It has long
been a legend in the Connery family of Chicago that our patriarch Michael,
commonly known as M J once lead the St Patrick’s Day Parade down State Street
on a white horse.
 |
| M J Connery circa 1920? |
In an effort
to confirm this legend, I did some research on both the history of the parade
and my grandfather M J.
What is now
the parade in downtown Chicago began on in the Southtown area of Chicago as
early as 1843 with seven hundred seventy five marchers who first marched to St
Mary’s church for Mass and then marched on to the Saloon Building at Clark and
Randolph. [i]
According to the article the Saloon Building became the first City Hall in
Chicago.
The parade
was held in Southtown from it’s beginning in 1843 until 1901 with the exception
of 1897 when it was cancelled due to the increase in both poverty and
homelessness because of the severe weather.[ii]
After 1901 there were no more parades until they were reinstated in 1956 by
Mayor Richard J Daly.
In 1898
Grand Marshall Bob Monahan led the parade on a prancing horse.[iii]
Searching
the Chicago newspapers for M J Connery in the years between 1890 and 1910, the
time he lived in Southtown, shows that M J was active in the community and ran
for election as alderman in the 13th ward [iv]1893,
1894[v]
and 1898[vi].
At this time, it is not known if M J was ever elected but being on the ballot
three times, shows a strong commitment to his community.
About 1910 M
J and his family moved to the West Town neighborhood of Chicago and his allegiance
changed to the Garfield Park neighborhood.
My
conclusion is that M J never did ride that white horse down State Street. I
think the references to Bob Monahan on his horse were mixed into the stories of
life in Southtown when my aunts and uncles were children. Unfortunately, it
would seem that the legend is really a myth, however I am open to additional
proof.
[i] Lindberg,
Richard, How Chicago Got It’s Green Back, Chicago Magazine a 22nd
Century Media Publication, 15 June 2016, online image, accessed 2 July 2019.
[ii] Ibid.
[iii] Ibid.
[iv]
Chicago Eagle, 11 March 1893, page 1, image 1; Chronicling America, https://chroniclingamerica.gov, imagea
online, accessed 2 July 2019.
[v]
Chicago Eagle, 0 March 1894, page 4,
image 4; Chronicling America, https://chroniclingamerica.gov, imagea online,
accessed 2 July 2019.
[vi] Chicago Eagle, 26 Feb 1898, page 4, image 4;
Chronicling America, https://chroniclingamerica.gov, imagea online, accessed 2
July 2019.
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