IRISH-AMERICAN BALL A SUCCESS

The Butte Daily Post, Butte, 1911-06-13, p.2

Summary

Sub-head: "First Annual Event Is Held at Gardens — Number of Pretty Novelties Offered." Coverage of the first annual Irish-American Ball at Columbia Gardens, hosted by the Hibernians of Silver Bow county. Large illuminated electric sign at the hall showing "A. O. H." with names of the four provinces of Ireland in the four corners. McNamara orchestra; chorus led by Mrs. Martha Collins. Grand march led by state president John J. O'Meara. Decorating crew named: James Hurley of the Hennessy store (assisted by Tom White, James Connolly, Tom Collins, Con Murphy). Door committee: J. J. Griffin, Dan Lynch. Cashier: John Ferns. Chorus: Mrs. Martha Collins (leader), Mrs. Rose Sealey, Miss Alexandria Verroneau, Miss Josephine Stopar, Miss Margaret Balla, James Murphy, James Duffy, John Manley, Clarence Conn, Patrick J. Flatley. **Hibernian committee hosting the ball (next year's promised):** John J. Crowley, James F. Hurley, Dennis O'Neill, **James J. Murphy**, T. J. Moran, C. H. Gallagher, Thomas Collins. ARCHIVE SIGNIFICANCE. JJM on the hosting/planning committee for the first annual AOH Irish-American Ball at Columbia Gardens — one year after his 1910 chief-sentinel turn, one year before his October 1912 election as county president. Adds Columbia Gardens (the principal Butte recreation grounds, owned by ACM) as a node in the Irish-American calendar.

People

James Joseph "James J." Murphy (b. 1883 Ardgroom; d. 1938 LA)(as printed: James J. Murphy)
role: hosting committee member · family confidence: 10 flag

Also mentioned

John J. O'Meara · state_president_aoh_grand_march_leader
State president of the Hibernians 'for many years' (per article); accompanied by Mrs. O'Meara at the grand march.
James Hurley · decorations_lead
Of the Hennessy store — same workplace as JJM. Repeat in the hosting-committee list ('James F. Hurley'). Likely the same man.
Tom White · decorations_crew
James Connolly · decorations_crew
Same as the AOH guard James Connolly in the 1910-06-09 Centerville degrees clipping; recurs through Butte AOH coverage.
Tom Collins · decorations_crew
Repeat in hosting committee as 'Thomas Collins'.
Con Murphy · decorations_crew
Con / Cornelius Murphy — likely the same Con J. Murphy who was an AOH guard in 1910. The 1992 Tracing-Murphys letter names Cornelius as one of Tady's 8 Butte-emigrant children.
Manager Forsyth · presented_illustrated_pictures
Mrs. Martha Collins · chorus_leader
Mrs. Rose Sealey · chorus_member
Miss Alexandria Verroneau · chorus_member
Miss Josephine Stopar · chorus_member
Miss Margaret Balla · chorus_member
James Murphy · chorus_member
Distinct from JJM (who is on the hosting committee, not the chorus). Could be the James J. Murphy of the 1927 obit (35-year Butte resident from c. 1892) — the OTHER James Murphy in the user's filing. Or a third unrelated James Murphy. Held in mentioned only.
James Duffy · chorus_member
John Manley · chorus_member
Clarence Conn · chorus_member
Patrick J. Flatley · chorus_member
John Ferns · cashier
J. J. Griffin · door_committee
Dan Lynch · door_committee
Distinct first name from Judge J. J. Lynch (Jeremiah). Could be a brother or kin.
John J. Crowley · hosting_committee_member
Recurs in the JJM AOH cluster — pallbearer for Thomas Kealey 1916, member of Division No. 1 etc.
Dennis O'Neill · hosting_committee_member
T. J. Moran · hosting_committee_member
Same Thomas J. Moran who was chief of escorts in 1910-06-09 and elected county financial secretary in 1912.
C. H. Gallagher · hosting_committee_member
Charles H. Gallagher — recurs through JJM AOH cluster, including 1921 state assembly Silver Bow delegation.
Thomas Collins · hosting_committee_member

Places

Butte, Montana (primary)
Columbia Gardens, Butte (primary)

Themes

Story threads

Source type

news_item, public_meeting_report

Related sources

Transcription

transcription: complete · confidence high

# IRISH-AMERICAN BALL A SUCCESS ## First Annual Event Is Held at Gardens — Number of Pretty Novelties Offered. *The Butte Daily Post, Tuesday, June 13, 1911, p. 2.* The Irish-American ball at Columbia Gardens, the first annual, was a success, if satisfied patrons is a guarantee of a satisfactory program. As the committee had expected, the floor capacity was taxed, but as they had hoped, there was room to dance comfortably. They announced when first they decided on the ball that it was not their intention to have a crowded hall merely to make money. They wished to please their friends and leave a good impression on their visitors. To this end they spared no expense, and the consensus of opinion last evening was that their efforts were not in vain. The decorations were a feature. James Hurley of the Hennessy store, assisted by Tom White, James Connolly, Tom Collins and Con Murphy, worked from early morning yesterday until late last evening, and the beautiful pavilion reflected their labors. A huge electric sign showing the initial letters of the host organization of the evening, "A. O. H.," flashed forth a welcome to all. In the four corners of the hall stood the names of the four provinces of Ireland. The chorus acquitted itself with distinction and was the recipient of generous applause. The illustrated pictures shown by Manager Forsyth added greatly to the effect. Through the twilight the dancers glided and the scene was one of the prettiest seen in the gardens in many years. The gallery was well filled with spectators, and many came to hear the beautiful singers, who were presented with bouquets by the committee. The grand march was led by John J. O'Meara, state president of the Hibernians for many years, accompanied by Mrs. O'Meara. Following him were the other state, county and division officers and the ladies' auxiliary. The letters of the word "Montana" were formed as the chorus sang in admirable voice the state song "Montana." The McNamara orchestra excelled itself last night, and each piece of music had to be repeated three times. It was 1 o'clock when the last of the dances was over, and a tired but happy crowd was carried to their home in the different parts of the city. Many strangers from outside towns were on the floor last night. The Moonlight dance proved a favorite. John Ferns acted as cashier and J. J. Griffin and Dan Lynch were the door committee. The members of the order wore ribbons on which were inscribed the words "I'm a Hibernian," while the officers had badges emblematic of their office. The chorus consisted of: Mrs. Martha Collins, leader; Mrs. Rose Sealey, Miss Alexandria Verroneau, Miss Josephine Stopar, Miss Margaret Balla, James Murphy, James Duffy, John Manley, Clarence Conn and Patrick J. Flatley. The committee who represented the Hibernians of the county, who were the hosts of the ball and promise another such next year, were as follows: John J. Crowley, James F. Hurley, Dennis O'Neill, James J. Murphy, T. J. Moran, C. H. Gallagher and Thomas Collins.

Open questions

place_columbia_gardens — need to add to /vocab/places.yaml if not already present.
Tom Collins / Thomas Collins / Con Murphy / Con J. Murphy / Mike Murphy — recurring Butte Hibernian "Tady-candidate" names that deserve a dedicated cross-check pass against the 1992 letter's 8 Butte-emigrant children list.