KELLY DAY: Off with pay. I am enjoying 5 days off.
While the history and origin of the "Kelly Day" is not certain, the most popular explanation is as follows:
The Chicago Fire Department, which spent $7.978 million in 1930, in 1931 spent $7.742 million, $6.038 million in 1932, $6.026 million in 1933 and reversed that downward trend in 1934 by spending $6.261 million. It was 1936 before spending reached over $7 million again. Fire Department activity was boosted by federal employment programs in 1936, when Public Works Administration dollars were granted to construct new fire stations, as Chicago began final elimination of wooden-framed fire houses.
Part of the reversal of conditions was the election of a firefighter’s son, Edward J. Kelly, to the Mayor’s seat in 1933. Kelly began by partially restoring the 1932 salary retrenchment and in 1936 gave Chicago firefighters a day off for every seven on duty, beginning a new terminology that Illinois firefighters still use for additional days off -- a "Kelly" day. Chicago firefighters were so fond of Kelly they named him an "Honorary Fire Chief" in July 1934.
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3 comments:
In Illinois we call them "snow days."
Now, see, all this time I thought a Kelly day was named after some guy named Kelly who died because he worked too much. I appreciate the clarification!
Ellen, I thought that's what a Kelly day was, too. In fact, I think I was the one that told you. I swear that is what Nick told me.
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