Hannahoe's Grave - Reading Pa

[overexposed]

Greetings!

One of the most interesting traditions in the USA is the annual service at Tom Hannahoe's grave in Reading PA.

As St Patrick's Day winds down people gather at the cemetery to carry on the tradition.

The light's of Reading's famous pagoda turn off at midnight which is the signal for Mr Bart Hannahoe to begin.

The simple ceremony starts as Mr Hannahoe tells the story of his ancestor's friendship with Alvah Schaeffer and the service that began in honor of Hannahoe.

When the brief talk is done the band plays the three songs and the ceremony is officially over.

At this time many people meander uphill to the grave to place coins on the stone and often raise a Guinness or Jameson. For the past several years the Reading Hash House Harriers have decorated the grave with US and Irish flags.

The ceremony is much smaller than the drunken hordes (sometimes numbering into the 100s or 1000s) of year's past. This is rumored to be because the current priest does not support the service and because the neighborhood's safety has degraded.

There are always a few kilted souls at this event. It's well worth seeing at least once in your life. A very unique and interesting tradition. Just google the name of the cemetery for a map. Myself and at least one other kilted fool will be out and about beforehand - Molly's Pub in Lancaster in the AM and then (in Reading at night) Barbon's for the wake and Trooper Thorn's for the great band and hot sweaty masses of humanity.

OE

================================================== ========
HANNAHOE VIGIL MORE THAN JUST A ST. PATRICK’S DAY TRADITION

March 5, 2004 - For its 108th year, a simple yet meaningful pact between two friends will continue at midnight on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17th at the gates of St. Peter’s Cemetery in East Reading. The Hannahoe Vigil will be celebrated thanks to the dedication of family and friends outside the gates of the aging cemetery with musicians playing the traditional songs, “Lass o’Galway"," The Harp That Once Through Tara’s Halls” and “Nearer My God to Thee” the tunes that Alvah Schaeffer had promised to play for his friend Tom C. Hannahoe one wintry night in the 1890’s. The Reading Musical Foundation underwrites the annual event. Often forgotten, amid the many versions of this tale, is the story’s message of tolerance, respect and its celebration of cultural diversity.

The story begins with Tom C. Hannahoe, an Irish immigrant who came to America on his honeymoon in 1855. He and his wife never returned to Ireland, but they did work and eventually purchase a hotel and saloon in the 500 block of South 11th Street in downtown Reading which they named the Stars and Stripes Hotel. The neighborhood surrounding the hotel was predominately Irish and its residents felt Irishtown the perfect name for their part of the city. A much-loved figure in the community, Tom was named the honorary “Mayor of Irishtown.”

Alvah O. Schaeffer, a German man, moved into the neighborhood, a move that was not necessarily embraced by his Irish neighbors. But Hannahoe, a good-natured person, took a liking to Alvah and knew that if he befriended the “foreigner” his residency would be better tolerated.

It was the two men’s love for music that truly bonded their friendship. Hannahoe would dance, sing and play the piano and violin. Schaeffer was a professional cornet player. Together, the men spent many an evening entertaining the customers at the hotel and sealing their lifelong friendship.

On a Friday night in 1893 or 1894, depending on whom you ask, Alvah Schaeffer played one of Hannahoe’s favorite Irish tunes, “Lass o’ Galway.” Tom Hannahoe was moved to tears by his friend’s rendition of the song and so the pact was made.

According to local historian, George Meiser, “If death were to take Hannahoe first, Schaeffer would attend Tom’s funeral and on each St. Patty’s Day at midnight, play “Lass o’ Galway" and “Nearer My God to Thee’ over his grave.”

The terms of the pact should Schaeffer have died first were never determined. Alvah Schaeffer was much young than Tom Hannahoe, making the odds of Tom dying first more probable. In an interview in the 1920’s given by Schaeffer, he claimed Hannahoe would keep this grave “forever green” by planting shamrocks.

On February 10, 1897. Tom Hannahoe died to typhoid pneumonia. Five weeks later at midnight on St. Patrick’s Day, Schaeffer played the tunes over his dear friend’s grave. He continued the tradition through 1930 when arthritis in his hands prevented him from personally playing the songs, but Elmer Addis stepped in to continue the tradition. Alvah Schaeffer died on March 10, 1947 and was buried one week later on St. Patrick’s Day.

The tradition stopped for some 30 years but was restarted in 1977. Today, the musicians continue to remember the pact between Irishtown’s beloved Mayor and the German man who became his lifelong friend.

The following musicians will play outside the gates of St. Peter’s Cemetery on St. Patrick’s Day at midnight: Dennis Sharman, Sr., baritone; James Seidel, trumpet; J. Richard Strunk, trumpet and Rev. Leon Mall, trombone. The Hannahoe Vigil is funded in part through an annual grant from the Reading Musical Foundation in an effort to preserve this local musical tradition.

[UmAnOnion]

very cool that a tradition such as this will continue

Cheers to the dedicated souls that keep this alive.