IRISH-AMERICAN BALL A SUCCESS

The Butte Daily Post, Butte, 1911-06-13, p.2

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Summary

Sub-head: "First Annual Event Is Held at Gardens — Number of Pretty Novelties Offered." Coverage of the first annual Irish-American Ball at Columbia Gardens, hosted by the Hibernians of Silver Bow county. Large illuminated electric sign at the hall showing "A. O. H." with names of the four provinces of Ireland in the four corners. McNamara orchestra; chorus led by Mrs. Martha Collins. Grand march led by state president John J. O'Meara. Decorating crew named: James Hurley of the Hennessy store (assisted by Tom White, James Connolly, Tom Collins, Con Murphy). Door committee: J. J. Griffin, Dan Lynch. Cashier: John Ferns. Chorus: Mrs. Martha Collins (leader), Mrs. Rose Sealey, Miss Alexandria Verroneau, Miss Josephine Stopar, Miss Margaret Balla, James Murphy, James Duffy, John Manley, Clarence Conn, Patrick J. Flatley. **Hibernian committee hosting the ball (next year's promised):** John J. Crowley, James F. Hurley, Dennis O'Neil, **James J. Murphy**, T. J. Moran, C. H. Gallagher, Thomas Collins. ARCHIVE SIGNIFICANCE. JJM on the hosting/planning committee for the first annual AOH Irish-American Ball at Columbia Gardens — one year after his 1910 chief-sentinel turn, one year before his October 1912 election as county president. Adds Columbia Gardens (the principal Butte recreation grounds, owned by ACM) as a node in the Irish-American calendar.

In its time

Narrative

The first annual Irish-American ball, hosted by the Ancient Order of Hibernians, fills the pavilion at Columbia Gardens on the evening of June 12, 1911, with a huge electric "A. O. H." sign, the names of the four provinces of Ireland in the four corners, and decorations worked up by James Hurley of the Hennessy store with Tom White, James Connolly, Tom Collins and Con Murphy. John J. O'Meara, long state president of the Hibernians, leads the grand march with Mrs. O'Meara, followed by state, county and division officers and the ladies' auxiliary, and the chorus under Mrs. Martha Collins forms the letters of "Montana" while singing the state song. Dancing ran until 1 o'clock; the county committee — John J. Crowley, James F. Hurley, Dennis O'Neill, James J. Murphy, T. J. Moran, C. H. Gallagher and Thomas Collins — promise another ball next year.

  • “A huge electric sign showing the initial letters of the host organization of the evening, "A. O. H.," flashed forth a welcome to all.”
  • “Through the twilight the dancers glided and the scene was one of the prettiest seen in the gardens in many years.”
  • “The members of the order wore ribbons on which were inscribed the words "I'm a Hibernian"”

AI-generated (claude-opus-5). Verify against the transcription before quoting.

People

Also mentioned

  • Tom White · decorations_crew
  • Tom Collins · decorations_crew

    Repeat in hosting committee as 'Thomas Collins'.

  • Manager Forsyth · presented_illustrated_pictures
  • Mrs. Rose Sealey · chorus_member
  • Miss Alexandria Verroneau · chorus_member
  • Miss Josephine Stopar · chorus_member
  • Miss Margaret Balla · chorus_member
  • James Murphy · chorus_member

    Distinct from JJM (who is on the hosting committee, not the chorus). Could be the James J. Murphy of the 1927 obit (35-year Butte resident from c. 1892) — the OTHER James Murphy in the user's filing. Or a third unrelated James Murphy. Held in mentioned only.

  • James Duffy · chorus_member
  • John Manley · chorus_member
  • Clarence Conn · chorus_member
  • Patrick J. Flatley · chorus_member
  • J. J. Griffin · door_committee

Places

Themes

Story threads

Tags

Source type

news_item, public_meeting_report

Related sources

Transcription
transcription: complete · confidence high
# IRISH-AMERICAN BALL A SUCCESS ## First Annual Event Is Held at Gardens — Number of Pretty Novelties Offered. *The Butte Daily Post, Tuesday, June 13, 1911, p. 2.* The Irish-American ball at Columbia Gardens, the first annual, was a success, if satisfied patrons is a guarantee of a satisfactory program. As the committee had expected, the floor capacity was taxed, but as they had hoped, there was room to dance comfortably. They announced when first they decided on the ball that it was not their intention to have a crowded hall merely to make money. They wished to please their friends and leave a good impression on their visitors. To this end they spared no expense, and the consensus of opinion last evening was that their efforts were not in vain. The decorations were a feature. James Hurley of the Hennessy storeButte: companies, unions & placesHennessy’sfounded 1886The D. J. Hennessy Mercantile Company, Butte’s leading department store. Its 1898 building at Granite and Main also housed the Anaconda company’s offices on the top floor.More in Key terms →, assisted by Tom White, James Connolly, Tom Collins and Con Murphy, worked from early morning yesterday until late last evening, and the beautiful pavilion reflected their labors. A huge electric sign showing the initial letters of the host organization of the evening, "A. O. H.Irish societiesAncient Order of Hiberniansin America from 1836The largest Irish Catholic fraternal order in America: sick and death benefits for members, St. Patrick’s Day parades, and steady support for Irish nationalism.More in Key terms →," flashed forth a welcome to all. In the four corners of the hall stood the names of the four provinces of Ireland. The chorus acquitted itself with distinction and was the recipient of generous applause. The illustrated pictures shown by Manager Forsyth added greatly to the effect. Through the twilight the dancers glided and the scene was one of the prettiest seen in the gardens in many years. The gallery was well filled with spectators, and many came to hear the beautiful singers, who were presented with bouquets by the committee. The grand march was led by John J. O'Meara, state president of the Hibernians for many years, accompanied by Mrs. O'Meara. Following him were the other state, county and division officers and the ladies' auxiliaryIrish societiesDaughters of Erin / Ladies’ Auxiliaryfrom 1894The women’s side of Hibernian life. The AOH’s national women’s body was organised in 1894 as the Daughters of Erin and later took the name Ladies’ Auxiliary.More in Key terms →. The letters of the word "Montana" were formed as the chorus sang in admirable voice the state song "Montana." The McNamara orchestra excelled itself last night, and each piece of music had to be repeated three times. It was 1 o'clock when the last of the dances was over, and a tired but happy crowd was carried to their home in the different parts of the city. Many strangers from outside towns were on the floor last night. The Moonlight dance proved a favorite. John Ferns acted as cashier and J. J. Griffin and Dan Lynch were the door committee. The members of the order wore ribbons on which were inscribed the words "I'm a Hibernian," while the officers had badges emblematic of their office. The chorus consisted of: Mrs. Martha Collins, leader; Mrs. Rose Sealey, Miss Alexandria Verroneau, Miss Josephine Stopar, Miss Margaret Balla, James Murphy, James Duffy, John Manley, Clarence Conn and Patrick J. Flatley. The committee who represented the Hibernians of the county, who were the hosts of the ball and promise another such next year, were as follows: John J. Crowley, James F. Hurley, Dennis O'Neil, James J. Murphy, T. J. Moran, C. H. Gallagher and Thomas Collins. *[Text checked against the page scan at 3x (O'Neil at 8x), 21 Oct 2026, starting from the tile-by-tile page reading of 20-21 Oct 2026.]*

Dotted underlines mark key terms on first mention — hover or tab to one for a reference note. The wording is the source’s own.

Open questions

  • place_columbia_gardens — need to add to /vocab/places.yaml if not already present.
  • Tom Collins / Thomas Collins / Con Murphy / Con J. Murphy / Mike Murphy — recurring Butte Hibernian "Tady-candidate" names that deserve a dedicated cross-check pass against the 1992 letter's 8 Butte-emigrant children list.