The Republican., 1925-06-04
MAY DAY AT ST. PETERS
Observed Sunday, May 18th, BY
Elaborate Procession

less audience of its own palpitating
heart-long yarns of by-gone years.
Abruptly it turns the corner at the
west end of town and reaching it's yel-
low liquid arm northward, and as it
passes by, affectionately bathing the
feet of our fair little city of Oakland,
which is laid on a high shelf of the
emerald pine clad, sun-kissed Allie
gany hills and rests peacefully upon
its nest of soft green ferns and rich,
crawling, curling crowfoot beneath
the tall, cool pines, whose long green
bruhes constantly sweep the SHIN
mering brocades of the blue, and sill
yer, and gold, and crimson of its
beautiful star spangled skies as it re-
clines happily three thousand feet
above sea level
Nearly one hundred years ago Isaac
McCarty owned all the land upon
which the little city of Oakland now
stands. He built the first grist mill
that is now owned by Mr.. W. z. Hen
erickson located on Water street, be-
ing a child of its posterity.
The first small house, built of pine
logs by McCarty, was his home in
this then wilderness, and the first and
only house in Oakland for a long
time.
The first religious service was
Low Mass, celebrated by Rev. Father
William D. Parsons, in the only home
in Oakland where he was the welcome
guest of Mr.. McCarty.
The contrast between McCarty's
day and today is quite remarkable.
The same old Youghiogheny is now
relating the wonderful fairy story of
today One of Oakland's nearest
neighbors is Deep Greek, the famous
Deep Creek where the Penn Public
Service System, through one of its
affiliated companies, the Youghioghe-
ny Hydro-Electric Corporation, is
fast completing operations upon our
own Youghiogheny River in Maryland.
This has introduced many welcome
and strange faces and people to us.
On Sunday, May 17th, this fact
was very evident. Many, many stran-
gers, with their many strange auto
mobiles were parked along both sides
of Oak street, and also on both sides
of Fourth street above and below St.
Peters church, to see the beautiful
May procession taking place in honor
of the Holy Mother of Jesus. St.
Peters is one of the many beautiful
churches of Oakland, and few steps
ahead Of Rev. Father Parsons cath
edral of pine logs down by the dam
site some one hundred years ago.
Sunday, May 18th, was lovely, smil-
ing, ideal. The Sisters of the Convent
of Mercy planned in detail the entire
impressive inspiring scene.
The procession started promptly at
800 o'clock and slowly moved from
the convent on Oak street eastward,
turning at the corner of Fifth street
toward Alder street. The sanctuary
boys, with the crossbearer, John Ma
roney, leading, and Leonard Murphy,
censor bearer, all garbed in cossacks
and white surplices, made a solemnly
endearing scene.
Many of these little ones received
their first Holy Communion at the
early mass of that same day. Little
ones of tenderest age, with eyes rev.
erently cast down, and tiny hands
Joined above little innocent hearts,
helped to illustrate the beautiful
training and the patience Of their
unselfish teachers and exemplars,
those endearing Sisters of Mercy.
Like beautiful fragrant chain of
little human flowers, robed in cobweb
white, with wreaths of blossoms upon
little brows and artistically entwined
among soft, shining curls, they form
ed a lovely colorful Gordon from the
convent around the square to St.
Peters, of which Rev. Father John F.
Eckenrode is the pastor
The marchers entered the church,
where the throng separated to either
side, hundreds of people from far
away towns mingling with the happy
parents of those children, and formed
a guard of honor, a massive human
chain on the sides of the marchers,
the men reverently removing their
hats and women tearfully bending
as the crossbearer passed them to-
ward the special shrine which had
been temporarily erected and where
the Blessed Mother of Jesus upon her
floral thone was calmly awaiting the
reverent approach of her devoted lit
tie children.
The palm bearers took their places
on each side of the main aisle, lifted
high their rich green palms, forming
mystical archway under which the
small maids and boys passed.
Little Estelle Treacy carried a sill
yer plate, on which was the Holy
Mothers crown of sweetest May
blossoms and on eithar Sida yUa1l,aJ