The document used by Alan Earls to present this subject at the Franklin (MA) HIstorical Museum on Saturday, March 11, 2018

1. The Most Famous Irishman Who Never Was
AND
The story of the Irish arrival in Franklin

2. Ireland and Franklin in 1840
 US population 17 million, Irish population 8 million
 Mass. Population 737,000, Franklin population 1,700 – none of
them Irish
 Through 1840-1890, approx. 260,000 Irish settled in Mass.
 Today, more than 22 percent of Massachusetts' population
reports Irish ancestry, more than any other state's, according to
U.S. Census Bureau data from 2012 (Gatehouse Media)
 Nina Santoro finds about 250 Irish birth records in Franklin up to
1871

3. The Great Famine aka Potato Famine
 Irish economy largely agrarian and export oriented; staple crop
for people: the potato
 Blight ruined potato crop 1845-52 leading to starvation and
sharp increase in emigration to the US and elsewhere.

4. Irish in America – a Mixed Welcome
 US was vast and growing but thinly populated; labor was generally in
short supply so the Irish were not unwelcome, however…
 First large group of Roman Catholics, cultural differences and
competition for jobs led to conflict. (burning of Charlestown Convent
earlier, in 1834, formation of anti-Catholic No-Nothing Party, which
elected a governor, Henry Joseph Gardner in Massachusetts in 1854)

5. The Irish Discover Franklin
 The Norfolk County RR 1847-49

6. First Mass in town was celebrated in a house on
Lincoln St with only five attendees. By 1851 they
were using the town hall for monthly services,
conducted by a priest from Foxboro.
In 1871, by which time Nina Santoro has found
there were some 250 names of Irish persons
borh in the town, they banded together to acquire
the former Congregational Church. The church,
thereafter, became the principal adornment of the
Irish community.
This building served until 1899.

7. Two views of the Catholic School on corner of Beaver St., constructed 1899.
Basement used as Church after former Cong. Church become unsound and
later burned. School closed in 1902 due to funding problems.

8. “New” St. Mary’s built between 1923 and 1927

11. The Irish --- A continuing tradition in Franklin
Irish entered many fields in Franklin area and community, closely aligned with Catholic
church, continued to grow and prosper. Some examples and milestones:
 Nunnery built on Oak St before 1900
 McDermott, an Irish cofounder of Clark, Cutler McDermott textile company, established in
1911. Had worked and learned with “Yankees” and set out on own business, founded by a
diverse group of businessmen.
 Italian immigrants begin to become more numerous and share the Catholic parish starting
around 1900.
 Orphanage added to convent in 1944.
 St. Mary’s school building opens in 1956 facing common (present home of Charter
School). School closed in 1972
 1979 First Feast of St. Rocco organized – a nod to the big growth of the Italian-American
community in town (Remember the line striping on Union St in colors of Italian flag?)

12. Now…. Changing the Subject a Bit…
Some of the Irish went further west.

13. DISCLAIMER AND WARNING: This
presentation includes the frequent use of
historically accurate ethnic slurs that may,
but should not, offend anyone.

14. Along came MR DOOLEY…Born – maybe around 1860 or 65
Last heard
from around 1926...

17. Journalist Finley Peter Dunne, 1867-1936

18. Mr Dooley “active” 1893 through mid 1920s. Became extremely popular during Spanish
American War with humorous commentary

19. ...For Example...

20. Admiral George Dewey, Hero of Manila Bay

22. Mr. Dooley – a “trendsetter” in bringing the Irish into the hearts of their
countrymen...Many other’s followed...

23. Mr, Dooley, the most famous Irishman who never was...
Thank you for
listening!