Local History with Dede Terns-Thorpe - HAPPY SAINT PATRICKS DAY

As St. Patrick’s Day approaches, an unsuccessful attempt was made to find articles pertaining to local St. Patrick’s Day parades. Luckily, a small piece from a torn local newspaper was found with an unsigned story that sounded much like writer Maggie McCormick. (John Ham explained McCormick was a pen name in the 1970s for Dorothy Slutzky, Orville and Izzy’s sister.)

It noted there had been two earlier parades spear headed by local businessman Orville Furguson. Orville was said to be a community spirited member and politician of the Town of Hunter. Unfortunately, he died at the age of 42 and the parades were no longer held. 

As Maggie McCormick (?) said, “So, the parade stopped being held until it became a real happening again when my friends of the Hunter Village Inn started one about five years ago.”

What started out as small, gained momentum so that there were over twenty beautiful floats, a group of marchers, horses, and even ATV’s, lawnmowers and a “HIPPIE” sandwich girl by the name of Roseann Krawczyk. “

The parade was led by the Hunter Village police car with lights flashing and driven by a smiling Police Chief, Warren Knaust. Knaust was followed by a local couple in lots of green and riding horseback, Jerry and Sheila from O’Shea’s on Ski Bowl Road. Horses were said to be difficult to keep in line, possibly due to the music of Farkle-Arkel! It is said horses can be sensitive that way. Broad smiles on the faces of the Grand Marshalls, Kate from Hunter Mountain, and Johnny from Hunter Village Inn more than made up for the cloudy day.

The Klondike Gentlemen (located on county route 16, had their platform truck filled with people in fun costumes.

The Hells Angels were there pulling tricycles and followed by the Colonial Coal Yard Truck with Mike Leach gaily peeking out of his silver box. Pete’s Place (Owned by characters Pete and Ellen Manfredi, route 23A), the Ventura House, the Vikings, and the Klondike all had floats, along with too many others to list. The Vikings were by two brown horses-look-alikes to the Clydesdales. Hughie’s truck had empty gallon wine bottles and huge chunks of fake cheese hung from tree branches advertising happy hour. Green ice cream inside of green chocolate chip cookies was available at the end. 

Tannersville’s St. Patrick’s Day parades were organized for years by Donna Kennedy and Pam Graham Meig ocal dignitaries, emergency vehicles, businesspeople, and numerous organizations all take part. 

We’ll end with a weather forecast from two weeks ago February 20, 1943. “Temperatures as cold as 34 below were reported here Monday.”

This was fun to write and think about. Thanks so much for reading. Take care and stay safe.

Dede Terns-Thorpe/Hunter Historian