HISTORY OF THE EMERALD SOCIETY
Before you learn about the history of the Emerald Society of Columbus, Ohio you first must learn about the history of the National Emerald Society and the history of Irish Immigrants in America.
In the 1800’s the Irish were not very welcomed in America. They were the first ethnic group that were relegated to live in the first slums of the larger American Cities. They were discriminated against in most employment opportunities. The Irish immigrants had to settle for the low paying hard working job opportunities. The most important thing to remember is that through all the discrimination and the bad working conditions the Irish American immigrants never lost their pride in work or their pride in their label as being known as Irish American Immigrants.
Two of the professions that were open to the Irish Immigrant was becoming a Police Officer or a Fire Fighter. Both of these professions were under paid, had little benefits and they had very poor working conditions. The new Irish Americans loved their new country and they loved their new professions. They brought pride to their work every day. They would pass their professions down from father to son. Now, not only from father to son, but from father to daughter and mother to son or daughter.
By the mid 1900’s the Irish Americans were not only members of the police and fire departments but also in charge of them. More Police Chiefs and Fire Chiefs were of Irish Descent than any other ethnic group. The new Irish American Police Officers and Fire Fighters had turned the jobs of Night Watchman and Fire Watchman into the modern professions of Law Enforcement and Fire Fighting we have today.
The new Irish American Police Officers and Fire Fighters formed a strong brotherhood to each other. They had two important virtues in common. They loved being Irish American and the loved being Fire Fighters and Police Officers.
The Emerald Society if an organization of Police Officers and Fire Fighters of Irish Descent.
The history of the Emerald Society started in New York City. In 1953 four Policewoman; Doris Burke, Lillian Reilly, Mary Paterson and Eileen Romancheck came up with the idea of forming an Irish American Police Officer’s organization. The four women surveyed other New York City Irish American Police Officers and found that many were in support of the concept. They went about writing by-laws and a charter. Then on March 16, 1953 the 40 charter members of the first Emerald Society held their first meeting. Later in 1956 the Irish American Firefighter of New York City formed the second Emerald Society Chapter.
Today, many Emerald Societies have both Police Officers and Firefighters in the same chapter. Emerald Societies are in most major American Cities. There are even Chapters in London, England and the Country of Malta.
As more and more Emerald Societies were formed it became apparent that a National Organization was needed to set the guidelines for all the Emerald Societies to follow. In 1995 the National Conference of Law Enforcement Emerald Societies was formed. It’s stated goal is to unite all Irish American Public Safety Emerald Societies under the same set of guidelines and goals.
Emerald Society of Columbus, Ohio
Sometime in the summer of 1990 Columbus Police Officer Tom Hayes met with fellow Police Officer Mike Millay in the cafeteria located in the basement of Police Headquarters. He asked him if he would be interested in forming an Irish Police Officer Social Club. Mike was onboard and the idea of an Emerald Society in Columbus, Ohio was starting to take shape.
Tom and Mike met with the Columbus Chief of Police and the Chief gave his permission to go ahead with the Club as long as the Club was only a Social Club and would have no political ties. This assurance was given, and the decision was made to invite Firefighters into the Club.
Since Irish American Police and Fire Clubs were know as Emerald Societies it was determined that the new Club would be known as The Emerald Society of Columbus, Ohio.
Over the next few months five organizational meetings were held. Some at the Ancient Order of Hibernians Hall located at St. Patrick Church and a few at The Shamrock Club of Columbus.
Flyers were posted in all Columbus Police Sub-Stations and all Columbus Fire Stations. Interest in the Emerald Society started to grow, slowly but steadily.
Mike Millay wrote up the first By-Laws and designed the first applications.
On November 20, 1990 the first official meeting was held at the Shamrock Club of Columbus. There were 29 members who filled out applications during November and December of 1990. These 29 members are the co-founders and charter members of the Emerald Society of Columbus, Ohio.
Membership in the Emerald Society of Columbus, Ohio is open to any Active Duty or Retired Ohio Law Enforcement Officer or Firefighter who can establish Irish Ancestry.
William A. Harris, Historian
Emerald Society of Columbus, Ohio