Murder in a time of cholera remembered as Duffy’s Cut Irish victims finally reburied

Remains of five victims laid to rest with dignity over 180 years after their murders

Larger Text

Print

E-mail

3 Comments

The remains of the Duffy's Cut workers are given a Christian burial at West Laurel Hill Cemetery.

Photo by The remains of the Duffy's Cut workers are given a Christian burial at West Laurel Hill Cemetery.

Tweet

West Laurel Cemetery in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania yesterday became the meeting and resting place for two very different groups of Irish.

It was the culmination moment for all the different groups who have been involved with the Duffy’s Cut project for a number of years now.

Historians, clergy members, Irish dignitaries and more all gathered to pay homage to the 57 Irish immigrant workers who died while working on a mile stretch of railroad in Pennsylvania in 1832. Five were buried in West Laurel.

Their tragic story has become familiar. After arriving in America five weeks prior from Ireland, the 57 Irish immigrants died at a shantytown in Malvern, PA. Decision is still split as to whether or not these immigrants all succumbed to a cholera outbreak, or whether  they were murdered. While some of them most likely died of the cholera, the rest were executed in order to prevent a massive outbreak.

The project began ten years ago when the local historian Watson brothers discovered a top-secret file relating to the deaths of the 57 immigrants at the Duffy’s Cut site. The file, which was marked as saying “should never be taken out of office” - the notion of which was met with chuckles during the burial ceremony when Dr. Frank Watson mentioned it - helped shed light and return the identities of those anonymously buried at Duffy’s Cut.

The event to honor the deceased immigrants was marked by a luncheon at the cemetery, followed by a visitation and a burial service. The event was a bittersweet overture to what some described  as a “spiritual” journey to help discover the stories of the 57 immigrants from Duffy’s Cut.

The Irish aspect of the entire event was evident as early as the luncheon. Bowls of shamrocks decorated tables, while bagpipers offered musical interludes throughout the hour and a half lunch. People mingled, sharing their different stories about their interactions with the Duffy’s Cut project.

Dr. Janet Monge, who is the keeper of physical anthropology and adjunct associate professor of anthropology at the University of Pennsylvania, shared her views about the immigrant’s story. As an Italian American, Dr. Monge was quick to realize that she may have been outnumbered by those who were Irish at the event. She did however, make a poignant note about the immigrant nature of the Irish who were found at Duffy’s Cut.

“We all share the immigrant story; this is a human story. America, of course, is a nation built upon immigrants. To place the importance on the heritage of the Duffy’s Cut 57 seems almost silly - they should be remembered as humans who played a role in history, not just as Irish who played a role in Pennsylvania’s history. Duffy’s Cut is a story for humanity, not just the Irish community.”

For Dr. Monge, the services today marked an “almost joyous time” as the remains she worked so closely with were finally being laid to rest with respect and dignity.

Print

E-mail

Tweet