McHenry Shamrock Affair
By Harrison Power
With St. Patrick’s Day ahead of us, many are likely looking forward to resuming the vibrant celebrations that have been missed for the last two years with people gathering, bars buzzing, and fun all around. Fanciful and colorful shamrock celebrations are a Modesto community affair, with one of the popular celebrations being the dinner party hosted at the McHenry Mansion. However, the ties between St. Patrick’s Day and the McHenry family go back over 100 years to 1905, with a party celebration which afterwards was referred to as an “unusually brilliant function” by the Stanislaus Weekly News.
This lively “fancy dress party,” hosted by Oramil and Myrtie McHenry at their home, was deemed one of the most unique events in the annals of Modesto social affairs. Based on reporting of the celebration, it was like no party that Modesto and its residents had seen previously. At least forty invited guests arrived shortly after 9:00PM for the late-night festivities in a wide variety of costumes ranging from a Charles II courtier, ballet girl, fortune teller, to even George Washington, just to name a few. The pomp and spectacle unfolding within the green and shamrock-clad halls of the McHenry home went on for hours. Dancing was started by a grand march to kick off the gathering, with a live orchestral ensemble providing the music for the evening’s attendees. A punchbowl provided refreshments, and once past midnight it was time for dancing to cease and for dining to commence.
Where someone today would be surprised not to find corned beef and cabbage in your St. Patrick’s Day plans, the meal that Oramil and Myrtie had arranged for their guests excluded the classic dish but was certainly extravagant: “Oysters on the half shell, Lobster salad, Turkey, chicken, jelly, olives, salted almonds, Neopolitan ice cream, cakes and confection.” It was then not until nearly 2:00AM that party came to an end once partygoers and the hosts had their fill of libations, dancing, dinner, and merriment. This news-worthy party was one of the books, so here’s to continuing a Modesto tradition of great St. Patrick’s Day fun and celebration.
Learn more and visit www.mchenrymansion.org/
