Extraordinary Stories From An Ordinary Guy: The "Wearing of the Green in Williamsport, PA" Story

Saint Patrick

It was an ordinary day. Just got back from a visit with our traveling friends who live in State College, PA, Jerry and Just Sue. Spent a weekend visiting with them and doing some fun things, as we usually do when we take turns hosting each other. On Saturday, after brunch at their house, we hopped in their car and headed to Williamsport, PA which is about an hour and ten minute drive from State College. Parked the car and headed to 4th Street to stake out our spot along the the quickly filling sidewalk for the St. Patrick's Day Parade. St. Patrick's Day is big in this community of Scotch-Irish descendants who helped build Williamsport into a logging community during the 19th Century. It was during this time that over 200,000 people emigrated from Ulster, Ireland with the largest numbers going to Pennsylvania as well as the Appalachian region. The city of Williamsport was laid out in 1795 and became a city in 1866. It was known as the lumber Capital of the world during the 1800s and produced 350 million board feet per day during peak production, the highest level of production of lumber in the world. As a result, many millionaires were created. Some of the beautiful homes along 4th Street attest to that fact. Evidently the Scotch-Irish, whom are said to be my descendants, were loyal, hard workers. And that loyalty is one reason for the excitement of today's parade on St. Patrick's Day. But, I guess I should tell you first that St. Patrick wasn't Irish! The patron saint of Ireland was British who was taken from his home as a teen by Irish pirates and made a slave in the fifth century. Name wasn't even Patrick! His name was Maewyn Succat.

The rolling green hills of Slemish, County
Antrim, where St. Partrick is said
to have worked as a shepherd while a slave.

Tough though to celebrate St. Maewyn's Day. He was made a shepherd, but escaped after six years and returned home, became a cleric and returned to Ireland to spread Christianity to his former masters. Wasn't long before he was revered as Ireland's patron saint, Patrick. Patrick, because he used the shamrock to illustrate the Christian belief of three distinct faces - the Father, Son and Holy Spirit - in one God as the shamrock was already said to be the sacred symbol of rebirth and eternal life. And, St. Patrick's Day celebrates his death, not his birth. Also, it wasn't even a public holiday until 1903 and the parades that now take place in Ireland were devised more for American tourists than locals. How about that!! Well, we found an empty spot and waited for the parade to begin. Shortly we heard the sirens about four blocks away and could see the parade beginning with the flashing lights. Wasn't long before I was snapping photos as well as picking small Tootsie Rolls off the ground. Pretty festive event which lasted about half-an-hour and included quite a few of the residents of the city of Williamsport. The following photos will give you an idea of the fun and frivolity that enlightened 4th Street in downtown Williamsport, PA. A grand time was had by all on this cold end-of-winter day. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The St. Patrick's Day parade is beginning.

The "Colors" are carried by the Marine Corps League. The Marine carrying the flag sang a Marine song as they passed our location. Deep bass voice that was clear and strong, just as you would expect a Marine to be.