Irish immigration to Kewaunee County never matched the
Germans, Bohemians or Belgians, and most Irish who made the county their home
went to Casco and Franklin Towns. Early papers point to St. Patrick’s Day
observances, however in the 1880s, celebrations didn’t include green beer,
shamrock shakes, or Irish Cream custard.
History tells us that the first U.S. St. Pat’s Day parade
was held in 1762 in New York, originating with lonesome Irish soldiers in the
British army. To put that in perspective, it was fourteen years before the
signing of the Declaration of Independence. Savannah, Georgia, and Suffolk
County, Massachusetts, have made St. Patrick’s Day a legal holiday. Irish
ancestry is most populous in Boston where, according to Irish-Italian friends, St.
Patrick’s celebration coincides with Evacuation Day, the day commemorating the
end of British occupation in the city.
All the present hoopla seems to have started about 1960 or
so. It was then when Chicago began celebrating by turning the Chicago River
green. The White House followed suit in 2009 by dying the north fountain green.
March is a month for green.
On December 21, 1900, the Enterprise told readership
that during the 1800s, 4 ½ million people of Irish birth immigrated to the U.S.
As the century closed out, over 5 million Americans boasted Irish descent. At
the time, the U.S. had more people with Irish parentage than did Ireland
itself. Three-fifths of Irish immigrants and their descendants then lived in
New England. One-fourth lived in the north central states, and that included
Wisconsin and its neighbors.
So, what were the Irish of Kewaunee County doing? A 1934
Enterprise said the Irish came into the county during the rapid settlement of
the 1850s. If the Irish celebrated during the county’s “pioneer era,” it does
not appear to be recorded. But within a few years, that changed.
The Temperance movement had caught on before the Casco
Catholic T.A.S. – Temperance Abstinence Society – entertained in their hall in
honor of St. Patrick’s Day in 1888. What did they do without green beer? An
April 1892 Enterprise reported that one of the Franklin “sluggers”
celebrated a little too much three weeks earlier on St. Patrick’s Day when he
got his nose too close to somebody’s fist. It was several weeks later when he
was back to normal, but, as he said, it was all for St. Patrick’s sake. It
didn’t appear the fight started at a Temperance party! The following year, while
Casco’s St. Patrick’s Society was arranging a program expected to eclipse
anything that happened before, folks in Algoma were rehearsing “Ten Nights in a
Barroom” to be performed in the Temperance Hall on St. Pat’s Day. Seems as if
something was wrong with that picture. The Enterprise began reporting about
the shamrocks and green ribbons being extensively worn in honor of Ireland’s
patron saint. St. Patrick’s Day was gaining more than Irish popularity in the
county.
In 1909, Sandy Bay residents Miss Lillian Alberts and Mr.
Oscar Alberts entertained their friends on St. Patrick’s evening in honor of
one who participated in two plays a few evenings before. The group enjoyed
refreshments as they listened to selections on the violin, organ, and piano
before relishing an 11 o’clock supper. As guests left, they were presented with
a shamrock leaf as a token of the special evening. As the Enterprise
reported, guests had a good time that would be long remembered.
By 1925, St. Patrick’s Day was observed in county schools as
a day to reflect on Irish history. Door-Kewaunee County Normal School, the
teacher training school for both counties, gave its most successful program
ever, according to the Record Herald. Musical entertainment included
such Irish favorites as “My Wild Irish Rose,” “Where the River Shannon Flows,”
and “When Irish Eyes are Smiling.” Then came the play “Pat and His Countrymen”
and, finally, Principal Donovan’s presentation, “A Humorous Irish Selection,”
which put the observance over the top.
Kewaunee residents marked the 1926 St. Patrick’s Day when the Ladies Auxiliary of Kewaunee’s
Congregation Church served a delicious St. Patrick’s Day supper. For a charge
of 50 cents there was baked ham, creamed parsley potatoes, escalloped corn,
Boston baked beans, rye bread, hot rolls, pickles, olives, and relishes, plus
cakes and coffee. The Christian Endeavor Society was planning entertainment to
follow the supper, however it was postponed a week because of the special
attractions at the Opera House. As stuffed as attendees were, the postponement
was probably a good thing. There might have been snoring when some of the sated
drifted off.
Casco marked its 35th year of St. Patrick’s Day
observances in 1929 with a comedy-drama presented in the evening and at a
matinee at Decker’s Hall. The following year, Casco offered a two-day
entertainment when the St. Patrick’s Day events included a play presented by
Casco’s Home Talent. Called a delightful comedy-drama, “The Gilded Age of
Youth,” was presented by well-known local actors and produced at Casco Park
Hall. The well-known cast had such names as Drury, Donovan, O’Donnell, Doyle in
addition to a few Irish folks whose names did not begin with a “D.”
A March Enterprise wrote about Mrs. Dworak - married
to a Czech - who was one of the Irish ladies giving a party “reliving the old
spirit of St. Patrick.” Green and white decorations provided an Irish
atmosphere for the cards and Irish anecdotes enjoyed during the evening. There
was even a traveling prize called “The Spirit of St. Patrick” won by one of
Irish descent, Elizabeth Donovan. After a late evening repast, guests left the
party shouting “Erin Go Bragh” – “Ireland to the end of time” in Gaelic.
During the 1940s, Casco Irish celebrated St. Patrick’s Day
with a “roaring minstrel show” at the high school auditorium. Casco Holy Name
Society sponsored the show that was staged by the St. Phillip Parish players of
Green Bay. It was said the show was 2 ½ hours of such hilarious entertainment
that at the end, sides hurt from laughing and eyes hurt from crying. A Green
Bay orchestra offered appropriate music between the acts.
Bank of Kewaunee was not to be left out. The “Old Reliable” seemed
to think more than a little of their “bread and butter” came from those with Irish
heritage. For years during the 1940s. the bank ran ads highlighting the “brave
Irish immigrants, seeking opportunity and freedom on new soil. The people met
hardships with their fine Irish humor, and took part in county affairs with
their eager Irish spirit. To honor the lads and lassies, and their descendants
who have contributed so much to Kewaunee County, let us all be ‘a wearin’ the
green’ next Wednesday, St. Patrick’s Day.”
There was some head-scratching when folks read the 1947 Record
Herald headline, “Casco Irish Are Hosts to Czechs.” As it was, the Czechs
in question also lived in Casco. Bohemian-in-charge, Lee Metzner, invited
people to a “Spring Pohle,” a Bohemian fun and frolic. Casco residents were
entertained with such characters of Peva Barrel King, a Spanish - yet Czech -
bull fighter, a Bavarian Czech Panna and more. Irish joined in the fun and Mr.
Finnerty, an Irishman, dressed like the Bavarian Beer Panna.
As St. Patrick’s Day 1948 rolled around, State Health Office
Dr. Carl Neupert pointed out the state map illustrating the nationalities
represented in the 72 counties. He used that representation to determine how
the Irish were doing and was not surprised that Irish names popped up
throughout the state public health picture. Irish doctors, nurses, local health
officers and groups of citizens gave a healthy boost to their communities.
Neupert felt the variety of ancestries represented in Wisconsin might hold the
secret to Wisconsin’s health as one of the five healthiest states in the U.S.
St. Patrick celebrations continued, and not all in bars.
Ron’s Cheese in Luxemburg offered green cheese curds in 2015. The company made
national news with its pink curds for Valentine Day a month earlier. In 2018
Thumb Knuckle Brewery celebrated its first anniversary with Irish foods – that
somehow included booyah - and Cold Country Wines and Vines offered tastings
that included a souvenir glass, while pancake and porky breakfasts were church
fundraisers.
After being so restricted for two years with the Pandemic,
St. Patrick’s Day 2022 was truly a time for socialization and camaraderie from
the parade on City Deck in Green Bay and the post-parade activities at St.
Brendan’s Inn, to the Shamrock Shuffle (a race) in Madison, and the New Dublin
Fest in New London. Sturgeon Bay’s Kitty O’Reilly’s was part of the sponsorship
for a parade there. Many other Wisconsin communities enjoyed parades on March
19, a beautiful day for being outside when green was the name of the game all
over.
St. Patrick’s Day has changed since Kewaunee County saw the
first of the Culligans, Burkes, Hocks, Finnertys, Donovans, Smithwicks, Murphys
and so many more. What would they be sayin’ ‘bout “the wearin’ o’ the green”
150 years later? Maybe they’d be enjoying the green brew at one of the local
watering holes wondering how to dye the snow and ice in Casco Creek green.
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