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Work

Like fellow immigrants before them, the Greek settlers in Lowell took entry-level jobs in factories and shops like the Boott Cotton Mills and America Hide and Leather, and later the Laganas Shoe Company. Though mostly peasants, those men and women possessed qualities that employers valued: they had agile minds, superior manual dexterity, pride in their work, and impressive stamina, and a willingness to temporarily work for lower wages. In 1912, a typical mill worker started at $3.91 a week. Work provided a living, but as important, it helped them to sustain bedrock institutions (family, community, church) that gave meaning and value to their lives.