Historic Dublin Neighborhood Dedication In Morristown

MORRISTOWN, NJ — Morristown's historic Dublin neighborhood will receive a historic marker and two interpretative panels, to be dedicated at a ceremony this Sunday.

The signs will designate Dublin as one of Morristown's earliest immigrant neighborhoods, particularly among Irish residents. The project is a collaboration between the Morris County Heritage Commission and the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick of Morris County.

"I thank the Heritage Commission for working closely with the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick on
a project that helps educate county residents on the important historical and cultural impact
made on Morris County by Irish immigrants," said Freeholder Kathy DeFillippo, who is
liaison to the Heritage Commission.

Located at the corner of Madison Street and Macculloch Avenue, the festivities will begin at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 3. Speakers include Morristown Mayor Timothy Dougherty, Morris County Heritage Commission Acting Director Peg Shultz, and Rev. Msgr. John Hart, author Cheryl Turkington, and Freeholders DeFillippo and Doug Cabana.

The Guard Pipes & Drums will lead a procession to the Dublin Pub starting at 2:30 p.m.

Here is the cultural impact statement written for the Friendly Sons as part of their grant application:

Morristown’s Dublin neighborhood is a rare surviving example of a 19th Century ethnic enclave that nurtured generations of Irish immigrants who lived, worked, raised families and contributed to their community in countless ways.

Located a few blocks south of the Morristown Green, the area is comprised of parts of Maple and Macculloch avenues, Green Street, Catherine Lane, and Madison and James streets.

The backbone and guiding light of the neighborhood was the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which was built in 1848 near the corner of Madison Street and Maple Avenue.

For almost 100 years, the vast majority of residents were Irish-Catholic, and the church and neighborhood grew together seamlessly – their identities so intertwined that residents could not envision one without the other.

The streetscape today retains many key elements of its historical context. Walking these streets yields a sense of the scale and quality of a long-ago immigrant experience.

And here is what the historical marker will say:

Dublin: Between 1840 and 1950, This Neighborhood Was a Center of Irish Immigrant Life. Residents Worked as Laborers, Domestic Help, Merchants and Civil Servants Later Generations Were Elected to Public Office and Served in the Armed Forces In Large Numbers. Community Members Helped Establish All Souls Hospital in 1892.