What restrictions did the Pullman Company place on residents of Pullman, Illinois?

The town of Pullman, Illinois, was a company-owned community where George M. Pullman exercised near-total control over his employees' lives, effectively ruling as a feudal lord. To maintain a "happy and loyal" workforce, the company imposed strict regulations on residents:1

• Suppression of Speech and Assembly: The company prohibited independent newspapers, public speeches, town meetings, and any form of open discussion.1
• Intrusive Oversight: Company inspectors regularly entered workers' homes to conduct cleanliness checks.1
• Housing and Lease Control: The company maintained a rigid social hierarchy in housing, assigning specific types of dwellings based on a worker's status. Furthermore, the company reserved the right to terminate residential leases with only 10 days' notice.1
• Religious Restrictions: Only approved Protestant denominations were permitted in the town, and because the company charged high rents for these spaces, churches often stood empty while other congregations were barred from meeting.1
• Economic Coercion: The company prohibited saloons and exerted total control over the town's economy, ensuring that rent was collected directly from workers' paychecks.1