Dozens of descendants of Syracuse’s fabled “stone throwers” marked Saint Patrick’s Day on Tipperary Hill remembering the acts of resistance that created the nation’s only “green on top” traffic signal. It’s been over a century since the young Irish-American residents continued to break the British red light until the city relented and reversed the color pattern. For surviving family members like Kathy Short Grajko, She’s always been amused by her father, Francis “Stubbs” Short’s account of what happened.
“I asked my father, ‘How come you were never caught?’ He said, they had a plan. They stood on that corner or this corner and when somebody came, they were able to scatter, run down the hill and go through the backyards.”
Another stone thrower, Patrick “Packy” Corbett also served as an Onondaga County Sheriff. His grandson Jimmy Conroy says this St. Patrick’s Day marked his 118th Birthday.
“For Packy, St. Patrick’s Day was never really about the enormous party that it’s turned into. But, more of an opportunity to spend time with family and friends and recognize where our family began. And the courage of so many and the huge leap of faith that it took to come here. Escaping poverty, war and hunger in hopes for a better life and family here in America.”
A new Legends and Lore “Green On Top Street Light Over British Red” plaque now officially marks the historic location. It was unveiled by the William T. Pomeroy Foundation. Quite fittingly, it’s also the only green historic marker of its kind across the U.S.
