The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-02-02
Allan McDermott Opened it
in the New Parish
Hall Last Night.
THE BUILDING THRONcED
Pretty Girls Display Their
Wares and Get Nu-
merous Autographs.

| paying Tor H6ler s elegant new PARISH
school and hail. at York and Van Worst
streets, was formally opened last night
| by Allan L. McDermott. Quite large
crowd was in attendance and little later
it reminded one of the swirl at the recent
great Davis Associations fair. A great
many of the same people were there, for
no set worked more enthusiastically at
the Davis fair than members of st. Pc
ter's parish. Mr.. Davis himself presided
at the opening ceremonies and introduced
Mr.. McDermott, Mayor Hoos and the
other speakers. These, along with prom
inent members of the parish, occupied
seats on the splendidly appointed stage
The scene was a very pretty one
Around the square hall are decorated
booths, stocked with assortments of use
full and fancy articles and presided over
by coteries of charming women and
young ladies. The decorations of the
booths are simple, but beautiful and ar
tistc Each is distinguished by it's color.
Almost every color Of the rainbow ap-
pears. and all are trimmed in gold. The
tables glisten with silver and cut glass,
the slSeen of satin and the polish of
costly bric-a-brac and furniture.
The booths last night formed an ex-
quisite frame for the scene on the floor.
The big open space was crowded with
patrons and pretty and enthusiastic auto
graph seekers. Company D of the Irish
Volunteers, some thirty odd members, un-
der command of Dominick Jennings, was
present in full uniform and gave a par
TALLY military aspect to the scene. Around
the gallery ledge and high up around the
frieze, brilliant electric globes, a foot or
so apart, form double row of lights that
almost encircle the big white hall, and
with other electric lamps of a different
pattern diffuse an almost dazzling flood
of light.
The stage was set with a woodland
scene. Beside Mr.. McDermott, Mayor
Hoos and Mr.. Davis, there were also
seated thereon the Rev. Father Harpes,
the Rev. Father Harlan, James F. Gan
non, Thomas higgins, Patrick J. Buckley
Alderman Calnon, Patrick McGovern, Al
derman Burns Michael Day, Michael F.
Holmes and others prominent in the par
ish. Mr. Davis first introduced Mr. Nc
Dermott. His speech was short but elo-
quent.
Mr.. McDermott paid a glowing tribute
to Father Harpes, his assistants and the
members of the parish for their efforts
in the line of education-the rearing of
such a splendid institution. 1t was an
other mile stone in the progress of man.
Such institutions placed in the hands of
the young people tools with which to
carve their way through life. Mr. Nc
Dermott alluded to the fact that the ply
sical as we'll as the moral and mental
culture of the young were looked after
by such institutions He said that no
better object could be aided or could ap-
peal to the generosity of members of the
parish and other patrons of the fair. Af-
ter declaring the fair formally opened
he said
BE fair to the fair and I warrant that
the fair will be fair to you.''
Mayor Hoos said, when introduced by
Mr.. Davis he esteemed it great plea
sure to be present. He, too, compliment
ed Father Harpes and the parish on the
erection of such building. He said he
was aware that whatever the parish un-
dertook the Fathers and the members
carried out we'll: that they had always
been known to cling together.
'The Catholic Club he said, ''and the
other clubs and lyceums5 are not in it to-
night
The Mayor alluded to the fact that most
of the ladies in charge were well trained,
they having contributed so much to the
success of the big Davis fair, over which
he had the honor to preside on the OPEN
ing night. He hoped the fair would
prove success and that the parish would
ever flourish.
James F. Canon said that Father
Harpes first took up the question of erect
ing the new hall. Other parishes had
been busy erecting such institutions and
it was determined that st. Peters parish
should also have building for the proper
entertainment of its young men. He
considered it one of the finest buildings of
its character in the city and credit to
Father Harpes and his assistants.
Father Harpes responded to a request
for speech. He was received with much
applause He thanked Mr.. McDermott in
the name of the parish for his presence
and his address. He said he was sure
the parish wished him success in work
ing for the welfare of the State of New
Jersey He thanked Mr.. Davis especially
for his interest in the success of the fair.
He thanked the patrons, and spoke in
most complimentary terms of Messrs.
James F. Cannon. Michael Boyle and
Patrick McGovern, the Building Commit
tee.
After tho speech making the fair was
soon in full zlast. The young ladies' ex-
erted their charms to secure autographs
and the matrons behind the booths ex-
hfbited with pride the splendid assort
ments of wares on exhibition for sale or
to be chanced off. Several fortune wheels
were soon set awhirling and men, young
and old worked with a will, while they
Joined with others in spending money
freely Mr.. McDermott stood for nearly
an hour after the opening the centre of
enthusiastic groups of ladies with books.
He paid for the privilege of writing his
name in almost every book at the fair.
A round of the booths found the fol-
lowing ladies in charge:-
Senior Sodality Booth--Mrs. J. Langton
is in charge assisted by Mrs. James Nc
Williams. Mrs Mary Macklin, Mrs r.
Rim, Mrs. Broderck, Mrs. Alexander.
Miss Lettie Toppin, Miss Kate Langton,
Miss May Langton, Miss Katie Hagerty
Miss Loretta Symes, Mrs. Walsh, Mrs
Lenahan, Miss Bray Mrs T. Lotsy.
Junior Sodality Booth--Miss Rose Mad
den in charge, assisted by Miss Kate
Griffin, Miss Sarah Neary, Miss Jennie
Kelly, Miss Celia Neary. Miss Julia Gil |
lick, Miss Estelle Bailey. Miss Kate |