“Isle of Hope; Isle of Tears”

Danny True

“Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame, with conquering limbs astride from land to land; here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand a mighty woman with a torch, whose flame is the imprisoned lightning, and her name Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command the air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame. “Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she with silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!” (From a bronze plaque located on the second level of the pedestal—  from the sonnet “The New Colossus“, by Emma Lazarus,  1883)

No, this is not to publicize the Celtic Woman current tour or their newly-released CD & DVD, even though the Brendan Graham song  (“Isle of Hope – Isle of Tears”) is featured as the theme for both the tour and DVD – “Songs From The Heart”. But, they have made the song more popular (as well as the “Annie Moore” story – see below), since many Irish immigrants entered the USA before and during the years that Ellis Island was open, following the devastating  praties (potato) famine in Ireland in the mid-1800.

Ellis Island has been christened “Island of Hope, Island of Tears” by the people who came to the shores of the United States through the island. A foreigner, turning his back to his home country for one reason or another in search of a new life in America, boarded a ship sailing to the United States and landed on Ellis Island. As he approached the shore, he is immediately greeted by the sight of Lady Liberty, the symbol of all that is free in the world.

In June 1897, fire swept through the island, destroying the original station and all immigration records from 1855 to that date. A new station was opened in December 1900 and over two thousand immigrants passed through it on its opening day.

Prior to its re-opening, Ellis Island was completely renovated to serve as a reception center (see the photo). New docks were constructed, artesian wells and cisterns were dug, and buildings were constructed. Baggage rooms, inspection halls, a hospital, a restaurant, and a bathhouse were among the accommodations necessary.

Along with these new facilities came stricter immigration laws in the spring of 1891. Under these new laws people could be deported on the same ships that brought them here for things such as polygamy, illiteracy and health issues. Even though Ellis Island was highly important at one time, its importance began to decrease within a few years. This decrease was due to a cholera scare, financial panic, economic depression, and the stricter laws.

Ellis Island served this purpose from January 1892 to November 1954 (even though the song and legend say it was closed to immigrants in 1943). Ellis Island was declared part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument (National Park Service) by President Lyndon Johnson in 1965. You will see a statue of Annie Moore at the entrance of the museum.

Ellis Island holds an important part in our history because many of our ancestors entered the country through this one small island. Fifty percent of the entire American (legal) citizenry can rightfully claim that they are related to an immigrant who passed through the immigration processing center at Ellis Island.

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NO, this article is to emphasize the fact that there ARE immigration laws and quotas for entering the United States. Unfortunately, many people (including some of our officials) are turning their heads in regard to SOME people coming here (illegally). If there is no control or quotas, rampant illegal immigrants can overwhelm our system (if in fact it has not already done so). There are proper methods for entering this country for the purpose of immigration; illegal entry delays the people who are honorably “waiting in line”. It is as though you are “stealing” citizenship from someone else. As they say at Disney World – “go to the back of the line”!

Now, having said all that, I invite you to view this cute Roots Television video about the first immigrant to “cross the threshold” at Ellis Island – Annie Moore, of Ireland. The unique part is that the whole 30-minute video was completely done – casting, scripting, scenery, photography, production, direction – everything – by a fifth-grade class in County Cork, Ireland. An amazing film by 11-year-olds; well worth your half-hour!

The Annie Moore Video

Enjoy!

Ellis Island photos © Copyright 2010   Roy Tennant