Hibernians Parade Through Seattle
A festive St. Patrick’s Day celebration united the Irish communities of Seattle, Tacoma, and Whatcom with a parade and grand ball at the local armory.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
The Irishmen belonging to the Ancient Order of Hibernians celebrated St. Patrick's Day yesterday by a parade, a dinner, a reception, and a ball. Three divisions of the order were represented, being one each from Seattle, Tacoma, and Whatcom. The Armory was the center of activity, where the Hibernians gathered at 10 a.m. to inaugurate the day. The procession, containing about 300 men, was led by grand marshal Neil O'Harra. The parade route went down Union to First street, to Yesler Avenue, to Second street, and back to Union, returning to the Armory. A dinner was served from 12 to 2 p.m., with acting mayor Dr. J.P. Sweeney presiding. In the evening, about 1,000 persons attended the ball at the Armory. The event showcased the organized strength and social influence of the Irish community in Seattle at the time.
“The Armory was the center of activity, where the Hibernians gathered at 10 a.m. to inaugurate the day.”
This event highlights the significant role that fraternal organizations and ethnic societies played in the civic life of late 19th-century Seattle, serving as cultural hubs for labor and social networking.
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