The history of Cortland, New York must include the traditions of its Italian community -- and that includes fireworks.
Saint Anthony of Padua Celebrations Fireworks became a huge part of the annual festival honoring Saint Anthony of Padua. The first festival was held on June 13, 1905, when the Italian population of the city totaled less than 200. But by 1907 it had more than doubled to 496. With each passing year the celebration grew to eventually include a parade through the streets of Cortland with colorful floats, a procession of 13 boys dressed as monks to represent the 13 miracles attributed to the saint, and a show of aerial fireworks. The festival represented both pride by the immigrants in their Italian roots and a desire as new citizens to proudly integrate their traditions into the fabric of American society.
In 1905, 24-year-old Pasquale “Patsy” Buttino boarded in a rooming house at 17 Blodgett Street. Census information describes him as “wireworker, citizen, resident of America for five years.” It might have also added "cigar smoker." From his earliest days -- as in this photo -- throughout his life he was rarely without a stogie.
In 1906, Buttino helped organize the annual festival and began his long career as a fireworks artist. In that year his fireworks partner was a fellow Italian named Patsy Christmas. But by 1912 Buttino had become the sole creator of the annual fireworks shows for the church and for civic organizations like the Cortland County Agricultural Society which held fireworks shows at the county fairgrounds.
Through the early decades of the century, the organizers of the St. Anthony’s Day festival worked to stress dual loyalty: sentimental bonds with Italy, and recognition of America as their land of choice. They carried both Italian and American flags. And American patriotic emblems also featured in the fireworks displays.
In 1918, Buttino designed a fireworks set piece that represented the Statue of Liberty. In later years, Buttino would again recreate that piece, especially in a 1957 show, the 70th anniversary of the Statue. As an immigrant he was hyper aware of the patriotic nature of the 4th of July, and so he built many of his most famous set pieces around symbols that celebrated America’s independence. He understood that his work reflected not only on himself and his family and his business, but also on the Italian community of Cortland.
Patsy had another opportunity to demonstrate his patriotism in 1942. World War II had begun the year before and Americans were nervous not knowing what Hitler was capable off. The police and fire departments of Cortland asked Patsy to test out the idea of lighting off his aerial bombs to both signal a black out to prepare for an air raid, and to announce the all clear signal. This article from May 15, 1942 shows Patsy demonstrating how the bombs should be lit.
In 1963, local historian Evadene Burriss Swanson published an article "Italians in Cortland" in the journal New York History. Patsy Buttino is prominently mentioned in the article. (Click on the title or journal cover to read the article.)
A Source of Pride Patsy was proud that the fireworks were made by hand; only the Roman candles were bought. But the thing that made Patsy happiest was putting on the show. He had a keen sense of drama and planned the sequence of each show with ground pieces and aerial bombs to build up to the grand finale. All of this was carefully coordinated among the participating family members who were responsible for lighting each ground piece or bomb at a particular time. The audience would ooh and ah as they watched the bombs spread brilliant colors across the night sky and end with a loud boom. Patsy had several specialty bombs. One had a loud whistle that ended with a boom. Another had an American flag with a bright white light to illuminate it as it floated to the ground. In between the aerial bombs, Patsy presented his signature ground set pieces made on wooden frames – some abstract, some patriotic, some humorous – all creative and innovative crowd pleasers, including the American flag, Statue of Liberty, and a rotating carousel that played music.