage collectors faced. Such visual documentation helps us understand the labor issues that were beginning to reshape the workforce, ultimately influencing future labor rights and city regulations.