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 I remember as I am sure you do when Gloucester City was DRY on Sundays.  What made me think of this was when I learned that the Saint Patrick's Day parade in Gloucester City was being held two weeks ahead of the national celebration on March 17.

 

Why??. 

 

Why did Gloucester City stop Dry Sundays? Who made the decision? Who was the mayor? 

 

I hope you find this interesting and do what you do best, look into it.

 

Thanking You, 

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Hello, Bob. I apologize for the delay in responding to your questions. Before I address them, some groundwork needs to be established. My father, George F. Cleary Sr., and my mother, Mazie, purchased the Gloucester City News from its previous owner in 1950. Prior to that, he worked at the paper for two years. In 1985, my wife Connie (née Sarlo) and I bought the paper and maintained ownership until 2005. The following year, I was hired by the new owner to write a weekly column and to build a website to be used to promote the paper on the internet. 

The backdrop of this story is significant—World War II had just concluded, and the United States was on the brink of entering the Korean War. During this time, the Philadelphia Naval Yard was highly active, involved in constructing new naval ships and repairing existing vessels. There was also a U.S. Coast Guard Base at King and Cumberland Streets with approximately 75 men stationed there.

On weekends, sailors stationed at the Naval Yard were drawn to Gloucester City, which had 50 bars conveniently open on Sundays.  The Twin Bar, at Broadway and Market Street, provided live entertainment, such as Bill Haley and the Comet. Decades later, the new owners of that bar claimed it was the 

In the early 1950s, Bill Haley and the Saddlemen performed at the Twin Bar located at Broadway and Market Street, in Gloucester City for 18 months. The band combined country and western, rhythm and blues, and other musical styles to create a unique sound that Haley referred to as "birthplace of Rock and Roll."

RELATED: Gloucester City History: The Birth Place of Rock N Roll

The atmosphere during this era was electric; Gloucester City was a bustling hub of excitement and social activity. So popular was the nightlife that bus drivers, instead of announcing street names, would call out the names of various bars to their passengers, guiding them to their destinations. The lively bars often remained open until the early hours, closing as late as 3 or 4 AM, and then reopening around 8 or 9 AM on Sunday mornings. This led to scenes of sailors eagerly waiting in long lines outside the bars at dawn, ready to indulge once again. It was not uncommon to witness sailors asleep on the sidewalks as the sun rose, which sparked discontent among local churchgoers who were disturbed by the scene.

My father, deeply troubled by these developments, published harsh and pointed editorials criticizing the situation. His outspoken stance did not go unnoticed; he received numerous threats against his life as a result. In collaboration with local activists like Percy Stubbs, Skeets Kenny, Rev. O’Connor, and many others, he took it upon himself to sit outside the bars to meticulously document the frequent fights that erupted and to record the times when many establishments openly defied their mandated closing hours.

Bar fights between sailors and residents were a common occurrence. Some residents didn't appreciate sailors taking over their water holes. One particularly tragic incident stands out. One weekend, a local man became embroiled in a heated brawl with a sailor outside a bar located on Atlantic Street. Amid the confrontation, the sailor drew a knife, resulting in the fatal stabbing of the local resident. This shocking event galvanized the community, leading to the circulation of a petition advocating for the closure of the taverns on Sundays. This grassroots effort ultimately gained traction and resulted in a referendum to place the question on the ballot.

At that time, the mayor was Phillip Rea, a Republican who served from 1950 to 1954 before being succeeded by Democrat Fred Floyd.

Many years later, in the '90s, another referendum to allow alcohol to be served on Sundays was presented to the residents of Gloucester City, and this time they voted in favor of the petition. The number of tavern licenses and liquor store licenses has been drastically reduced.

Here’s a surprise: O'Donnell's Restaurant, which opened in the late 20s or early 30s by KO Joe O'Donnell, a professional boxer, was sold several times to various individuals and corporations, but none of them could make it. Today, the new owners of that property are selling marijuana. The city of Gloucester City has several such stores selling that product. New Jersey legislators have found another way to tax the poor citizens of this state. And Gloucester City politicians, like so many other small communities, are welcoming marijuana establishments with open arms. As for the parade, I’m not sure why it was held two weeks before St. Patrick's Day, but I believe the date is selected based on the availability of the various participating bands, ensuring a lively celebration. St. Patrick's parades take place throughout New Jersey, drawing large crowds, and the bands are very busy during March. 

William E. Cleary Sr., Editor/Publisher