In 1913 Wheatland was a town of about 1,000 residents and each summer was flooded with thousands of migrant workers who came to pick hops for the Durst Bros. At the Nevada County Historical Society Speaker Night this Thursday, Historian and author Ron Jauch (Jock) will tell the story of the Wheatland Hop Riot that took place on a sweltering hot summer day when the IWW (International Workers of the World Union) attempted to organize the workers and their demands were not met by the Durst Brothers.
click here to listen to Ron Jauch
The riot, triggered by a warning shot fired into the air, resulted in four immediate deaths, including that of the Yuba County District Attorney, a Marysville Deputy Sheriff and two hop workers.
click here to listen to Ron Jauch
Jauch says the impact of the labor action had wide implications throughout the state and country and led to improved working conditions and changes in labor laws.
Ron Jauch’s Nevada County Historical Society speaker night presentation on the Wheatland Hops Riot will be Thursday evening, August 21st, at 7 o’clock at the Madelyn Helling Library Community Room and is free and open to the public.
Martin Webb
Wait, you mean to say 100 years ago there was an annual seasonal influx of migrant workers in the region who helped harvest a drug crop? My how times have changed...