What was it like to live as a Pullman employee in the town of Pullman?

Living as a Pullman employee in the town of Pullman in the late 19th century was a rather unique experience. When the town was first founded by George Pullman in 1880, the community was considered to be a ‘company town,’ as Pullman owned nearly everything in it. Employees were rewarded with higher wages than elsewhere, but were also controlled more strictly, with Pullman regulating the rents, prices of food and services, and even some aspects of the employees’ social lives. Alcohol was forbidden in Pullman, though this didn't stop it from being smuggled in. Work rules were enforced strictly, and time off was scarce. In addition to the higher wages, Pullman employees enjoyed many additional benefits. They paid no taxes, so the cost of living was lower. Education and healthcare were provided free of charge, and employees even had the opportunity to buy goods directly from the company at reduced prices. Overall, the experience of living in Pullman was one of both strict regulations and personal gain. Employees were bound to the town and to the company, yet the higher wages and additional benefits allowed them more economic freedoms than they likely could have had elsewhere.