'One Great Irish Spot': Syracuse's Tipp Hill - Where Green Goes on Top
After the Erie Canal was finished, many Irish people settled west of Syracuse on a hill overlooking the canal. This area became known as Tipperary Hill. When the city first installed traffic signal lights in 1925, they placed one at a major intersection in the main business district on Tipperary Hill, at the corner of Tompkins Street and Milton Avenue. Local Irish youths, incensed that the “British" red appeared above the "Irish" green, threw stones at the signal and broke the red light. John "Huckle" Ryan, then alderman of the Tipperary Hill section, requested that the traffic signal be hung with the green above the red in deference to the Irish residents. This was done, but soon New York State stepped in, and city officials reversed the colors.
The red lights were again broken regularly. Members of a group called Tipperary Hill Protective Association addressed the town rulers. On March 17, 1928, Commissioner Bradley met with Tipp Hill residents, who told him that the light would continue to be vandalized. The city leaders relented, and green was again above the red light, where it remains. It is said to be the only traffic light in the U.S. where the green light is on top. At the site is a statue commemorating the StoneThrowers.
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Ryan O'Rourke
I had heard of this particular traffic light, but you filled in the details and the background. Thanks for this, Jim!
Mar 14, 2014
Jim Curley
Thank you, Ryan. Can't imagine too many memorials to stone throwers exist.
We owe a lot to the pre-famine Irish who worked on projects such as the Erie Canal. Their backbreaking work led to the phenomenal growth of Great Lakes cities like Chicago, Cleveland and Detroit, providing opportunities for future generations of Irish immigrants.
We do indeed stand on the shoulders of giants!!
Mar 14, 2014
Tom McGrath
Great job with the pix & back story. I mentioned the Syracuse monument to the Stonethrowers in a Tipperary discussion a while back. I would only add to your great coverage that without the legendary pub owner and Lord Mayor of Tipperary Hill, Pete Coleman and his Clan, there would be no park or monument. The pub is still thriving as is his sister's Irish shop on the other corner called Cashel House.
Slan,
Tom McGrath
Brunswick, NY
Mar 14, 2014
Jim Curley
Cashel - there's another great Tipp name. And Tipperary also boasts those three brothers who teamed up with a man from the North and made it pretty big in the music business. Proud heritage.
Mar 14, 2014
Founding Member
Nollaig 2016
Nibsy's is the oldest Irish pub in Syracuse.
Mar 17, 2014
Tom McGrath
In my mis-spent youth, my HQ was in the "Salt City", beautiful sunless Syracuse. To us you started your evening on top of Tipperary Hill at Coleman's. That made it easier for some to slide to the bottom of the hill to Nibsy's. Same hill just a different perspective.
Tom McGrath
Mar 17, 2014
Founding Member
Nollaig 2016
Traffic signals
Tipperary Hill's green-over-red traffic light
By 1918, the company had shortened their name to Crouse-Hinds Company and produced traffic lights, controllers and accessories.
The company manufactured the first traffic signal in Syracuse which was installed in 1924 at the corner of James and State Streets. Crouse-Hinds produced traffic signals locally for many years, including the famous Tipperary Hill upside down light on the city's Far Westside. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crouse-Hinds_Company
Mar 17, 2014
Jim Curley
Mar 18, 2014
Tom McGrath
Our clan inhabits the eastern quarter of NYS, The Capital area. The firm who sheltered me for 30+ yrs had div hqs in Albany & Buffalo with Syracuse being the Ctr of all knowledge. there were periods when I had more hrs on the NYThruway than at my job..over those years I was treated to every Irish purveyor of suds and spuds in Central NY. My friendship with the Coleman's of Tip Hill continues to the present. Their Irish Import shop is the finest in that region. I am happy to hold the same opinion for our families similar operation, Tipperary at Tara Ltd, (see www.eirish.com) founded by my wife Nancy 35yrs ago and currently involving 3 generations. Your brother may have visited another great, long closed, Irish watering oasis in salt city, Mc Carthy's downtown.
Slan, must get back to work....
Tom
Mar 18, 2014
Founding Member
Nollaig 2016
Where in Syracuse?
Mar 18, 2014
Jim Curley
Mar 19, 2014
Founding Member
Nollaig 2016
The Irish laborers helped to build the Erie Canal and gravitated to the hill on the Far Westside of Syracuse beginning in the mid 19th century. They settled in the south of the old village of Geddes, before it was annexed into the city, and lived on top of the hill overlooking what was later called "Automobile Row" where industries like Franklin Automobile Company and Onondaga Pottery abounded. The men would walk down from the hill on their way to work each day at the factories east of Tipperary Hill that lined Geddes, Fayette, Marcellus and Oswego streets on the city's Near Westside. To the north, Solvay Process Company provided many jobs to local residents in the manufacture of soda ash on the shores of Onondaga Lake.[4] Many Irish were also employed in the local salt mills on the North side of Geddes. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_in_Syracuse,_New_York
Mar 19, 2014
Founding Member
Nollaig 2016
Spirit of Light or Spirit of Power by Clayton Frye (1932).
Where in Syracuse?
Image http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Leonard_G.
Mar 23, 2014
Jim Curley
The Niagara-Mohawk building on W. Erie Blvd., downtown Syracuse. Beautiful Art Deco.
Mar 24, 2014
Founding Member
Nollaig 2016
Spot on Jim.
Mar 24, 2014
Admin
Fran Reddy
Interesting story Jim!
Mar 24, 2014