The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-03-16
(By THE OUT-EASTER)

AAAN VAASAS oLJ A AoAA AA w otCA bury?
 We know there are, but some- times, and especially now, we wonder.
 Saint Patrick's day is next Sat- urday, but so far as we can learn, there will be no general observ- ance of the day, unlike the Irish of Waterbury of old.
 Oh, for the days of old when all us Out East heard the sound of the old fish horn, blown for the benefit of all of the house. holds out here for the general fish dinner had in every house. Gee, but how Lent was observed in those days. Now the regulations are lighter, and while fish is served on many tables, there seems to be scarcity of oysters, similar to what used to be sold from the oyster vessels of years ago. All of the markets had small tubs of ROwe's oysters from Fair Haven. Spencers grocery had one, so did Pierpont's market Opp. the Sacred Heart church, and SO did Rush's market on E. Main street near Hamilton avenue. The tub was generally open, and the dip- per handy for getting quart or pint of this kind of food for the family table.
 Hibernians Parade
 How happy and pleased were the Irish we used to know upon the approach of St. Patricks day. Their good hearts were full of pride and glory, as they got ready their uniform for the street parade that was scheduled. If you were a hibernian, you wore 8 big black brimmed hat, and sash of bright green that rested over the shoulder and how proud you felt on the morning of the 17th, rain or snow, as you wended your way to the old church of the Im- maculate Conception to attend divine service in advance of your long walk over the line of march. And just as you and others left the church, there was the old American band, each member with bit of green in his hat, standing at attention until the order was given for the playing of the favorite number, "St. Patricks day in the Morning." What a church full of Irish, fathers and mothers, sons and daughters. Golly, how good 1t felt to be Irish, even for some who occasionally tried to hide their real ancestry.
 We can almost see some of them now, the leading Irish of the city of many years ago, such as the late, John Thompson of old Dud- in street. William Milton of Orange street; Dennis H. Tierney, the real estate dealer Martin Bergin, the undertaken; James Coughlan. of the Abrigador; Henry Byrnes, of old Out East; John Moriarty, the undertaken; and others just like them, who were the leading lights of the various Irish organizations we had in Waterbury at that time. Why, we had an Irish shoe store here, where thousands of pairs of shoes were bought, conducted by the well known firm of Milton, Byrnes and Thompson. Geraghty & Finn also was another favorite store for Irish shoe buyers.
 And then the parade. Every Irishman in the city took the day off, and participated. The manu- lecturers were friendly, and rec- ognized the will and desire of his Irish employe to spend the day in joy, peace and comfort. The late Jim Sutton, leading contractor, supplied many of the horses for the mounted men; so did the Woods of Spring street, and the Martins of the Abrigador.
 Maj. Ramon Marshal
 What a line of march for the day. The late Major Charles R. Ramon. as a rule was the general marshal. Expert that he was, ne rode a handsome white horse and led his men to all of the Irish sections of the city. Brook -lyn, the South End and then Baldwin street, Ridge street, Pleasant street, Pemberton street Bridge street, Dublin street, Silver street, to the junction of East Main street and the Plank road. where 8 stop was always made to rest up "the troops" Every house in the vicinity was decorated, and all were welcome to the food sup piled, therein.
 With the command to move again, the procession passed down East Main street, to Elm street and southeriy to the old Convent