A Short Story Of Just One Of Orangetown's Many Wonderful Cultures

During my more than half of a Century in the public life of Orangetown I became enamored of its history, its diversity and, in past Patch articles, shared its impact on our nation. Think or learn about what was Lederle Laboratory [now Pfizer], the New York State Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research and the New York State Rockland Psychiatry Center, Camp Shanks [Last Stop USA}, and Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory.

I am also enamored by the historic and current cultures that have found a safe and beautiful home in Orangetown.

Please note that I am not a representative of any cultural organization or authorized to speak for any culture, nor is this a scholarly treatise, just a virtual conversation.

Like so many who moved to Orangetown after the Palisades Parkway and TZ were built seeking a hometown to raise a family, I took an interest in Orangetown's fast growing populations from New York City. One group were folks/families of Irish roots. They proceeded to enhance Orangetown with the St. Patricks Day Parade, the second largest in New York State + the home of Division III of the Rockland Ancient Order of Hibernians, maybe the largest Division in the State or more + the Gaelic Athletic Association Sports Center, second in size only to the one in Ireland + internationly respected schools of Irish Music and dance for Children, who have won an extraordinary number of world competitions + a Feis, a Gaelic Art & Culture Event + the Irish Culture Center and a few traditional pubs. So impressed by this growth, I sponsored an Exhibit in the Historical Society Museum of Rockland County. All of the above are positive enhancements of community life.

But I must invite everyone's attention to the fact hat this blessing of a rich culture began much earlier In Orangetown, much much earlier.

Mary Salmmon, born in County Tipperary, Ireland, immigrated to the USA [NYC] in 1850, became a Dominican Nun in 1869 and built the Saint Joseph Convent in "Blauveltviller" in 1878. It is the origin of the magnificent campus home of the St.Dominic's Home for Children which serves not only orphans, but our intellectual disabled, children with Special Education needs, homeless, and much much more human services. And if that wasn't enough enter Dominican College [1952], one of the best small colleges in the North East [and I think one of the best Nursing Programs in the USA]

The story of the house that became the convent is inspirational. While searching for a house, the Nuns spotted one with a "For Sale" sign. Upon entering they saw a portrait of St. Dominic and they said "Here Shall We Will Be".

Then there is Margaret Dowling of County Kilkenny, Ireland, who also immigrated to NYC [1869], and became a Dominican Nun in 1876/citizen in 1880. From this beginning in Sparkill came St. Agnes Convent + St. Agnes orphanage [gone now, but once had 900 boys in care] + the St. Thomas Aquinas High School For Girls, which became home to Camp Venture's Day Programs + Dowling Gardens homes for our Seniors + Thorpe Village, also homes for our Seniors + St. Thomas Aquinas College, another fantastic small College.

So the story of of the Irish in Orangetown began many years ago.