Today — February 29 — is Leap Day. However, for about 30 years, on the UC Berkeley campus, it was also known as “Labor Day.” In 1896, the California legislature would not provide funds for the University’s infrastructure. Regent Jacob Bert Reinstein approached the University’s male students to work on a solution. The men responded by working for three days — February 27-29 — building roads, bridges, and performing other improvements to the campus. It was so successful, that the students decided that every Leap Day would be Labor Day.
Because there was no Leap Day in 1900 (the Gregorian Calendar restricts leap days for years divisible by 100 to those that are also divisible by 400), the second Labor Day did not take place until 1904. For the second Labor Day, male students constructed over 2300 feet of paths, sidewalks, and roads, saving the University over $1500. At the end of the day, the female students provided dinner for a celebration that included fireworks.
The third (1908) Labor Day was postponed for a week due to rain. Students built another road (behind the bleachers of California Field) and repaired the track. Afterwards, they celebrated with a meal at California Field followed by town picnic style games (which they called “fake games”.) The 1912 Labor Day saw the construction of a road from the intersection of Hearst and Arch Streets to the center of campus.
The most famous Labor Day took place in 1916. Armed with picks, shovels, and wheelbarrows, two thousand students built a road up to the “C” in three hours. Afterwards, students celebrated with lunch at California Field, contests, a “smoker” at Old Harmon Gym (with new head coach “Andy” Smith addressing the men), and a dance.
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