Somerset, Ohio's Catholic Cradle

St. Joseph Somerset is the oldest Catholic parish in Ohio (1818), its present church was begun in 1840. Somerset has 1400+ people, and two parishes.

St. Joseph Somerset 

The southeastern part of the State of Ohio was the first developed by settlement at the beginning of the 19ᵗʰ century. Zane's Trace ran from Wheeling to Maysville on an arc between two towns on the Ohio. Jacob Dittoe, a German immigrant, began writing (starting in 1805?) the bishop of the United States in Baltimore for a priest to come. Later when Bardstown Kentucky became one of the four new dioceses, a resident priest came.

 

Holy Trinity's present church was built in 1857. Both are Dominican parishes.

 

In the 19ᵗʰ century many buildings had the year built up high in front, instead on cornerstones. This is why i refer to yearstones. This is the yearstone for St. Joseph's.

yearstone of Holy Trinity, also the capstone of the arch

Third Sorrowful Mystery: The crowning with thorns.

St. Joseph's interior is pristine, and probably had some or much work done for the parish's bicentennial. That would include new wood flooring, and cleaning of stained glass, and new carved statues, and a museum in a former sacristy (vestry). The windows are not original, they include the original 15 Mysteries of the Rosary. They look like South German painterly style early 20ᵗʰ century (?).

In the now museum room is a window of St. Thomas Aquinas in conversation with a crucifix. The Latin is below (not in foto) the scene, and i can not make out two words. Thoma, bene scripsisti de me: Quid _____ ___ Qui respondit Domine, non nisi te. Thomas, you have written well about me:  What _____ ___ He responded, “Lord, nothing except You.”  The missing is Jesus asking Thomas what he wants.

The tall, thin, twin light, nave windows in Holy Trinity look like American 19ᵗʰ century. The pair nearest the sanctuary have the more detailed images.

The rose window is much newer.

Madison Avenue, Lakewood O.

Birdtown mural (nearby streets: Lark, Robin, Plover, Quail,Thrush)

next to entrance door of tattoo parlor

chocolatier

inside a saloon

Patricios are back (3 of 3)

Erin Go Bragh (Ireland Forever) 

The Republic of Ireland (Eire) uses the tri-color flag of the Easter Rebellion of 1916. This green flag is of the 1798 Rebellion. This was carried by the Polish unit in the parade. Many of the spectators would not recognise it. The harp, and the shamrocks have long been recognised as symbols of Ireland, and so has the color green.

Three women were dressed in fine traditional Polish peasant clothes. Here one is interrupted in the march. A local cable channel interviewed one woman during the end of the parade, and a foto appeared online by the diminished Cleveland daily paper.

I dunno what was asked in the interview, my guess is why are the Poles marching? Well, St. Patrick is a saint of the Church Universal. A Chinese unit marches in the parade. In the past, Ukrainians and Lithuanians have marched. The Polish Catholics have marched since 2011, when Lennon (the then bishop) was closing parishes. The Poles, and other nationality groups are part of the Cleveland Catholic Community.

Viet Nam veteran with a US peace flag escorted out of parade

Lou Pumphrey is a Viet Nam veteran. He has been in many local parades with his uniform (i think he has come in a dress uniform), and flag. He believes in the 1st Amendment. At one time he was the editor at Universe Bulletin. He was interested in the clergy abuse allegations. The bishop (then Pilla) was the publisher. He was then no longer an employee. The next Cleveland bishop, Lennon, came from Boston and was heavily involved in the cover up of the abuse there. Lennon was filmed on an episode of Frontline trying to humiliate an adult survivor. The film Spotlight won a Best Picture Oscar, and was about the Boston Globe bringing it attention. Lou completed the parade marching with Cleveland Polonia, which was in a marching position soon after the point of his original departure.

There were fewer units this year, but more high school bands. The last place in the line up, at the tail end of the four divisions was Canton McKinley High.

The lingering effects of the Boston Bombers, and other terrorists is to heavily block any entrance points along the parade route.

The Krazy Kops are regulars, but this year they were a late addition to the line up. They enjoy entertaining crowd. Here they merge into the Maple Heights High School Band.

Spectators were waiting for the next unit to march by.

Many people wear green while in the viewing crowd, and are participating in the parade.

Patricios are back (2 of 3)

 

Dogs are favorites in parades. Some people bring their charges to view the parade with them. Usually, the Irish Setters, and sometimes the Siberian Huskies have a unit; this year they did not. The Irish Wolfhounds did. This handsome lad is Reelin (sp?), he had a small companion, Doolin (sp?). The wolfhound is by far, the largest sight hound; and usually with very sweet dispositions. It is sad they have such short life spans.

The alpacas were back. They and the horses, are nearly always of the very first to come to the staging areas. The parade begins at 1.04 pm, they are there before 11 am.

Other fan favorites are costume groups. The Ghostbusters, and Star War characters are asked to be photographed. They are very obliging. The dark lord Darth Vader is gregarious. Santa says he will come by on 24th December.

Emperor Palpatine is an icon of movie evil. He was an engaging politician, who surreptitiously sought absolute power [maybe Reagan in the first part, and Gingrich for the second]. He ended democracy, and enjoyed mass killings.  This fellow is just acting as the movie guy, and here absolutely in the grasp of his mobile communications device.

Joe Pearce has played St. Patrick for several years. He went to Cathedral Latin, and now marches with the merged, and relocated school's band (Notre Dame Cathedral Latin).  He is another, who is willing to stand for fotos.

Hulk is on of the Super Heroes to Kids, they visit children having hard times.

Mr. Jingle-Ling made an appearance. The character was a local department store character in 1950s-60s Cleveland.

And people like to see old cars. Some belong to individuals who are part of a marching unit, often construction unions. Often there is a politician in a car, but i did not see one this year.

Patricios are back (1 of 3)

 

This is the type of picture the news likes to run in noting parades.

Well, when the corona virus pandemic was recognised in Ohio, two years ago, the first big event in Cleveland cancelled was the Patrick Parade. The theme and line ups were used for 2022, note below. Because some people were still uncertain about this year, some crowd favorites were not registered to march. The official temperature at the aeroport was 72°F, about ten degrees cooler downtown. It was a sunny, and pleasant day. I suppose there was a little pent up interest in the crowd. It was on a Thursday, a weekend day generally gets more people. Near the beginning of the parade, around St. Peter's, the crowd was thick when often it is sparse. There were no thin spots in the route. There were no reports of hooliganism about Public Square, which in recent years there was. The crowd was happy.

banner close up

The castle stage scenery has made several appearances over the years. In the crenelations there were puffins.

And since this is an Irish parade, people want bagpipes. Supra: Local 93 Cleveland Fire

The world is shocked and appalled over the invasion of Ukraine. A few Ukrainian flags were in the parade. Slava Ukraini!

Horses are great to have in parades. Here is Willi (sp?) from Lake Metroparks, he has been in several parades. Three other draft horses were part of his team.

Nitro from University Circle is dressed to impress.

2022 Miscellany #3

a Baptist church Cleveland, first the Hungarians left, and then other Baptists

Civil War monument Cleveland used to promote NBA basketball

Pareidolia at Shaker Nature Center

old sign at Horseshoe Lake Park

Now, outside what had been St. Luke's Hospital, i remember her being called "Ella". It was made by the Cracking Art Collective of Milan, and was placed by the West 25th RTA tracks, so that Repukes could see it when coming from Hopkins Aeroport to their convention to elevate their false god in 2016. [click]

Russian invasion of Ukraine, and reaction in the US

 

You notice, that practically every news program that has a Russo-Ukraine war segment follows it immediately with the price of gasoline?  fair and balanced.

Republicans always blame a Democratic President for gasoline prices. In 1973, because of an Arab-Israeli War, there was an OPEC reduction of oil exports. Republican Nixon was president. There was another oil crisis when Democratic Carter was president. Republicans only remember gas lines during the latter's term. When both Bushes had Iraqi wars, oil prices went up; Republicans talked about Obama. The repukes would rather blame Biden than Putin.

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Postscriptum: 1.59pm 8 March:  I was not aware of the following exchange, until after i posted. It proves my point about Republicans.