Samuel Gompers

A large, comfortable room decorated in a restful off-white, pale blue and gold color scheme, Samuel Gompers features a firm queen bed, luxurious linens, and a cozy private sitting area tucked in the bay window. A desk nook and large mirrored chest of drawers completes this serene oasis, conveniently located for our guests who prefer the ease of a ground floor room.

Named for the founder of the AFL who lived three blocks away from the Inn in Bloomingdale.

Behind the Room Name: Samuel Gompers
(1850-1924)  

Starting out as a poor Jewish immigrant from London, Samuel Gompers made his living at a cigar shop at the young age of 10. His skill earned him respect from other cigar-makers, who eventually elected him president of the Cigar Makers Union Local 144.

In 1886, Gompers organized the American Federation of Labor. His office was not much more than an 8x10 room in a shed. His son was the office boy. There was $160 in the treasury. As Gompers said, it was "much work, little pay, and very little honor."

Four years later, the AFL represented 250,000 workers. In two more years the number had grown to over one million. Gompers was elected president of the AFL 42 times, until his death in 1924. A memorial to Gompers can be found in the park at 11th St. & Massachusetts Ave. NW.