The Pantagraph from Bloomington, Illinois • Page 6

A6 The Pantagraph Sunday, March 17, 2013 www.pantagraph.com A PAGE FROM OUR PAST B-N St. Patrick's Day parades date to 1860s I i der of Hibernians. Locally, interest in St. Patrick's Day began declining as the immigrant generation passed on. In 1914, about 300 area residents and guests sat down for the annual banquet, then held at the Bloomington Club on East Washington Street.

Distinguished guests included James O'Donnell, publisher of the Blooming-ton Bulletin, the newspaper of choice for Irish Catholic Democrats; Illinois State Normal University President David Felmley; Chicago Alton Railroad President W.G. Bierd and Bishop P.J. Muldoon of Rockford. The final AOH banquet was held in 1927 at the Illinois Hotel on the courthouse square. For much of the 20th century St.

Patrick's Day came and went without a significant public celebration. That's changing however, as witnessed by the formation several years ago of the Irish Heritage Society of McLean County and yesterday's third annual "Sharin' of the Green" parade through uptown In his opening remarks for the 1874 St. Patrick's Day celebration, Bloomington's own Adlai E. Stevenson I (who would later serve as vice presi -dent under Democrat Grover Cleveland) spoke of his visit to the Emerald Isle and its privations and struggles for independence. "I saw Ireland in its beauty and in its gloom; in its glory and in its desolation," he said.

"What a beautiful country the birthplace of wits, of warriors, of statesmen, of poets, and orators. A people of whom it has been truly said: 'They have fought successfully the battle of every country, but their own' We confidently abide in the faith that happier days are in waiting for the beautiful island and her gallant people." Interested in learning more? Come visit the McLean County Museum of History in downtown Bloomington and spend time in the 900-square foot exhibit "The Greening of the Prairie: Irish Immigration and Settlement in McLean County." Image courtesy of the LiDrary of Congress Titled "St. Patrick's Day in America," this image (circa 1872) shows a mother pinning a clover on her son's lapel as her daughter waves a banner or flag reading "God Save Ireland." Out the window a St. Patrick's Day procession can be seen moving down the street. problems tied to "the drink" within the Irish community gave rise to re -form-minded clubs whose members pledged to abstain from alcohol.

Twelve years later, in 1887, the annual St. Patrick's Day procession included three Blooming-ton divisions of the AOH, and one each from Chenoa, Merna and Wapella (Catholic strongholds in rural McLean and De Witt counties). Other participants included the Hibernian Rifles, the DeMolay Band and the Temperance Cadets. That evening the Hibernian Rifles, described once as a "semi-military organization of young men, well drilled and nattily uniformed," hosted their fourth annual ball at their hall on South Madison Street. Meanwhile, the Young Men's Temperance and Literary Society of Holy Trinity staged a more sober (literally and figuratively) "entertainment" at their own hall on Front Street.

Their program included William O'Brien's oration "Ireland and Public Opinion" and Miss Annie Burke's vocal solo "Dublin Bay." By the late 19th century the St. Patrick's Day tradition of a procession to Holy Trinity had given way to a banquet sponsored by the Ancient Or Check out Every Thursday in your Pantagraph. ml Estate Preservation John Hancock Duane Ralston, CLU ByBill Kemp Museum History In the 19th century St. Patrick's Day was a chance for Bloomington's Irish-born Catholic community to embrace its ethnic and cultural identity. There was drinking back then (naturally), sometimes on the heavy side, but since many participants were Irish immigrants, and some refugees of the Great Famine andor cruel and arbitrary British rule, St.

Patrick's Day likely carried an emotional resonance absent today's merrymaking. The Irish arrived in great numbers to this stretch of Central Illinois in the 1850s. They came with the first railroads, to live and die laying rails, maintaining and repairing locomotives and riding the "iron road" as brakemen, firemen and engineers. The earliest St. Patrick's Day celebrations in Bloom-ington were wild and woolly affairs, with the March 18, 1857, Pantagraph contrasting that year's relatively subdued observance with the recent past when "almost anything short of riot was winked at by the authorities." The first known local St.

Patrick's Day parade occurred in 1862, and it wasn't long before it was considered local tradition. Gun adv ocates sue over tax in Cook County ASSOCIATED PRESS CHICAGO A group of Chicago -area gun shops and gun owners are suing in an attempt to stop a new $25 tax on gun purchases in Cook County. Plaintiffs in the lawsuit filed Thursday in Cook County Circuit Court claim the new tax violates the right to bear arms. The tax goes into effect April 1 and is projected to bring in $600,000 this year. "There's enough taxes on those already we pay a sales tax.

(And) I had to pay $100 to qualify to purchase a gun and I think I've paid enough," Chicago resident and plaintiff Deborah Gow-der told the Chicago Sun-Times. Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle proposed the gun tax as part her $2.9 billion 2013 budget and said it would be a way to make up for the costs to taxpayers that result from gun violence. The suit argues there is no link between legal gun purchases and criminal activity. Preckwinkle 's spokeswoman, Kristen Mack, said county officials are confident the special tax will withstand legal challenge. On the Web History buff? -log on for an archive of Bill Kemp's weekly "A Page From Our Past" series: www.parrtagraph.compast "Potatoes, meat, 'drinkables' and other luxuries will probably be in demand and 'all Irish may commented The Pantagraph on March 17, 1866.

"We do not know what will be the order of the day here, but presume the Fenians will celebrate it by parading with their 'green banner' etc." In 1875, the annual pa Area TODAY Lasya Sudha Dance Academy Divine Rhythms annual celebration; p.m., Capen Auditorium, Illinois State University, Normal. Corned beef and cabbage dinner; p.m., Towanda American Legion; $10; carry-out MONDAY Spring book sale; regular hours Monday through March 30, Mount Hope-Funks Grove Library, McLean; 50 cents per book; 309-874-2291. State Rep. Josh Harms Home Cart Assisted Living Nursing Home Confinement All under one plan For More Information Contact: IHaw Rafctna t.VW Shi-Oil t. or Sunt Ratslna M.S Jit Uadmart Dr.

Suite 1)2 Normal, IL John Hancock Life Insurance Company A Rating A.M. Best AA-Fitch Rating AA- Standard Poors Al Moody's Since December 31, 2011 rade (though more of a formal procession) began at the Hibernian Hall on South Main Street and wended its way through the near west side and downtown before halting at Holy Trinity. The line of march included Philip Kadel's Brass Band and the local chapters of the Hibernian Benevolent Society the Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH), the Father Matthew Total Abstinence and Benevolent Society and the similarly named St. Patrick's Total Abstinence and Benevolent Society. With regards to the latter two groups, traveling office hours; 2-4 p.m., Pontiac City Hall, 114 W.

Howard. Kingdom Youth Impact Night; 6:30 p.m., City of Refuge Ministries, 401 E. Jefferson, Bloomington; praise, worship, dance and rap; for all children, teenagers and young adults. Photographer Tom Ul-rich; 7 p.m., Center for Natural Science building, room C101, Illinois Wes-leyan University, Bloomington; www.jwp-audubon.org. Sarah Gentry and Julian Dawson; 7:30 p.m., ISU Kemp Recital Hall; ISU faculty violinist and guest pianist; free.

Laurie Domes, Montez and Kimberly Weichmann, Timothy and Peggy Moon, Charles and Angela Hendren, Jay and Heather Carriero, Antonio and Alessandra McCurdy, Travis and Paula Holly, David and Sharon Jackson, Ronald and Kathy. 28and July S-19 Scott Ralston refund? Divorces Bonus time? Tax Time for LA! S1K! Special Financing Options Available No Money Down Special pricing bonus offer for attendees! ATTEND OUR LASIK SEMINAR Illinois State University ColG0GDr BLOOMINGTON The following divorces were finalized in McLean County Circuit Court: Dinelli, Brett and Alyssa Hawkins, Stephen and Nora Estrada, Ruben and Vonda Griffin, Michael and Marta Miller, Todd Jr. and Bobbi Kapchinske, Adam and Randi Ogg, Thomas and Jodi Richert, Matthew and June 17 01 N. Main Normal, APWH i AT Fun March 19 th Tuesday, 5:30 Physician Presentation Refreshments RSVP by Monday, March 18th 'Offer available only to seminar attendees. WWW.CFY.ILLINOISSTATE.EDU Over 40 classes available! Returning classes include KidsFeast, Fiesta en Espanol, Artfully Yours, and more! New for 201 3: Kidmunication, Braille is and more! Eye Surgical Associates 1 505 Eastland Drive, Suite 2200 Bloomington RSVP to 662-7700 or 866-372-5274 or eyesurgicalassociates.com Flyers are available for pick-up at the EYE SURGICAL ASSOCIATES Alumni Center, 11 IL fH (J 8 A.M.

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