AUBURN — A Saint Patrick’s Day-themed salute to small business will kick off Saturday with meditation, snacks and music.

Auburn’s third annual Salute to Dinny Sullivan, hosted by the city Public Services Department, will kick off at 9 a.m. with coffee at the Auburn Public Library.

Most events will be at the library and the Foss Mansion at 39 Elm St. The mansion is the headquarters of the Woman’s Literary Union.

Sullivan was a New Auburn shop owner. Born in Schull, County Cork, Ireland, he immigrated to the U.S. in 1899 and settled in Auburn. He worked in shoe factories, the Maine Central Railroad and the Lewiston Bleachery before opening a grocery store at 12 South Main St. in New Auburn in about 1911. Today, it’s a grassy area behind Rolly’s Diner named in Sullivan’s honor.

He died in 1957, leaving the store to his son, John J. Sullivan.

City councilors began marking the celebration in his honor in 2012 as a way to promote Auburn small businesses.

Scheduled events include:

* Adam Hill will give a presentation on meditation from 10:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at the library.

* Annette Vance Dorey, author of “Maine Mothers Who Murdered: Doing Time in State Prison, 1875–1925,” will talk about the roles of several historical legal officials from Lewiston-Auburn and about the early county jail and the early state prison. The presentation is from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. at the library.

* Celtic Harp Echoes Ensemble will perform at the Woman’s Literary Union open house from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Foss Mansion, 39 Elm St.

* Pianist Phil House and vocalist Kathy Haley will present a community concert at 5 p.m. at the Foss Mansion, 39 Elm St.

staylor@sunjournal.com

Copy the Story Link