12 minute read
The Wearin’ Of The Green St. Patrick’s Day in Bangor
The Wearin’ Of The Green
St. Patrick’s Day in Bangor
Advertisement
by Charles Francis B angor, like most Maine cities that have a significant number of residents who trace their roots back to Ireland, puts on more than the usual display of green on St. Patrick’s Day. Stores, restaurants, and schools all have their leprechauns, Irish harps, and, of course, shamrocks in prominent view. These displays are nothing, however, to those of a hundred and more years ago when the city’s Irish had distinct memories of the old country. Then, the city’s Irish laborers, like the Bangor Mudlarks who loaded and unloaded the countless vessels that lay at anchor in the Penobscot, held parades, drank huge quantities of rum and other spirits, and, of course, proudly sported the green. Few, except those who were willing to spend something at a florist, however, wore shamrocks because, at that time of the year, everything was either still snow-covered or just beginning to turn to mud. Yet, the sprig of green was always referred to as ‘that precious plant,’ because, more than anything else, it symbolized the home which most had left because of the potato famines of the nineteenth century.
Legend has it that when Saint Patrick was preaching on the Hill of Tara he bent down and plucked a beautiful green plant that had three leaves which he used to illustrate the nature of the Holy Trinity. That plant supposedly was the shamrock. However, ever since that time, naturalists have been arguing just what it was that Saint Patrick picked. Some say it was a variety of clover but they can’t agree whether it was Trifolium repens or Trifolium dubium. Others believe it was a member of the oxalis family. Then there is the argument for Ajuga reptans, the common bugle which is also known as comfrey and carpenter’s herb, and therein lies a story.
The Best Value in Home Audio & Home Theatre
www.summitsoundbangor.com __ 207.947.4434 341 Ohio Street • Bangor, Maine ~ Serving the community for 24 years ~
Clouston Trucking
852-4424 • Bangor
PERRY O’BRIAN ATTORNEY AT LAW
Bankruptcy & Debt Relief (207) 942-4697 Fax: (207) 990-1628
Hate to disappoint you, Mother Nature. No need to throw a hissy fi t. hissy fi t.
Stand up to unpredictable weather and unforseen outages with the most trusted name in residential standby power. When the power goes out, your Generac standby generator goes on – automatically – protecting you and your home 24/7. Call today for more information on an aff ordable power solution.
CMD Powersystems
The Ajuga is a creeping plant with pale green to purple opposing leaves. It flowers from April to June. Just before the flower opens it looks almost like another leaf. While the Ajuga is often used in rock gardens in the northeast it is not native to North America but instead originated in the British Isles.
As the story goes, a young Irishman brought a sprig of Ajuga to the New World from his cottage garden back home. He had it hidden in the lining of his hat because he was afraid authorities would confiscate it. Some believe this one sprig to be the origin of all the Ajuga in North America. Those that believe Ajuga to actually be the shamrock, point to the fact that it was long used in Ireland for medicinal purposes. It is remarkably effective as a cough suppressant and in reducing hemorrhages. In fact, it is similar in some respects to digitalis.
The hardships suffered by the Irish who came to Bangor and other North American cities in the nineteenth century can only be imagined today. The records of vessels carrying Irish immigrants around the 1820s, the period of the first potato famine and when the first wave of Irish came to Bangor, give us some idea, however. In 1819 the Mermaid was blown off course and lost on Cape Negro. While the passengers were saved, they lost all their belongings. In 1825 a hundred and seventy-four were lost when the Nassau went to pieces somewhere in the Gulf of Maine. In 1827 all the passengers on one vessel contracted smallpox. In 1828 the Granicus was wrecked on Anticosti Island. No one survived the winter there. Yet, those who did make it across the Atlantic maintained fond memories of their vanished homes and for many, they were symbolized by the shamrock.
For the Irish of nineteenth-century
Bangor Truck & Trailer Sales, Inc. Authorized Dealer For MACK - VOLVO - HINO REITNOUER - TRAILKING
2245 Odlin Rd. Hermon, ME 04401 (207) 947-0778 • (800) 649-0778 www.bangortrucks.com
Bangor and elsewhere, the shamrock was a symbol of defiance and a declaration of independence. That was why when the Mudlarks marched on Saint Patrick’s Day they invariably sang the words of the old song, “They’re hanging men and women there for wearin’ of the green.”
On another level, the shamrock was a tie to a totally different way of life. It represented where the older immigrants or the previous generation had grown up. It brought back memories or stories of the stone cottages, stone walls, and stone arches of Ireland. And it brought back memories of little gardens where people grew their comfrey or carpenter’s herb for its healing power.
Whichever plant is truly the shamrock, those that see it as a symbol for March 17th know that it is the little plant that Saint Patrick picked when he preached on the Hill of Tara.
A Family Restaurant Seafood • Chicken Steaks • Burgers Daily Homemade Specials & Desserts
Affordable Homestyle Cooking Served in a Casual and Friendly Atmosphere
Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner 5:30am - 9:00pm 7 Days A Week Take Out Available 457 Wilson Street. Brewer • 989-4101 thecoachhouserestaurant.com
Boy scout troop outing in Brewer, ca. 1920. Item # 2003.29.27 from the collections of the Brewer Historical Society.
Boarding Grooming B E A R B R O O K K E N N E L S
207-989-7979
19 Bennett Road Brewer, ME 04412
bearbrookkennel.com
Daycare
Training
We Carry Harrison’s Avian Foods!
Enjoy Maine
While We Care For Your Pet!
•Owned by Dr. Robert Feher
Tucker Auto Repair
From Oil Changes to Major Repairs, We Do It All! 2 ASE Certifi ed Mechanics on Duty With 40 Years Combined Experience
Shawn Tucker • Glenn Tucker 2520 Route 2 • Hermon
Rocky Shore Realty
Income Taxes
www.rockyshorerealty.com Betty Lou Sawyer 963-2945
PEAVEY MANUFACTURING CO.
QUALITY HARDWOOD TOOLS SINCE 1857
Logging Tools • Pole Line Tools Tree Pruning Equipment Dowels • Turnings • Handles
Rt 9 Towing & Recovery
___________________ Serving the Greater Clifton, Holden, Eddington, Brewer, Ellsworth, Old Town and surrounding areas Vehicles Equipment Storage Buildings Mary MacDonald 277 Airline Rd. Clifton, ME
The Hancock House in Ellsworth. Item # LB2007.1.100693 from the Eastern Illustrating & Publishing Co. Collection and www.PenobscotMarineMuseum.org
Harold’s Transmission Repairs, Inc.
Serving You For Over 30 Years
Mike & Liz Flewelling: Owners
462 Main Rd., Holden, ME (207) 989-6700 • 1-800-893-0980 Hours: M-F 8:00-5:00
Full service grocery store with ready to eat hot and cold foods including stir fry bar, fresh cut fruit and much more.
225 High Street Ellsworth │ 207-667-5300
SHAWN GETCHELL Specializing in: Rust Prevention • Auto Repairs Salvage • Inspection Repairs Rust Repair • General Services Call for a quote or estimate ~ very reasonably priced 207-745-8696 • thatguyon9@gmail.com 6 Dusty Lane, Eddington, ME
COMPLETE TIRE SERVICE, INC.
Complete Line of Commercial, R-V & Passenger Tires.
Under Car Service
All Credit Cards Accepted
Celebrating over 50 Years of Service!
Students and teachers outside the Deer Isle school, ca. 1900. Item # 7802 from the collections of the Maine Historical Society and www.VintageMaineImages.com
LP Gas Sales & Service Home Heating Oil Sales & Service m a g o o n ’ s transportation & energy, inc. Now Servicing Toytomi, Rinnai & Monitor Heaters 24 Hour Service Technician Available for Oil & Gas 207-584-5272
Lignetics Hard Wood Pellets
100% Hard Wood • Top Quality • Corinth Pellets
Magoon Realty, Inc.
Homes • Commercial Properties Camps • Land
Please Call: Dave Sr. 266-0892 Sandy Rogers 460-2919 303 Moose Hill Rd. • Osborn, ME emainehosting.com/MagoonRealty Member, National Association of Realtors We are looking for additional Sales Agents!
70 SOUTH STREET BLUE HILL, MAINE
THE PENINSULA’S BEST SOURCE FOR LOCAL, ORGANIC, AND NATURAL PRODUCTS SINCE 1974
Island FISHING GEAR & AUTO PARTS Susan Oliver & Jenni Steele
MOST ANYTHING AVAILABLE OVERNIGHT
8 West Main Street at the Commercial Fishing Pier PO Box 292 Stonington, ME 04681
367-5959
Dean’s
Automotive & Small Engine Dean Eaton, Owner Quality Sales & Service
207-374-2165 FOLLOW US @BLUEHILLCOOP WWW.BLUEHILL.COOP
Stonington Harbor ca. 1942. Item # 7884 from the collections of the Maine Historical Society and www.VintageMaineImages.com
WATERFRONT Personally selected unique and beautiful places for you featuring high-quality ocean and lakefront, art and furnishings.
Inquiries for week, month or season: (207) 330-0263 Website photos: LindaBeansPerfectMaine.com
An employee owned company
TOWN and COUNTRY SALON AD GOES HERE
45 Dealers in Historic Freeport Home
Open daily year-round 10:00am - 5:00pm
31 Main Street, Freeport │ 207-869-5091
FreeportAntiquesShowcase.com
Our feet are in the sand at the ocean pier
Dining room May 15 - Oct. 26 11:30am-8:30pm
Take Out Window!
Located directly across from L.L. Bean in Freeport
Open Daily til 10pm
240 seats with balcony & pet friendly patio. Family meals, LL’s favorites Relaxing full bars up and down 88 Main Street, Freeport │ 207-865-9835 LindaBeansPerfectMaine.com
Jamie Wyeth Andrew Wyeth NC Wyeth _________ _________
Open 24/7 online
Original Paintings • Signed Prints Open daily 10am-5pm at 31 Main Street, Freeport • 207-869-5091 Open daily seasonally 10am-6pm at Village Center, Port Clyde • 207-372-6543 wyethgallery@LindaBeansPerfectMaine.com
A MUST READ!!!
On The River Milford Motel
Written by Maine at War blogger and Discover Maine contributor Brian Swartz, the new book Maine At War, Volume 1: Bladensburg to Sharpsburg tells the story of Maine’s involvement in the fi rst 18 months of the Civil War, as experienced by Maine men and women who answered the call to defend and preserve the United States. Maine At War Volume 1 draws on diaries, letters, regimental histories, newspaper articles, eyewitness accounts, and the Offi cial Records to bring the war to life in a storytelling manner that captures the time and period.
Released by Epic Saga Publishing. Available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other online retailers: 492 pages, 313 photos and illustrations. $30.00
2020
174 Main Road • Route 2 • East Milford, ME www.milfordmotelontheriver.com Standard Rooms Two Bedroom Suites
Conveniently located ~ 1 mile from Old Town, 10 minutes from University of Maine, 15 minutes from Bangor 800-282-3330 • 207-827-3200
arousel C Art for your home DIVERSIFIED SERVICES CONTRACTING/CONSTRUCTION Ceramic Tile • Hardwood • Laminates Consulting • Design Repairs • Remodeling (207) 299-6422 J.W. SCHALLER, OWNER carouselfl ooring.com
DO YOU WANT TO SEE YOUR BUSINESS IN AN UPCOMING ISSUE OF DISCOVER MAINE?
Call our offi ce for more information on how to spread the word about your business!
827-2413 84 Airport Road • Old Town sullivansauto.com Accepting All Major Motor Clubs 24 Hour Towing
The Morse covered bridge from park area in Bangor. It burnt in March 1983. Item # LB2005.24.21819 from the Boutilier Collection and www.PenobscotMarineMuseum.org
Warmth, with a side of delicious.
Gourmet wood-fired dishes. All-natural ingredients. And over 50 craft beers on tap. It’s all waiting for you at this uniquely cozy dining experience.
Visit us at one of our two Maine locations today. We’ll keep the fire roaring.
TheBlazeRestaurants.com
(207) 922-2660 (207) 801-2755 18 Broad Street, Bangor ME 198 Main Street, Bar Harbor ME
Installation • Cleaning • Service Fully Licensed & Insured
Samuel Black Owner
759 Hudson Road • Glenburn, ME blacksheatpumps@gmail.com 207.631.0558 • blacksheatpumps.com
Since1931
Dine-In Take-Out
Now off ering gluten-free pizza
Serving Maine in 17 locations including Orono, Holden & Hampden! Stucco Lodge
Low, Low Prices! Daily • Weekly • Monthly Cable TV • Quiet Location In-Ground Pool • Phones WiFi Available in some rooms & o ce
For Reservations: 1-800-343-5158 942-4817
Canadian Money Accepted At Par Year Round DiscountsAvailable for 5 Minutes North of Bangor Mall & I-95 1382 State Street, Rt. 2 • Veazie, ME (Other discountsavailable)
