Tale of two strikes

Looking back at the Chrysler and Perfect Circle walkouts of the 1950s, their causes, effects and legacies.

New Castle was the site of two major strikes in the 1950s, the first at Chrysler Corp. and the second at Perfect Circle.

Henry County Historian Darrel Radford attempted to separate the myths from the facts during a special presentation Thursday night, Dec. 8.

Sponsored by the New Castle-Henry County Public Library, program was the last in the year-long Bicentennial Series “Magical History Tour.” It was held at the Henry County Historical Society museum at 606 S. 14th St.

You can see the presentation on the Henry County Historical Society’s YouTube channel. Go to YouTube and search for Henry County Historical Society AND Perfect Circle.

The two New Castle strikes created major news for different reasons.

The Chrysler strike, which went on for 100 days, was largely peaceful and effective. It resulted in major changes to worker pensions. The Perfect Circle strike was shorter, 76 days, but far more turbulent. It began on July 26, 1955 and continued through Oct. 10. As many as 600 National Guard troops were called into New Castle to keep the peace. Reporters from LIFE Magazine and The Christian Science Monitor wrote about the Perfect Circle strike. Two newspapers in London, England, actually called The Courier-Times here for more details. Martial law was enforced. Six people were shot and 50 arrested at the Perfect Circle plant.

Using newspaper archives, historical society files and photos from Doug Magers as well as the museum, Radford has created a PowerPoint that attempts to tell the story of what really happened. The presentation also leans on the book Legacy Costs: The Story of a Factory Town by Richard Hudelson.

When auto pioneers Jonathan Maxwell and Benjamin Briscoe decided to bring their new factory to New Castle instead of Muncie, it was a momentous decision that had major impacts on New Castle and Henry County for nearly a century. Learn how it all happened in PowerPoint presentations now available to view for free on the Henry County Historical Society’s YouTube Channel.

Vintage photos like this one are featured in the PowerPoint presentations led by Henry County Historical Society President Gene Ingram.