USA > Connecticut > Tolland County > Vernon > A century of Vernon, Connecticut, 1808-1908 > Part 6
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SUMMARY OF VERNON'S HISTORY EARLY AND MODERN
In 1872 a resident pastor became a necessity and Rev. S. O. Benton was sent to the field. In the meantime, S. S. Talcott and George Miner bought a lot near the church and a par- sonage was built. The congregation numbered forty or more and steadily increased under the labors of Rev. Briton and his suc- cessor, Rev. D. A. Jordan. Both of these men have risen to distinction in the Methodist Episcopal Church. The church was served by other ministers later, viz., Ellis, Bentley, Page, C. S. Davis and others. A cabinet organ costing $300, the gift of S. S. Talcott, was placed in the church and the pews upholstered and other improvements made.
In 1886 at the close of Rev. W. A. Taylor's pastorate, the Vernon Church was united with the Wapping charge, which ar- rangement lasted a year or little more. From this time on until 1892, the church had a temporary supply and then an interval of three years with no pastor and a closed church. Rev. B. C. Phelps gave his services for one year to keep the church open and a Mr. Hilton from Hartford conducted services for a year and some others, whose names do not appear, for brief intervals. The Crusaders succeeded in awakening an interest which resulted in the appointment of Rev. D. W. Adams in 1895 to the charge. Under his aggressive administration an Epworth League was formed with Mrs. Robert Walker as president. A Sunday School was previously organized by G. N. Phelps, who has remained as its superintendent until the present. During Rev. D. W. Adams' pastorate some changes were made in the interior of the church, giving a commodious vestry. A Ladies' Aid Society was organized at this time with Mrs. S. S. Talcott as president, which became of great assistance in the church work.
Rev. D. W. Adams was followed by Rev. F. J. Follansbee during whose term, a lot adjoining the church was purchased and a new parsonage erected, the former one having been sold some years previously. The society thus incurred a debt which at the time was heavy but which the Ladies' Aid Society under the able leadership of Mrs. G. N. Phelps, its president, was largely instrumental in lifting, and on March 31, 1905, amid much rejoicing, the mortgage note was consigned to the flames,
65
SUMMARY OF VERNON'S HISTORY EARLY AND MODERN
and the society was free from debt. Following Rev. F. J. Follansbee came Revs. James Tregaskis, S. F. Maine, J. F. Rob- ertson and lastly Rev. S. M. Beale, whose wise, ardent and progressive labors guarantee the future prosperity of the Ver- non Methodist Episcopal Church.
THE BAPTIST CHURCH.
The history of the Baptist denomination in the vicinity of Vernon begins as far back as 1842, when at the request of several brethren a meeting was held on April 8 at the home of Thomas King in Ellington "to consult upon the propriety of constituting a Baptist church in said town." In the afternoon of that day the church was organized, but this organization disbanded in 1845, but before doing so the membership had grown to thirty- two members. Rev. George Mixter was the first pastor. The service of organization was held in the lower room of the Congregational Church in Ellington. This building was later removed to Rock- ville and re-erected as the Rockville Opera House. Before dis- banding, the church built a small building in Ellington, which is still standing.
In 1849 twenty-eight members of various Baptist churches of Rockville issued a call, looking to the formation of a Baptist Church. The signers of the call were all Rockville residents. On July 17, 1849, fourteen persons met at the home of E. S. Hurlburt and formally organized the Rockville Bap- tist Church. Rev. D. D. Lyon acted as the first pastor. On April 21, 1850, Rev. Henry R. Knapp became pastor of the church. At the close of the pastorate of Rev. H. R. Knapp, May 1, 1852, the church numbered over eighty members. The church remained pastorless after the re- signation of Rev. H. R. Knapp until January, 1854, when a call to the pastorate was extended to Rev. G. W. Gorham, who continued as pastor until about a month and a half before the church disbanded.
The Sunday services of this church were held during the earlier period in Union Hall in the Sears Building on Market Street in the rear of the Exchange Block. This building has since burned down.
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SUMMARY OF VERNON'S HISTORY EARLY AND MODERN
In 1849 it was unanimously voted to contract for building a house of worship. According to the vote, there was to be a basement under the house of worship and stores for rent. Land for a building was purchased of the Frank Factory near the fac- tory. The response to a subscription paper warranted the pro- ject of building, and work was commenced, and after what was apparently a long and hard struggle, completed. This edifice
was that
which is now occupied by the
German
Lutheran Church on West Main Street. It was
sold to the Methodist Episcopal Society on February 27, 1855. Regular services were discontinued at this time, but the society continued to hold annual meetings and elect officers year by year until the church began again to hold regular ser- vices in 1882.
For twenty-seven years the Baptists of Rockville kept up their organization, while not holding services of a dis- tinctively religious nature. This seems a remarkable fact and proves conclusively the persistent character of this people. In 1882, Rev. L. S. Brown of Tolland commenced holding services. Sunday afternoons in Rockville Hall, which is now the dining room of the Rockville House. Soon the place of holding ser- vices was changed to what was called "The Mission Room," now the room occupied by the Journal Publishing Company. The Baptist church was revived in June, 1882. It was a small start, there being but six members to begin with, but additions were made from time to time, the church growing steadily and showing signs of prosperity. Rev. L. S. Brown continued to supply the pulpit until November, 1883. The church was without a settled pastor until January, 1884, when Rev. W. C. Walker began to supply, continuing until May, 1885. The pastorate of Rev. A. S. Brown commenced immediately after the close of the pastorate of Rev. W. C. Walker, and continued until April, 1887. The present house of worship, which was dedicated on March S, 1887, was started during his pastorate, the site being purchased from the Rock Manufacturing Company on Union Street, where the church now stands.
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SUMMARY OF VERNON'S HISTORY EARLY AND MODERN
The pastors of the church following Rev. A. S. Brown were : Rev. E. W. Potter, 1887-1894; Rev. A. P. Wedge, 1895-1900. The present pastor, Rev. George D. Gould, commenced his duties on April 1, 1900. During his nearly eleven years of service, peace and prosperity have attended the church. The church has been refurnished inside and out, until it hardly looks like the same building. During the present pastorate there have been added to the church eighty-three members, fifty-eight of them by baptism, while twenty-five have been lost to the membership by various causes, leaving a net gain to the church of sixty, the present membership being one hundred and sixty-six. The membership has doubled on the average once in eight years since 1882.
THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
The first Episcopal service held in the town of Vernon was the marriage of Dr. Alfred R. Goodrich, who in later years achieved distinction in the professional and political life of the town, and Miss Charlotte Dobson, daughter of Peter Dobson, founder of the first cotton mill in the town and one of the first in America. The ceremony was performed October 28, 1847, by Rev. Mr. Clero of Broad Brook.
In 1850 a funeral service was held by Rev. Mr. Fitch. Regular Episcopal services were begun by Rev. Enoch H. Huntington in 1855. He was the rector of Grace Episcopal Church in Broad Brook. The initial service of the denomination in Rockville was held in the Rockville House on May 7. It is said that over three hundred attended. Rector Huntington ventured to express the hope that a chapel might be built here to accommodate the Episcopalians. To this end he continued to lead the congrega- tion from Broad Brook and subsequently from Manchester. He was assisted and succeeded in the work by his son, Rev. John T. Huntington, at the present time the beloved pastor of St. James' Episcopal Church, Hartford, who gave himself, his time and means to the work, in the winter coming out from Hart- ford in the cold and snow. Eventually becoming discouraged, Mr. Huntington gave it up as the biggest mistake of his life.
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SUMMARY OF VERNON'S HISTORY EARLY AND MODERN
The parish was served by lay readers, young men from Trinity College, Hartford, who afterwards became prominent clergymen in the church, Messrs Buckingham, Alfred Harding, J. H. Free- land, F. D. Buckley and others.
The parish was organized by the convention in June, 1872. Services were held in 1871 and 1872 in the German Lutheran Church on West Main Street, but the time had arrived when they must have a building of their own. Considerable difficulty was encountered in finding a location. Eventually the present site was obtained, then occupied by an unsightly barn. And here the church building stood.
Heavily mortgaged, the parish handicapped with debt, the whole thing gave evidence of a conspicuous failure. But upon the earnest appeal and subscription of Bishop Williams, church- men came forward and with the assistance of the Missionary Society of the Diocese bought the property and placed the parish upon a working basis. The parish was paid out of debt entirely and the present church edifice was consecrated as that of St. John's on May 30, 1905, Memorial Day, and thereupon entered upon a new and vigorous career.
Rev. Harlow R. Whitlock was the first rector of St. John's Church. The discouragements of the work were so great that Mr. Whitlock resigned, practically abandoning the ministry, from which at his own request he was deposed. Other rectors of the church with their term of service follow: William F. Bielby, 1884-1888; Elijah Roke, 1888-1889; Clarence E. Baal, 1889- 1892 ; Rev. Samuel W. Derby, 1892,1895; Rev. Robert C. Ton- gue, 1896-1899.
Rev. J. Francis George, the present pastor, succeeded Rev. Robert C. Tongue, commencing his pastorate on October 1, 1899.
Aside from faithful and generous parishioners, citizens of the community have patronized the church, of whom are the names of Judge Dwight Loomis, A. N. Belding, George Talcott, E. N. Foote, L. E. Thompson, Heber Townsend, Cyrus Winchell, E. S. Henry, W. R. Orcutt, H. L. James, L. Bissell, W. B. Foster and George Sykes.
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SUMMARY OF VERNON'S HISTORY EARLY AND MODERN
Of the church itself a distinguished citizen has said that "more than anything else it represents the progress of the town." Placed at the outside in a most unattractive location, improve- ments have gone on year after year upon the church and its environment, until it finds itself in the midst of the most desir- able residential portion of Rockville. If we are to judge from the past this church is destined to fill a noble position in the city and in the state, the product of a wealthy and intelligent community.
The number of families connected with St. John's Episcopal Church at the present time is one hundred and seven; baptized persons, three hundred and twenty-seven and communicants, one hundred and fifty-nine.
Under the present rector, who has labored faithfully and zeal- ously, "progress" appears to be the keynote in the spiritual life of the people and the material life of the parish. The call is "Forward and Upward."
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.
As far as can be ascertained, James McAvenney was the first Catholic to settle in Rockville. He came sixty-seven years ago. In 1848, about fifteen Catholics assembled at the first mass celebrated in Rockville in a
house owned by
the paper mill company and then occupied by Christopher Carroll and family, was the place where divine services were conducted. Rev. John Brady, of Hartford, was the celebrant of the mass. It may be interest- ing to those of us of another generation nearly three score years and ten later to know who were some of the attendants of the first mass. The records disclose the name of Christopher Carroll, Patrick Quinn, Edward Gorman, Thomas McDonnell, Dennis O'Donnell, James Conner, Philip Kernan, Matthew Fay, Eugene Kernan, Patrick Duffy, Martin Flood, John Moore and Michael Lawlor.
It was not until the year 1849 that regular visitations were made, and this duty developed on Rev. James Smyth, one of the patriarchs of the diocese. He officiated here at monthly intervals
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SUMMARY OF VERNON'S HISTORY EARLY AND MODERN
at the house of Albert Lamb, where Patrick Quinn resided. He said mass also in the Dean house on Mountain Street, where Martin Flood resided.
The "Brick Tavern," famous in the early history of Vernon, when the growth of Catholicism in interest and numbers made larger quarters essential, became a meeting place. Beginning with the year 1851 a large upper room on the west side was used. Mass was said here for two years, when "Skinner" Hall was se- cured in the Sears Building on Market Street over the Rockville meat market, where mass was said by Father Smyth and others until March 15, 1854. Rev. Peter Egan assumed charge as the first resident pastor. Manchester, Stafford Springs, Broad Brook and Mansfield, which were without any Catholic meeting houses, were dependencies.
Between 1850 and 1860, there was considerable activity in Catholic circles and as the Catholic population was increasing slowly but surely it was felt that a site and building should be secured. Although the financial means of the Catholics were meager and there existed a deep rooted local prejudice against Catholics and Irishmen at this time, once a start had been made for a church home of their own on the part of the Catholics, there was no turning back. Hawley Kellogg, a druggist, who conducted business on what is now known as St. Bernard's Ter- race, who was broad and liberal in his views, offered his entire property to the Catholics on terms satisfactory to them, and they promptly accepted the offer, and after removing the store on the site, work was commenced on the new church. Good progress was made and the church was completed. In the meantime a parsonage was secured, a cemetery, consisting of five acres on the Tolland Road, purchased by Father Egan, who was in charge here at the time. Having been instrumental in getting the parish under headway and accomplishing much for the spiritual welfare of the people and the material wants of the parish, Father Egan went to Lee, Mass. on November 12, 1856.
Rev. Bernard Tully succeeded Father Egan, assuming his duties in December, 1856. Under his administration the church was finished and embelished and dedicated by Bishop McFarland. Father Tully's pastorate continued until January, 1863.
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SUMMARY OF VERNON'S HISTORY EARLY AND MODERN
Following Father Tully's pastorate, the pastors of St. Ber- nard's Roman Catholic church were Rev. Hugh O'Reilly, 1863- 1868; Rev. Bernard Tully, 1868-1869 ; Rev. James Quinn, 1869- 1872 ; Rev. Patrick P. Lawlor, 1872-1873 ; Rev. John J. Fur- long, 1873-1895; Rev. John Cooney, 1895-1900. Rev. Luke Fitzsimons assumed the pastorate on Sunday, September 30, 1900, coming from the Immaculate Conception Church in New Hartford.
During Father Tully's pastorate the sanctuary of the church was enlarged, the church beautifully decorated and the main portion of the rectory built.
Father Tully's second pastorate was of very brief duration. He suddenly expired in his carriage on July 20, 1869, while on his way to Ellington. The splendid marble monument, which stands over his grave in front of the church, was erected by Rockville and Manchester people, in testimony of their love and esteem for him.
Rev. John J. Furlong served for a longer period than any pastor in the history of St. Bernard's parish, 1874-1895. Father Furlong's first work was to improve the cemetery. During his pastorate the church was completely renovated, mny notable improvements being made. The renovated church was re- dedicated on January 20, 1878. In February, 1886, the John- son site on Park Street was purchased. The house was con- verted into a convent and a chapel was arranged therein. The Cogswell lot adjacent was soon added to this property. The present lot on which the present handsome school building stands, was secured by Father Furlong. On this lot was the old building which Father Egan had removed to make room for the church. This was remodeled for the "Sisters," who removed there- to from Park Street, May 13, 1895. To Father Furlong belongs the honor of introducing the Sisters of Mercy into Rockville. November 3, 1886 was the date they took up their work here. On May 2, 1887, the basement of the church, which had been fitted up, was opened for school purposes. A new school build- ing, 63x68 feet, commenced by Father Furlong in 1894, was opened September 10, 1895.
72
SUMMARY OF VERNON'S HISTORY EARLY AND MODERN
During the nearly ten years Rev. Luke Fitzsimons was pastor of St. Bernard's Church there was a wonderful growth and expansion. In many respects it was one of the most remarkable decades in the history of the parish. The years have been marked by material prosperity and progress and spiritual uplift. On Tuesday, August 30, 1904, the people of the parish were bereft of a church home, their frame edifice erected in 1855, enlarged in 1863, moved back and added to in 1873 and improved by the addition of a new steeple and in various other ways, being re-dedicated in 1878, was totally de- stroyed by fire. The Union Ecclesiastical Society offered its church edifice for a temporary place of worship for the members of St. Bernard's Church and the town authorities put at their disposal the Town Hall, which was accepted. Undaunted and undismayed by the catastrophe that came to the parish, Father Fitzsimons lost no time in getting plans out for a new church home, and in seven months after the fire, work started on the new church. The cornerstone of the new church was laid on Sunday, May 28, 1905. It was a grand and imposing ceremony. Bishop Michael Tierney spread the mortar with a silver trowel, forty priests assisted, all the Catholic societies turned out and many citizens, Catholic and Protestant, graced the occa- sion with their presence. The chapel was dedicated on Sunday, November 26, and this was another memorable occasion in the history of the parish. The greatest epoch in the history of the parish arrived when the church was dedicated on Sunday, September 20, 1908, when the people beholding the new church complete and crowning the ideal site of the old, forgot their grief in joy. Before the vast assemblage the church was dedicated. While Father Fitzsimons was the moving spirit and genius in building up the new church, the loyalty and devotion of his people and the co-operation and noble response on the part of the non-Catholics of the city, made his task a pleasant one.
The church is of granite foundation to the main floor and the main body is of brick. It will seat nine hundred.
When Father Fitzsimons assumed the duties of pastor of St. Bernard's Church, there was a debt of $30,000. The debt has
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SUMMARY OF VERNON'S HISTORY EARLY AND MODERN
been removed, a new church, costing $65,000 has been built, the parish owns a large amount of valuable property in the very heart of the city, and there is an indebtedness of but $12,000. When the church first started there were two hundred and forty-seven Irish people in Rockville. Today there are two thousand one hundred souls in St. Bernard's parish and the church has one thousand six hundred communicants.
Rev. M. H. May of Colchester, Conn., succeeded Rev. Luke Fitzsimons as pastor of St. Bernard's Church. He arrived in Rockville on Wednesday, August 3, 1910. On Sunday, August 6, he said two masses at the church and occupied the pulpit at the three masses, where he introduced himself to his parishion- ers.
Father May has been extremely fortunate in his assist- ant, Rev. James L. Smith, who came to Rockville in 1904 from the Norwich parish. He co-operates with the "Sisters" in the convent in carrying on the educational work of the boys and girls.
ST. JOSEPH'S POLISH CHURCH.
St. Joseph's Catholic Church (Polish) is one of the young- est churches in Rockville, dating back to April 28, 1905. Previous to this time the Polish people worshipped at St. Bernard's Church. The steady increase in the Polish population made it necessary to take steps to erect a suitable church home, and the present edifice at the corner of Union and West streets was dedi- cated on Sunday, October 29, 1905. The distinguished prelate, Bishop Michael Tierney officiated and the ceremony was an impressive one. A feature of the day's exercises was a big parade in which out of town Polish societies took part, there being about 1,200 men in line. The edifice was erected under the supervision of Rev. C. J. Wotypka, the first rector, since deceased. Owing to the generosity and devotion of his people and the co- operation of the citizens of the community, excellent progress was made. To help pay for the church, the members of the parish set aside two days pay each month for the first six months and then one day's pay each month for a year.
-
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SUMMARY OF VERNON'S HISTORY EARLY AND MODERN
The church building, which is of Gothic style of architecture, of frame construction, 40x83 feet in size, has a seating capacity of about eight hundred. It is of modern construction and the appointments are complete in every respect. The church has over eight hundred communicants. The rectors of the church since its organization have been: Revs. C. J. Wotypka, Joseph H. Culkowski, M. Soltysek.
WEST MAIN STREET GERMAN LUTHERAN CHURCH.
The first divine service was held in 1856. It was served as a mission by different outside pastors until 1864. The congrega- tion was organized by Rev. Otto Hanser of Boston, September 23, 1866, with a membership of ninety-seven. The first local pastor was Rev. C. Graeber, who took charge in November, 1866. The present building was bought in 1867, at that time owned by the Methodist Episcopal Church. Rev. C. Graeber resigned in August, 1869, after two and one-half years of work. His suc- cessor was Rev. Simon, who remained about two years.
Rev. Frey had charge of the work from 1871 to 1875. Rev. N. Soergel came to Rockville early in 1876 and supplied until 1882. He was followed by Rev. C. A. Graepp, who served the congre- gation from August, 1882 until May, 1888.
In 1884 a lot was purchased on Ward Street and a parsonage erected.
In July, 1888, Rev. G. F. Hartwig, the present pastor, took charge. During the following years a debt of $3,700 was paid off, a pipe organ purchased and various other improvements made when the church building was purchased, a store which remained until 1891, was conducted in the basement. During this year the basement was remodelled and fitted up for a Sun- day School room, and other improvements made at a cost of $3,400. In 1906 new church pews were installed, a stone wall and iron fence erected and other repairs made on the church property at a cost of $2,600. In 1907 a fine church bell was donated by Mrs. Julia Paulsen.
75
SUMMARY OF VERNON'S HISTORY EARLY AND MODERN
The church building and parsonage are in good condition and free from debt. The present membership of the congrega- tion is four hundred and fifty communicant members, and the Sunday-School has about two hundred scholars; Ladies' Aid Society, seventy-two members and the Luther League, one hundred and two members.
TRINITY GERMAN LUTHERAN CHURCH.
The Trinity German Lutheran Church was started in 1866 by Rev. Otto Hanser, sent from Boston. It was refounded May 29, 1882. The first service was held on the 18th of June in that year in the hall of the Rockville Hotel. The first church building was erected June 3, 1883. A parsonage was built in 1895.
The pastors of the church have been : Rev. C. Graeber, 1866- '69 ; W. A. Frey, 1872-'75 ; P. A. Soergel, 1875-85 ; Otto Hanser, 1886-'01; John Heck, 1901-'05.
Rev. Walter Von Schenk assumed the pastorate in 1906.
A parsonage was built in 1895. Among the improvements made were the renovation of the interior of the church, cement sidewalks, organ, organ motor and school hall.
There is a parochial day school connected with the church, with fifty-two pupils and two teachers. The Sunday School has one hundred and eight pupils and seven teachers.
The present membership of the church is five hundred and twenty souls and two hundred and fifty communicant, or voting members.
A Ladies' Aid Society, Young People's Society and choir are connected with the church, which is prosperous in every depart- ment at the present time.
CHRISTIAN SCIENTISTS.
While they have not organized a church, several Rockville peo- ple, believing in the Christian Science doctrine, hold meetings every Sunday in Masonic Hall in the Fitch Block. These meet- ings have been held in various halls for the past two years and previous to this, for about seven months the meetings were held at the home of Mrs. Carlos Doane on Village Street. The mem-
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