News

2009 Parade Poster Winner

2009 Parade Poster

Paul Anthony Alonso First Poster Contest Winner for the Allentown St. Patrick’s Parade

Paul Anthony Alonso is a 5th Grade Student at St. Joseph the Worker in Orefield, PA

Parade to be held March 22, 2009 throughout Allentown’s West End

February 21, 2009 (Allentown, PA) The Allentown St. Patrick’s Parade Committee, Inc. announced today that the winner of the first poster contest is Paul Anthony Alonso, a fifth grade student at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic School in Orefield, PA. Alonso’s work will be featured on the 2009 Allentown St. Patrick’s Parade Program Book as well as a poster to be hung around the Lehigh Valley advertising the Parade. The 2009 Allentown St. Patrick’s Parade will be held March 22, 2009 at 1:30 pm through the West End of Allentown, PA.

The Poster Contest was open to artists of all ages and had to artistically express the theme of the Parade and sponsored by local event planning and public relations firm, Potential Factor, LLC. In addition to Alonso’s first place showing, Thomas Kleppinger and Bridget Stein, both fifth grade students at St. Thomas More School in Allentown, PA placed second and third respectively.

Alonso is the ten year old son of Paul and Aneta Alonso of Kempton, PA. Encouraged by his parents and art teacher, Loretta Marrone to participate in the contest, Alonso said “I am proud to be a part of the beautiful holiday!” In addition to art, Alonso is well traveled having been to Poland, Barbados, Hawaii, Canada and Florida, is first in a math completion being held at St. Joseph the Worker, and loves to read. Alonso and his family will lead the school in a horse drawn wagon as part of the Parade festivities and will be participating in the Parade’s Media Night scheduled for March 3, 2009 from 6 pm to 8 pm at Jack Callaghan’s Ale House. Jack Callaghan’s Ale House is located at 2027 Tilghman Street, Allentown, PA 18104.

“The parade has a 52 year history in the community, and by encouraging the children in the Lehigh Valley to participate in the contest and the parade itself, it teaches them about the history of the holiday and where they live.” states Paul’s mother, Aneta.

“The Committee has sought out new ways to engage the community in the 2009 Parade and the poster contest will be one that continues to grow in the future.” states John Chaya, Chair of the 2009 Allentown St. Patrick’s Parade. “Our children are our future and by allowing them to take part in the Parade, whether it be walking in the Parade or participating in something such as the Poster Contest, it gives them an opportunity to be an active member of the community and brings their families into Allentown to enjoy this piece of Lehigh Valley history now in its 52nd year.” concludes Chaya.

Parade Route:

The parade will form at the Allentown fairgrounds track near the Liberty and Seventeenth Streets gate (Main Gate vicinity). The parade will proceed west on Liberty, turn north on 19th Street, West on Tilghman to 25th Street, south on 25th Street to Liberty Street, then east on Liberty Street and disband at the Fairgrounds 19th Street gate.

Massed Bands Exhibition

March 22
Immediately following the Parade on the corner of Utica St. and N Albright Ave.

Edward and Phyllis Ellwood to serve as King and
Queen of 2009 St. Patrick’s Parade

November 14, 2008 (Allentown, PA) The Allentown
St. Patrick’s Parade Committee announced today that Edward and Phyllis Ellwood
of Allentown, PA have been named the 2009 King and Queen of the Allentown St.
Patrick’s Parade.  The Allentown St. Patrick’s Parade is to be held March 22,
2009 throughout the West End of Allentown, PA.

The Ellwoods will be married 10 years in 2009 and have five children, Julia,
Wade, Eddie, Erica, and Kimberly and one granddaughter, Brooklyn.  In 2001 they
made a trip to Ireland and are active in the community.  Edward is a member of
the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Lehigh County Division I, is a member of the
Allentown St. Patrick’s Parade Committee this year, and assists with funeral
masses at Immaculate Conception parish.  Phyllis, in addition to working
full-time, is active in the parish with “anything and everything”.

The Ellwoods both have fond memories of the Parade growing up and have continued
to support the Parade in the present. Edward retired from Bethlehem Steel after
32 years and Phyllis serves as the controller and corporate treasurer for RJ
Skelding where she has worked since 1984.  Phyllis grew up in Emmaus and Edward
in Allentown.  Both are members of Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church,
the original starting point of the Allentown St. Patrick’s Parade.

“Edward always talks to me about his memories of the Parade growing up.” states
Phyllis.  “The preview stand was at Immaculate Conception Church.  We would go
over to church for the benediction, the Knights of Columbus used to be there,
every club in the 6^th  ward was open, and everyone would go in to one
of the clubs for a drink and then watch the Parade.  Everyone in town was
Irish!” continues Edward.

“The Parade was all anyone talked about.  There were cook-outs on the sidewalks,
people were out and about in the clubs, the city was a big party, yet there were
not problems.  Last year’s parade reminded me of what I had growing up, and it
is wonderful to see that coming back again.” explains Edward.

“The Ellwoods are a perfect representation of the Allentown St. Patrick’s
Parade.  They spent their youth attending the Parade and remember what it
brought to the people of Allentown, and today they support the Parade’s efforts
to bring that feeling back to the city.” states John Chaya, Chair of the 2009
Allentown St. Patrick’s Parade.

It was always my dream
to be the King of the St. Patrick’s Parade! I never thought it would happen!”
exclaims Edward.

 

 

We are pleased to announce that the Allentown St. Patrick’s Parade will march down the streets of Allentown, Pennsylvania for a 52nd year on March 22, 2009. The first known St. Patrick's Parade was held in Allentown in the late 1860's. Over a century later, in 1955, what we know as the modern day Allentown St. Patrick’s Day Parade was organized by business and political leaders through the St. Patrick’s Day Observance Society. The Parade ran from 12th and Hamilton Streets to the Immaculate Conception Church on Ridge Avenue. In 2009 the Parade will consist of seven divisions that will march down the streets of Allentown’s West End.

The Parade is presented by a committee of volunteers who work alongside the Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH), Lehigh County Division1, and the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians (LAOH), Lehigh County Division 17. The AOH/LAOH is a 501(c)3 whose mission is to raise money for local children’s charities.

In order for the Allentown St. Patrick’s Parade to march in Allentown each year, community events are held, and support by Lehigh Valley businesses through sponsorships and program book provide the funds to offset the costs of the Parade. We have provided the Corporate Sponsor Package and Program Ad Book details below. All proceeds from our sponsorships will support the future of the Allentown St. Patrick’s Parade.

We look forward to your participation in the Allentown St. Patrick’s Parade and thank you for your support.

Click to download a pdf version of the Parade Sponsor Package

“In Kind” refers to donations of goods instead of cash.
Click to download a pdf version of the In Kind Donation Form

The 2009 Allentown St. Patrick’s Parade is sponsoring a poster contest to create the 2009 Parade poster!

The winning entry will have their poster displayed throughout Allentown and the Lehigh Valley and featured on the cover of the 2009 Parade Program Book!

What makes this poster contest special is that it is the first of its kind for the Allentown St. Patrick’s Parade!

Click to download a pdf version of the Poster rules and information

Please call or email us with ticket orders or general questions, someone will reply to you promptly!
email: stpatstickets@aol.com
call 610-443-0429
PHONE PROVIDED BY RCN

PLEASE FILL OUT THE MARCH 22, 2009 PARADE ONLINE REGISTRATION FORM AND YOU WILL BE CONTACTED AFTER YOUR REGISTRATION HAS BEEN RECEIVED

For an online parade registration form:
Parade Form
Or click on it at the links page.

-1900-
Around the turn of the century the sixth ward in Allentown was the heart of the Irish community. Most Irishmen belonged to the Immaculate Conception church (Allentown’s Oldest Catholic Church) on Ridge Avenue. In addition, on Ridge Avenue, there was a Young Men’s Temperance Society and the Hibernia Fire Company Social Club where many Irishmen belonged for social activities. We believe all of these groups had events on or around St. Patrick’s Day. However, it is said that a certain Barney McNulty stood atop the five story Belleview Apartment house at Ridge and Gordon Streets and blew his bugle every St. Patrick’s Day.

-1955 to 1973-
A committee of mostly first and sixth ward business and political leaders formed a St. Patrick’s Day Observance Society. Men such as John McHugh, his brother Joe, Francis McLaughlin, J. Raymond Cramsey, Thomas Egan and others ran the first Parade through the first and sixth wards only for at least two years. By 1958, the parade was large enough to from 12th and Hamilton Streets to the Immaculate Conception Church on Ridge Avenue. This parade ran every year except 1973 when a fuel crisis and the deaths of some of the active committee members led to the dissolution of this committee. In their heydays, this committee ran supplements in green in the Morning Call and hosted a large banquet at the Agricultural Hall to honor citizens who saluted the Irish.

-1973 to Present-
A small group of first and sixth ward citizens, attending a banquet at the Allentown Italian Club, were expressing remorse to each other that the 1973 parade was cancelled.
Among this group were Jerry Weber, Dick McGee, Jim Nolfa, Sue Flood, and Jim Spang. The group, with less than six weeks until March 17, 1973, decided to try to put a parade together. Mayor Dadonna was contacted, meetings were held, last minute invitations extended to bands and marchers. The net result was a five division parade that came down Hamilton Street with Jerry Weber, the President, Dick McGee, Vice President, Jim Nolfa, Treasurer, and Orpha Ockenhouse, as the Secretary. This new Committee called itself the “St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee.” At the same time a St. Partick’s ball was being held by the first and sixth ward oldtimers at the Harugari Hall on Gordon Street. This ball was ultimately taken over by the Parade Committee and moved to the Fearless Fire Company in the 1980’s and is still the Official ball for the parade. The committee goes on with many other the original members still belonging. Jim Spang the current president has been involved with the committee since it’s founding days in the 1970’s.

Written by Jerry Weber, the 1st President of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee.

The first St. Patrick's Day Parade was held in Allentown in the late 1860's. The first reference found locally regarding St. Patrick's Day was in the Lehigh Register, a weekly newspaper, on March 20, 1866. Irish miners working at the Friedensville zinc mines were denied the day off. Not happy with the decision, they argued with their bosses and the non-Irish miners. "A drawn battle was the result," the newspaper noted. "Many were wounded by the shillelaghs, stones, and other missles used by the beligerents." As for the parade, the first account of a St. Patrick's Day Procession was in 1869. "Agreeably to our exception, last St. Patrick's Day was clear, bright and cold," the weekly newspaper noted on March 23, 1869. The Register called the Irish who participated that day Fenians. The Fenians were an Irish Revolutionary Group who took their name from the Finna. The Finna were the soldiers of a king of Irish mythology, Finn MacCumhall. The Fenians had branches in Ireland and the United States. Newspapers of the day often gave the name Fenians to any Irishman they did not care for. The details given in the paper are few. Apparently several hundred paraded to Catasaqua and Hokendauqua and then retruned to Allentown. Their arrival in town was awaited by crowds mostly women and small boys. After waiting several hours, the crowd saw them coming. "In came the Fenians, at last," the Register said, "headed by the Emaus Brass Band, the procession interspersed with drum corps and the men bedecked with Ireland's color, carrying the Irish and American flags." The account of the 1870 parade is much more complete. It began on Front Street in the city's 6th Ward, where most of the city's Irish lived. Participants gathered at 8:45am. Before they marched, they heard a speech by T.S. Emmens, an editor of the Daily Chronicle. Emmens reminded that, like them, he too had worked in the local iron mines a few years ago and he knew them as "men whose warm hearts had given him a place when the iron hand of poverty was on him." Emmens said that "between them and him was a bond of sympathy...all aliens from the old country, all seeking more room and more liberty in a land whose proudest boast was an asylum for the oppressed." The procession then marched down Front Street and up the Hamilton Street hill. At its head was the City's Coronet Band and Drum Corps and mounted Parade Marshalls. "With the green emblems of the men it made a very pretty picture," reported the Daily Chronicle. The Marchers turned around at some point and returned to the Immaculate Conception Church, where they went to Mass. After church they marched off to Catasaqua and attended a "frolic." Some of the marchers went to Hokendauqua and Coplay to join in celebrations there. The newspaper reported that the evening many returned to the city "by car," which could either mean train or horse car as the electric street car had not yet been invented.
Thanks to Frank Whelan his research and this article.

St. Patrick's birthplace was probably Roman Britain - most likely Wales, but perhaps Scotland or France. Patrick was about sixteen years old when he was abducted and enslaved by Irish marauders, under their leader, Niall of the Nine Hostages. He worked as a shepherd on the slopes of Slemish Mountain in Country Antrim. During this time he prayed to the Christian God while captive in a pagan land.

After six years an angel came to him in a dream, prompting him to escape and seek out his homeland. After travelling for more than 200 miles by foot, he was eventually given passage on a boat travelling across the Irish Sea. His first destination was Britain, but he soon settled in France.

Patrick spent twenty years of his life as a monk in Marmoutier Abbey. There he again received a celestial visitation, this time calling him to return to the land where he has been enslaved, though now with a mission as a priest and converter. Patrick was called to Rome in 432 whereupon Pope Celestine bequeathed the honour of Bishop upon him before he left on his holy mission.

Patrick and 24 of his followers arrived in Ireland in the winter of 432. In the Spring, Patrick decided to confront the high King of Tara, the most powerful King in Ireland. Patrick knew that if he had the King?s support he would be free to take God's message to the people of Ireland.

Patrick and his followers were invited to Tara by the King of Laoghaire. While he was there he plucked a shamrock from the ground and tried to explain the to the druids and the King that the shamrock had three leaves just like God had three personas - The Father, The Son and the Holy Ghost. This was called the Trinity.

King Laoghaire was very impressed and chose to accept Christianity. He also gave Patrick the freedom to spread Christianity throughout Ireland.

St. Patrick is also known to have driven the snakes out of Ireland. However, the snakes were at that time a symbol of Paganism, and it was the Pagans that were driven out.

Patrick is thought to have died sometime between 463AB and 493AD. There is a dispute as to his place of burial; the site with the strongest claim seems to be Down Cathedral, where a large slab of rock on which the word Patric is inscribed protects "the grave" of St Patrick.

Veneration of Patrick gradually assumed the status of a local cult; he was not simply remembered in Saul and Downpatrick, he was worshipped. Indeed, homage to Patrick as Ireland?s saint was apparent in the eight century AD. At this time Patrick's status of national apostle was made independently of Rome; he was claimed locally as a saint before the practice of canonisation was introduced by the Vatican. The veneration in which the Irish have held St Patrick is evidenced by the salutation, still common today, "May God, Mary and Patrick bless you".

Within the Christian calendar Patrick has long been remembered with fondness. This began as early as the ninth century AD with the Feast of St Patrick's "falling asleep" - in other words his passing on 17 March. The Book of Armagh included a note directing all monasteries and churches in Ireland to honour the memory of the saint by the celebration, during three days and three nights in mid-spring.

Fables about Patrick ridding Ireland of snakes or his use of the shamrock to explain the Trinity, still endure as part of modern St Patrick's Day folklore and custom.