Tom Hannahoe Lives On

The Memory Of Tom Hannahoe Lives On

Reading PA's Tradition Of Closing St Patrick's Day At Hannahoe's Grave

Commissioned artwork: March 2008

"The Mayor of Irishtown" by Jessica Pasche

Tom Hannahoe, with wife Jane at his side - raises a toast in honor of St Patricks Day.

Great, great, great grandson Bart Hannahoe is painted as the man to the left of Jane.

Cards and copies of this artwork are available at:

http://www.redbubble.com/people/jelapa/art/850580-1-mayor-of-irishtown

Portrait of Tom Hannahoe that hangs at the Peanut Bar in downtown Reading....but only on March 17th!

Reading, Pennsylvania has an incredible variety of history. Most of it is well-preserved at various historical societies in the area. The problem with this information is that it is fairly inaccessible to the general public.

The story of Tom Hannahoe is one of the great tales in all of American history. It's primary themes of tolerance, friendship, pride and love of fun and beer make for a story to which everyone should have access.

This page is my tribute to Tom Hannahoe, the Irish of Reading and the ongoing tradition of the Hannahoe's Grave Service at midnight on St Patrick's Day.

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.

These Photos Are From The Berks County Legends Website

Want To Attend In 2008???

The days of 10.000 drunken revelers at the ceremony are over. Sadly, Cotton Street's pubs are no longer frequented by hard-working factorymen and most nights it is unsafe to be wandering around this neighborhood.

St Patrick's Day is different as we gather to continue this fantastic tradition and YOU can be a part of this history.

The ceremony starts at midnight when Tom Hannahoe's descendent, Bart Hannahoe, tells Tom Hannahoe's story and the details of the pact he shared with Alvah Schaeffer. When he is done, musicians play the three songs and everyone greets one another and exchanges well wishes for good health until next year.

At this time the ceremony concludes but some people journey to the grave. Without fail someone will break out a bottle of Irish whiskey and toasts will be made to the pact and friendship. Then, people toss silver coins onto the gravestone.

The evening is is usually very still as the Pagoda and Mt Penn mark the skyline.

You don't have to be Irish or from Reading to enjoy this event. All you have to do is show up before Midnight!

Report Of The 2004 Service

A steady snow had been falling all evening and made a noticeable accumulation on top of the 8" or more that already covered St Peter's Cemetery.

The band gathered on South Street at the wrought iron gate. About 2 dozen spectators assembled as Mr. Hannahoe checked his watch. None of the infamous revelry and hell-raising was to be found - the assumption being that they were driven indoors or to an early bed by the intensity of the weather and the fact that St Patrick's Day was on a Wednesday.

At a minute or two into the morning of the 18th, Mr. Hannahoe gave the signal and a hush fell on the crowd. He briefly related the history of the relationship between Tom Hannahoe and Alvah Schaeffer and their pact and the service through the years.

Upon his conclusion, the band played their three songs. The service ended and several people trudged through the quarter-sized snow flakes into the cemetery in search of Tom Hannahoe's grave. The headstone is flat and was well-buried after a very long winter of snow and ice. The group was unable to locate the exact spot.

The gathering ended and the tradition lives on for another year.

Maintenance Report: 9/4/2004

I weedwacked the Hannahoe grave stone today and posted two flags. I gave great thought to which side of the marker the U.S. Flag should go and decided that since the canton of a flag draped on a casket goes over the left side of the body (nearer to the heart) - the US Flag should go as shown. If someone were to stand behind the marker and speak over the grave - the flags would be opposite.

Sadly, many of the headstones in this cemetery are in very bad condition. The person who mows runs over anything that gets in the way, including U.S. Flags, and doesn't bother to trim. There are many stones in this section that list what county in Ireland the deceased was born in.

Report Of The 2005 Service

This year's weather was every bit as cold as 2004 but there was no snow falling or on the ground. About 50 people gathered at the cemetery gates.

Mr Hannahoe gave a brief history of the music and asked each musician to introduce themselves. If anyone knows their names please email me at tom@americantom.com . Two of the musicians identified themselves as having played every year since the service's return in 1976. Bart Hannahoe stated that as long as he is alive the service will endure.

Following the well-played music, we walked to the grave where new U.S. and Irish flags were placed on the Hannahoe grave.

Report Of The 2006 Service

A fine ending to another St Patrick's Day in Reading. About 60 people gathered at the cemetery gate and the service began promptly at midnite.

Bart Hannahoe told the story of his ancestor and the pact. A drunken old woman interrupted with several stupid comments.

The service was videotaped using night vision and a DVD of the entire ceremony is now in possession of the Historical Society of Berks County PA.

After the musicians played the ceremony ended and a happy St Patrick's Day was exchanged with all present. About a dozen or two people ambled to the grave where United States and Irish flags were flying in the breeze and candles burned brightly.

Coins were tossed onto the grave and a bottle of Jameson's was passed around. Charles Adams III audiotaped the toast for inclusion on his WEEU broadcast.

Maintenance Report: 11/06/06

The cemetery is in its usual state of disrepair. Many United States Flags were lying on the ground. These were the flags placed on Memorial Day. Some had been mowed over. I collected as many as I could find and they will be turned in to an American Legion for proper disposal.

I weedwacked Tom's grave as well as a bunch of others. New US and Irish flags were placed.

061104: This is the how I found the grave today. Overall, the cemetery is in terrible condition

061104: This is how the grave looked when I was done. I have decided that this is the correct placement of the flags (same as US Flag Code vs my previous thoughts that it should be displayed as if covering a casket)

Report Of The 2007 Service

Due to a sports injury I suffered two weeks prior to my beloved holiday, I missed almost every St Patty's fest and tradition this year. Not only was I bummed about this but having the holiday on a Saturday only added to my displeasure.

If you attended the 2007 service and have comments - please send them my way. If not, I will see you in 08!

Maintenance Report: 8/15/07

No great surprise for me to find the cemetery poorly maintained. I weedwacked the grave and some nearby vet's graves and placed new US and Irish flags. I collected many US Flags that had been mowed over and will see that they are properly disposed of. Also carried off some trash.

Mr. Bart Hannahoe who leads the service and who stated, "as long as I am alive, there will be a service"

Winter-time ground level view looking at the setting sun

061104: View of the Pagoda from Hannahoe's grave

After a bunch of searching I found several wire service articles on this ceremony. These have been added to the website below. It must have been amazing to see 10,000 people at the service (1942).