In Greenwood, Faith, Family, and a Quiet Strength

In the early 19th century while secret societies such as The Ribbon Society* and the Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH)** brought from Ireland carried on in big cities in the United States, Irish Catholic families settled together in what was known as West Greenwood Hill. Drawn by farmland and opportunity, they built lives rooted in faith, labor, and a shared understanding: survival depended on one another.

Most were farmers, or tradespeople who supported them—blacksmiths, shoemakers, laborers. Their world was close-knit by necessity. Families lived side by side, worked side by side, and worshipped together in a small Catholic church that stood as the heart of the community. The Catholic parish served as a hiring network, a place to exchange news from Ireland, and a support system for widows, laborers, and new arrivals.

Instead of formal lodges, these families may have had quiet agreements to help one another find work, shared labor (barn raisings, harvesting, repairs), and financial help in times of illness or death mirroring the AOH.

Even without formal chapters, immigrants brought habits from groups like the Ribbonmen like distrust of authority, loyalty to kin and county, and preference for handling disputes internally. In a small town, that might look like certain families always hiring each other, disputes settled privately rather than in court, and outsiders kept at arm’s length.

With nearby industries (timber, farming, small mills), Irish workers may have formed quiet alliances which resulted in agreeing on wages, supporting each other during disputes, and informally blacklisting unfair employers. These wouldn’t be written down, but they were powerful.

How it likely evolved:

• 1830–1860: Early settlers; tight-knit survival networks, possibly strongest “old country” influence

• 1860–1900: Gradual stabilization; more integration into town life

• 1900–1930: Identity becomes less secretive, more cultural (church, family names, traditions)

• 1930–1960: By this point, most “secret society” behavior would be nearly invisible—absorbed into normal community patterns

There were several major waves of Irish migration to New York—and to this region—during the 1800s.

In the 1830s, many Irish immigrants arrived to work on the Erie Canal construction or to begin farming. Some traveled through Canada, where passage was often less expensive than entering through New York City or Philadelphia.

The most significant wave came during the Great Famine, commonly known as the Irish Potato Famine. A devastating plant disease destroyed Ireland’s primary food source, leading to the deaths of about one million people from starvation and disease. Another 1.5 to 2 million emigrated in search of survival.

Between 1850 and 1851, the Alfred division of the Erie Railroad was constructed, employing many Irish laborers.

From 1859 to 1862, construction continued westward from Hornell to Salamanca, again relying heavily on Irish immigrant workers.

Railroad construction during this period was often unstable. Contractors frequently ran out of money, leaving workers unpaid. These laborers—many of them recent immigrants living in temporary camps—were not permanent employees and depended on regular cash wages, usually paid weekly or biweekly.

When wages failed to arrive, tensions could rise quickly. At Bakers Bridge (now Alfred Station), this unrest escalated into a violent confrontation, a riot. In its aftermath, some workers left the railroad and settled nearby, particularly in West Greenwood and West Union, where family members or friends had already begun farming.

Following a tradition of mutual support within close-knit communities, these settlers established their own institutions, including a one-room schoolhouse, a church, and a cemetery.

The Old Catholic One Room School, District #4

376 Flynn Road (corner of Cemetery Road & across from

 the original St Mary’s Church & Cemetery)

Then, in the 1880s, tragedy struck. A diphtheria outbreak swept through the West Greenwood Hill community, claiming lives and shaking the foundation of the settlement. Believing the church itself might be the source, the community made the difficult decision to burn it. Only later did they learn the illness had spread through contaminated water.

What followed speaks to the strength of the community. Rather than disperse, the families moved together to a nearby area of Greenwood, in what became West Union in 1845 and specifically to what was called Irish Hill.

There, they rebuilt—not only a new church, but also a school in the hamlet of Rexville, ensuring their children would be educated within their faith and traditions.

For decades, the community remained largely self-sustaining and closely connected. Decisions were made collectively, relationships were reinforced through church and family, and support flowed quietly among neighbors. Though far from the secret societies of Ireland, the same values endured: loyalty, mutual aid, and trust.

By the 1930s, the wider region sought to create a centralized school. The Irish Catholic community agreed to participate—with important conditions: a Catholic teacher must be hired and the Catholic students must be released for some Catholic education during the school day. That request was honored, and a teacher, Margaret Toombs (later Murray) was brought from Nazareth College, reflecting the community’s lasting commitment to its identity even as it integrated with its neighbors. Catholic education was offered weekly at the Murray home which was located close to the school. Many of the nuns who taught were classmates of Margaret’s at Nazareth College.

Over time, the distinct boundaries softened, but its legacy remained. It is a story not of secrecy, but of quiet resilience—a community that endured hardship, preserved its traditions, and shaped the character of the town through unity, faith, and determination.

* Ribbonmen (The Ribbon Society)Originally active in Ireland as a rural, often clandestine group defending tenant farmers and Catholic rights, the Ribbonmen established branches in American cities like New York and Philadelphia. In the U.S., they became involved in labor disputes, immigrant protection, and sometimes violent conflicts—particularly with rival groups.

** Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH)This is probably the most enduring Irish-derived society in America. While less “secret” over time, it began with oath-bound traditions and roots in earlier clandestine groups. In the U.S., it evolved into a major Catholic fraternal and charitable organization that supported Irish immigrants, promoted Irish culture, and offered mutual aid.