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Reflections: A glimpse of the St. Patrick's Day celebrations of 1926

Tea parties and drawing contests were some of the ways that Perth County residents observed the holiday

St. Patrick’s Day has long been marked across Perth County, and 1926 was no exception. That year’s festivities, like so many before and after, were captured in the pages of the local newspapers preserved at the Stratford-Perth Archives, offering glimpses into how the day was celebrated a century ago. From skating to tea parties to drawing contests and singing, there was something for everyone.

From the Stratford Beacon-Herald of March 17, 1926:

Reflections: A glimpse of the St. Patrick's Day celebrations of 1926 Back to video

The C.W.L. of Logan is holding a large dancing party in Erskine’s Hall on St. Patrick’s Day.  In Mitchell, on Tuesday evening a St. Patrick’s skating party was held by the Canadian Girls in Training of the United Church and they as their guests the Tuxis boys and the Trail rangers. After the skating was over the jolly party of young people repaired to lecture room of the church which was nicely decorated in St. Patrick’s fashion and where refreshments were served.   Shamrock Tea Was Successful Affair St. Marys C.W.L. Netted $75 at Attractive Function Held on St. Patrick’s Day  St. Marys – Pretty streamers of white and green formed a delightful and appropriate setting for the shamrock tea and sale of home-made cooking held the auspices of the St. Marys Catholic Women’s League in the council chambers of the town hall Wednesday afternoon. Throughout the afternoon this annual affair was largely patronized and proved to be a splendid success, the proceeds amounting to approximately $75. The president of the society, Mrs. S. Telvin, received the many guests and was general convener of the affair.  The tea room was presided over by Mrs. S. Focock, while Mrs. J. Welihan poured tea and the following ladies served: Mesdames T. Nagle, J. Kearney, C. Kelly and Miss Mary Clifford. Mesdames T. Scanlan, E. Grose, William McDiarmid, T. Tehen and M. Tehen also assisted in the tea room. The home-made cooking booth held a large variety of dainty and appetizing delicacies, which found a ready sale. 

$150 is Realized at St. Patrick’s Tea Social Function of Yesterday, Under Auspices of Avon Home and School Club, was Fine Success  A large crowd patronized the annual St. Patrick’s tea and sale of homebaking and novelties, held yesterday afternoon by the members of the Avon Home and School Club, and $150 was the amount of the proceeds. The kindergarten room was attractively decorated in green and white and the same color scheme was carried out in the tea rendezvous, where the tables were centred with miniature dolls dressed in the emblematic color of the patron of Ireland. The visitors were welcomed by the president, Mrs. A.E. Hunter, assisted by Mrs. A.E. Lennox. Dorothy Barnes, dressed as St. Patrick, and Marie Kalbfleisch as Bridget, invited the guests to the tea room, where Mrs. C. Smith poured tea and the assistants were Mesdames O.H. Killer, W. R. Hamilton, F. Gibbs, G.I. Graff, H. Barker, W. Russell and C. Gagen. The different tables were taken charge of as follows: Candy, Mesdames N.W. Shank, W.J. Leslie, G. McCully, A.G. Murdle; sewing, Mesdames J.A. Beatty, H. Morrow, J. Barnes, G. Kalbfleisch, W. Carr and A Partridge; homebaking, Mesdames T. Lay, T. Ingram, J. Wilkinson, A. Raudolph, A.S. Klein, J. Hanson; novelty, Mesdames F.C. Whatmough, R.A. MacDonald and J.B. Heritage. An enjoyable program was contributed during the afternoon, arranged by Mrs. A.W. Culligan, consisting of selection on the piano by Mary Heagy, Florence Smith, Jack Richardson and Blake Morrow.  

From the Milverton Sun of March 18, 1926:

The St. Patrick’s social held under the auspices of the young people of Burns Church on Tuesday evening was well attended and a good programme given. All present had a most enjoyable time. A feature of the evening was an address and presentation to Mr. H.C. Baird, choir leader and S.S. Superintendent, on behalf of the congregation. Mr. W.J. Smith read the address and Mr. George Guenther made the presentation. Mr. Baird made a suitable reply thanking the donors for their kindly remembrance. 

From the Atwood Bee of March 18, 1926:

St. Patrick’s Social Splendid Success Under Auspices of W.M.S. of United Church – Good Program Given and Lunch Served  The St. Patrick’s Social, under auspices of the W.M.S. of the United Church, which was held on Monday evening, was a splendid success though the attendance was not large. The Sunday School rooms were suitably decorated in green and white, with flags and streamers.  Each person’s height was measured at the entrance and admission charged at the rate of five cents pers foot plus one cent for each additional inch of height. The proceeds from this was about fifteen dollars. Partners were secured by matching phrases, to form sentences, and these partners worked through the limericks. Musical contest, a honeymoon of Ireland, and lastly a drawing contest. These were followed by an Irish program, consisting of juvenile choruses, readings, solos, duets, quartets and a very interesting address by Rev. I. Kaine of Englehart. Lunch served by the ladies of the Society, followed out the colour scheme of the decorations, and was most appetizing after lunch.  The committee in charge was Mrs. J.A. McBain, Mrs. A.M. Robinson, Mrs. A.R. Terry and Muss Turnbull. 

 The Stratford-Perth Archives welcomes donations to the collection and is open for drop-in research from Tuesday to Friday, as well as other times, including Saturdays, by appointment. For details about what’s available during Reading Room drop-in hours and appointments for in-depth research, please visit www.perthcounty.ca/StratfordPerthArchives, call us at 519-271-0531 ext. 259 or email archives@perthcounty.ca. 

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