Ethnic neighborhoods add much to a city's character, even if prejudice and racism threaten their very existence. The rise and fall of the Kerry Patch recalls, for me, the similar rise and fall of such neighborhoods in Canada, such as "Rooster Town" (in my home town of Winnipeg), "Cabbagetown" (in Toronto) and "Africville" (Halifax), all of which were ultimately wiped off the map when the cities surrounding them expanded their urban sprawl.
Great read, well done! What do you make of both Collins & Ashley Streets (re: Egan's Rats origins) being well east of any known boundary description of the Patch? Is it possible that the Kerry Patch origin story was owed to the gang's turf claim even though Kinney & the Egan brothers didn't physically live there?
From what I understand, the Egan's Rats came about because of the poverty of the near north area of the city, and likely also because of the very tight-knit Irish community that policed itself. The Kerry Patch itself had the boundaries that it did in the mid-19th century or so because it was located largely on Mullanphy land, with the Mullanphys (Bryan and Ann) allowing the new immigrants to squat on the land without penalty. By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, things had changed considerably as the general state of the Irish had improved somewhat (most now spoke English, and many had successful businesses) and people moved around. It's not surprising that the neighborhoods grew and shifted around as the population expanded. So by the time of the Egan's Rats, people had moved beyond the narrow confines of the Mullanphy land.
What a great, well-researched piece, Jackie. I hope some of what remains of Kerry Patch will be restored and repurposed. Thanks for this St. Patrick’s Day edition ☘️
Thanks Jolene! As for restoring and repurposing the Kerry Patch, well... it happens to be in the one part of St. Louis that has been largely ignored and under-developed for decades. It doesn't help that a lot of the remaining houses were gobbled up by developer Paul McKee, who is notorious for purchasing properties and letting them decay. There are some new homes being built, but nothing on the scale of what was once there, and without vibrant retail and entertainment options for the residents, I fear it will never really amount to much.
Ethnic neighborhoods add much to a city's character, even if prejudice and racism threaten their very existence. The rise and fall of the Kerry Patch recalls, for me, the similar rise and fall of such neighborhoods in Canada, such as "Rooster Town" (in my home town of Winnipeg), "Cabbagetown" (in Toronto) and "Africville" (Halifax), all of which were ultimately wiped off the map when the cities surrounding them expanded their urban sprawl.
Great read, well done! What do you make of both Collins & Ashley Streets (re: Egan's Rats origins) being well east of any known boundary description of the Patch? Is it possible that the Kerry Patch origin story was owed to the gang's turf claim even though Kinney & the Egan brothers didn't physically live there?
From what I understand, the Egan's Rats came about because of the poverty of the near north area of the city, and likely also because of the very tight-knit Irish community that policed itself. The Kerry Patch itself had the boundaries that it did in the mid-19th century or so because it was located largely on Mullanphy land, with the Mullanphys (Bryan and Ann) allowing the new immigrants to squat on the land without penalty. By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, things had changed considerably as the general state of the Irish had improved somewhat (most now spoke English, and many had successful businesses) and people moved around. It's not surprising that the neighborhoods grew and shifted around as the population expanded. So by the time of the Egan's Rats, people had moved beyond the narrow confines of the Mullanphy land.
Well researched story on Kerry Patch.Thanks for sharing Jackie
Thank you so much Ravi! I hope you enjoyed it.
What a great, well-researched piece, Jackie. I hope some of what remains of Kerry Patch will be restored and repurposed. Thanks for this St. Patrick’s Day edition ☘️
Thanks Jolene! As for restoring and repurposing the Kerry Patch, well... it happens to be in the one part of St. Louis that has been largely ignored and under-developed for decades. It doesn't help that a lot of the remaining houses were gobbled up by developer Paul McKee, who is notorious for purchasing properties and letting them decay. There are some new homes being built, but nothing on the scale of what was once there, and without vibrant retail and entertainment options for the residents, I fear it will never really amount to much.
Thank you!