LE ROY PENNYSAVER & NEWS - DECEMBER 10, 2023 by Lynne Belluscio I attended the Irish Tenor’s concert in Rochester on Sunday, and I was particularly taken by a song, “Immigrant Eyes” also known as my “Grandfather’s Immigrant Eyes.” “Old Ellis Island was swarming, Like a scene from a costume ball, ... When my father’s own father stood huddled, With the tired and the hungry and scared ... For he gave me the gift of this country, And the look in his immigrant eyes.” Between 1820 and 1860 the Irish constituted over one third of all immigrants into the United States and by the 1840s they comprised nearly half of all immigrants. Most of men worked in the coal mines or built the railroads and dug canals. Over 3000 Irish immigrants were hired to help dig the Erie Canal beginning in 1817. It was back-breaking work. After the canal was opened, some stayed on to take care of the mules that pulled the canal boats. It was noted that Catholic parishes that served the Irish workers sprung up along the Canal. The women became servants and domestic workers. The 1845 potato famine in Ireland brought boatloads of Irish to the American shores. Problems with the Irish immigrants precipitated the formation of the New York State Commission of Immigration in 1847. Its principal concern was the Port of New York. Prejudice against the Irish was rampant. Signs and broadsides advertised “Help Wanted – No Irish Need Apply.” In LeRoy, in 1849, the early Irish immigrants established a foothold in the community by attending Mass in the old Round House on West Main Street. In a history of St. Peter’s Church, published by the Historical Society, it was written, that, “In those early years the church was mistrusted by more and tolerated only reluctantly by most. ... In their origin, many of the communicants of St. Peter’s were ‘as Irish as Paddy’s Pig.’ ” It was recorded that many of the Irish lived in the Irish hamlet of Plugville on West Bergen Road and they walked twelve miles to Batavia and back again. One of the early Irish settlers was Anthony Murphy, whose name appears on a deed that was owned by Dr. Paul Welsh. Another early name was Dennis Butler who lived on Pleasant Street. His son was Ambrose Butler, whose house was located on West Bergen Road. The house was also known as the Munt home. Another name was Andrew Carney who lived in a log cabin on South Street Road. He had the uncanny ability to hold a nail in his teeth and break it in two with his hands. Florence McCarthy, was the gardener for Jacob LeRoy in the 1830s. He had worked for the LeRoy family in New York City and then came by Erie Canal to LeRoy. Thomas Ledwidge lived in a lane behind the Crocker farm on Selden Road. Other men from Ireland included Patrick Hassett, Thomas Kirk, Patrick Morgan, James Trainor, James O’Donohue, Nicholas Taafe, David Nealand, Arthur Kellin, Charles Rogers. As mentioned, there was a lot of prejudice against the Irish, and the LeRoy Gazette was quick to point out that any law infractions were caused by the drunken Irish. However, when the Civil War broke out, it was the Irish who filled the ranks of the Union army. More than 150,000 Irishmen, many of whom were not American citizens fought for the North. Some units, such as the 69th New York Volunteer Infantry were known as the Irish Brigade. I cannot find any men from LeRoy who served in the 69th, but I have discovered in the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) – Staunton Post of LeRoy, records three men who were born in Ireland. James McPhillips was born in Ireland in 1822 and enlisted August 1862 in Company I 151st Regiment New York Volunteer infantry. The 151st was organized in Lockport. McPhillips joined the GAR in 1885. BernardMcCarrickwas born in 1819 in Ireland and enlisted August 1862 in the 151st Regiment of the New York Volunteer Infantry. He joined the GAR in 1894. Arthur O’Connor was born in Ireland in 1843 and enlisted August 1862 in Co I 151st Regiment New York Volunteer Infantry and was wounded in the Battle of the Wilderness in 1864. St. Patrick’s Day in LeRoy, has traditionally been a day when the bars served green beer and folks of any nationality go bar hopping. Also celebrating Irish soda bread, beautiful Irish linen, Irish potatoes, corned beef and cabbage, shepard’s pie, and colcannon. And somebody has to break out and sing, “Oh, Danny Boy.” My Grandfather’s Immigrant Eyes
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