History of Duffy’s Cut recreated through paintings

Exhibit depicts life and death of Irish immigrants

» Art and history merge at Immaculata University through a six-painting art exhibit depicting events at Duffy’s Cut.

Elverson artist Fred Danziger recreated the 1832 life and death of 57 Irish immigrants who came to America in June of 1932 to work for Philip Duffy on the Philadelphia and Columbia Railroad.

Within six weeks, all were dead of cholera, with some possibly murdered. They were buried anonymously in a ditch outside Malvern, close to the college. The burial site is known as “Duffy’s Cut.”

The six paintings were featured in Sam Katz’s “Urban Trinity” documentary, which premiered during Pope Francis’ visit to Philadelphia in 2015.

“These paintings perfectly convey the essence of the Duffy’s Cut story,” said William Watson, professor of History at Immaculata and director, co-founder and co-director of the Duffy’s Cut project, along with his brother Frank.

“(Artist) Fred Danziger has captured that moment in time in 1832 when Chester County was both a center of the American Industrial Revolution and of anti-immigrant and nativist sentiment.

“In lieu of photos, they’re the most accurate depictions we could hope for.”

Watson said the paintings are a “more thorough way to telling the story than with words.”

“They draw you into the narrative — more so than anything else modern,” Frank Watson said.

The paintings evoke sentimental feelings for the immigrants. Danziger threaded the needle and helped to recreate reality.

“You almost have to put yourself in the situation, in a way I felt like I was there.

“With almost all my paintings, I try to recreate a sense of being there, whether it’s a landscape or a portrait. I want to bring the reality of the situation to the surface.”

Individual paintings depict murderers carrying weapons, immigrants with their hands tied behind

their backs and an Irishman shot and murdered at point-blank range.

Other paintings show a man killed with a shovel, a mass burial scene and the burning of the camp.

Theology professor Sister Sheila Galligan was moved by the art.

“It’s both evocative and provocative,” she said. “This was an historical event, but

the real story is the people. These paintings help you get to know that element.”

Born in Pittsburgh, Danziger’s paintings hang in Malvern’s Gallery 222, in Philadelphia, New York and Pittsburgh. He trained at the Academy of the Fine Arts.

Diane Grimes is director of the Immaculata Art Department.

She said that the Danziger art is special, partly because of the university’s close proximity to Duffy’s Cut.

“It integrates the art into the environment around it,” Grimes said. “It integrates art, history and fine arts so that people can understand that the arts are booming today in our society.

“The number-one skills that employers are looking for is creativity, problem solving and critical thinking, along with using your hands to create.”

The exhibit is free and open to the public and will continue through the end of February at Immaculata University’s Gabriele Library.

BILL RETTEW JR. – DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Artist Fred Danziger’s paintings depicting a possible mid19th Century mass murder, at Duffy’s Cut in Malvern, are now displayed at Immaculata University.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Immaculata University Professor Bill Watson poses with artist Fred Danziger and the artist’s paintings of Duffy’s Cut.