A modern history of Windham county, Connecticut : a Windham county treasure book, Volume I, Part 76

Author: Lincoln, Allen B
Publication date: 1920
Publisher: Chicago : S. J. Clarke publ. co.
Number of Pages: 930

USA > Connecticut > Windham County > A modern history of Windham county, Connecticut : a Windham county treasure book, Volume I > Part 76

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All Hallow's church was built in 1859-60, by Rev. Philip Daly. So enthusi- astically did the people set about to witness the realization of their hopes that the site of the church and parochial residence was soon purchased from M. S. Bennett. The corner-stone of the church was laid by Bishop McFarland in the same fall, Rev. Thomas Quinn delivering the address. The same prelate dedi- cated it under its present title in the following spring. During the pastorate of the Rev. Father Belanger the old pastoral residence and lot were secured. All Hallow's parish embraced at one period the towns of Sterling,* Plainfield, Griswold, Canterbury, Hampton and a part of Killingly. When the parish was organized, the population was estimated at about five hundred souls, chiefly Irish. At present it numbers about fifteen hundred, comprising Irish and French-Canadians. During Father Creedon's period of service, in 1889, the church was practically rebuilt, extensive improvements having been made both within and without. A conflagration in May, 1893, destroyed the old rectory, and the present attractive and spacious parochial residence arose from its ashes. Since the arrival of Father Broderick the reduction of the debt has been steady and gratifying both to pastor and people, new land has been acquired, the grounds about the church and rectory have been greatly improved, and hopes are entertained of beginning the erection of a new church in the near future.

The old cemetery is in the churchyard, and was first used in 1861, but it has ceased to be used as a place of burial for well nigh fifteen years.

The priests who have served All Hallow's as assistants are the following : Rev. A. Bernard, from July, 1869, to September, 1869; Rev. T. Sweeney, from November, 1880, to January, 1882; Rev. T. J. Dunn, from March, 1882, to June, 1886 ; Rev. T. H. Shanley, from November, 1886, to October, 1890. The present assistant pastor is the Rev. E. J. Broderick.

The baptismal records disclose 5,402 baptisms from 1869 to 1898; in the same period the marriage ceremony was performed 773 times.

* Sterling was named after an Irishman, Henry Sterling, M. D., who was a resi- dent of the State during the Revolution.

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Oneco, a town on the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad, for- merly the New England Railroad, is attended from All Hallow's as a station.

"The parish is prosperous, its numbers on the increase and the Catholic portion of the community, with its usual generous and self-sacrificing spirit, is determined to keep fully abreast of the times."

In 1901 a splendid new brick church was built under the direction of Father Broderick and during his pastorate he also purchased and platted a new ceme- tery on Green Hollow Road; purchased property for a Sisters' Home, secured land for the parochial school; erected a Mission Church in Sterling. In brief, the growth and development and solid progress of this parish during the sev- enteen years of Father Broderick's pastorate constitutes an enduring monu- ment to his untiring energy, high administrative ability and deep devotion, and he will forever be held in affectionate remembrance by the people here. He gained the love and the esteem of the entire community not only for his noble character, but because of his genial presence, and a keen sense of humor and saving grace, which always lightened burdens wherever he went.

Succeeding Father Broderick was the Rev. John E. Clark, another able and genial character, but who remained here for a short period only, being trans- ferred to Suffield, where he began at once a development of parochial resources which changed his people from a mission flock to a flourishing parish. Father Clark was transferred to Willimantic in 1918.

The present pastor at All Hallow's, Rev. J. E. McCarthy, considers that he "has fallen heir to the splendid traditions of his predecessors," and finds in- spiration in such solid foundations and fine parish spirit.

When the armistice of November 11, 1918, was signed, which brought about a cessation of hostilities in the Great war, this parish of All Hallow's, Moosup, · had 135 loyal sons enrolled in the ranks of the army and navy. Of this num- ber, the big majority was in the war zone, many in the first line trenches from the beginning, some in the memorable battle of Chateau Thierry followed by St. Mihiel and the Meuse-Argonne. Two there were, out of the list, who paid the supreme sacrifice, others there were wounded seriously, maimed for life. All Hallow's parish takes a just pride in their true, patriotic support and allegi- ance to their country's cause.

Now that the turmoil of war is ended and honorable discharge has been granted in every case, we are happy in the fact that the boys who survived this terrible ordeal of war are now back in their own homes, with their own fam- ilies, and in their own parish. They have done nobly for God and country. Their names will be enshrined with loving memory in the records of this parish.

SACRED HEART PARISH, WAUREGAN

The earliest known Catholics to settle in Wauregan were Thomas Gibbons, P. Flanagan, James Riley, Louis Charon, Pierre Girard, Alexis Jette, Marcel Jetté, Hyacinthe Rondeau, Louis Messier, Alphonse Ouimette. To them be- longs the distinction of keeping alive the sacred flame of faith in this vicinity at a period when a Catholic was scrutinized as the representative of a foreign despot, whose ambition was to enslave the human family, and as the embodiment of superstition, idolatry and disloyalty. Of inferior clay he was supposed to be, and as "an ignorant foreigner," was held in contempt, a senti- ment which in this enlightened age provokes rather pity than anger. Sons of

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the Emerald Isle and children of France, the fervent disciples of St. Patrick and of St. Louis, of Columba and of Genevieve, came hither to cast their lot with others more prosperous in the goods of earth and to assist in laying strong and deep the foundations of the church in this portion of our beloved land.

Missionary priests from Holy Cross College, whose jurisdiction extended as far south as New London, exercised their ministry here between 1848 and 1850, consoling the faithful by the graces of the Mass and the sacraments, and strengthening them against the spiritual dangers which are ever present to the soul when deprived of the holy ministrations of God's anointed.

The Rev. Michael McCabe, a pioneer missionary of Northeastern Connecti- cut, visited Wanregan in the early fifties. When the Church of All Hallows was built at Moosup in 1859-60, by Rev. Philip Daly, the Catholics of Waure- gan attended divine services there, many of them making the journey on foot. But the inconvenience attendant upon these journeys was eliminated when, in 1870, Rev. Ferdinand Belanger, pastor of Moosup, began the erection of a church at Wauregan, which was completed by his successor, Rev. John Quinn. The corner-stone was laid by Very Rev. James Hughes, V. G., and the church was dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus by Bishop McFarland. The church property, which is situated in West Wauregan in the Town of Brooklyn, was purchased from Mr. James Atwood, manager of the Wauregan mills, for $1,000.

The priests who attended Wauregan in succession to Father Berlanger were Reverends John Quinn, Denis Desmond, Peter M. Kennedy, John Creedon.

The jurisdiction of Moosup over Wauregan ceased on May 20, 1889, when Bishop McMahon organized the latter into a parish and appointed Rev. Arthur A. O'Keefe the first resident pastor. Father O'Keefe entered upon his new sphere of labors with characteristic activity, and, his parishioners cheerfully co-operating, has accomplished results that make for the temporal and spiritual welfare of his people and the honor of the church. Among other material works mention may be made of the erection of a parochial residence and other build- ings, barn, horse sheds, etc. A new cemetery was purchased and blessed on May 17, 1891, the grounds about the church and rectory have been improved and beautified, and an abundant water supply introduced into the parochial residence and outer buildings. The total extent of the church property is twenty-five acres.

When the parish was organized, its population was estimated at 1,350 souls, of whom 1,100 were French and 250 Irish ; the latest census gives 1,200: French Canadians, 1,000; Irish, 200.

The baptismal register, beginning in 1889, discloses 452 baptisms to have been administered to 1898 ; while ninety-seven marriages were solemnized within the same period. The first birth, as well as the first baptism, was that of Mary Ellen Fallon. The first marriage ceremony was performed on June 24, 1889, the contracting parties being Joseph Lefevre and Aglae Boivin. The first death was that of Ludger Gauthier, a child of two years.

ST. JOSEPH'S, WILLIMANTIC By Thomas F. Connolly

The beginnings of the Catholic Church and parishes in Windham County have been faithfully recorded by the Rev. James H. O'Donnell in his History of the Diocese of Hartford, as published in 1900. From Larned's history he

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tells that the first colony of Irish Catholics which located in Willimantic in 1847, "a little band of twenty foreigners with but little of this world's goods to incumber them," viewed by the natives "with much curiosity, and their coming was the subject of considerable excitement. They came at the instance of the Windham Manufacturing Company, who sent for five persons, but their call was responded to by four times that number. This was the opening wedge of Irish labor, which has grown by frequent accession to be one of the most powerful elements in the industry of this community."

Father O'Donnell then records that the first Mass was offered at Willimantic by the Rev. John Brady of Middletown, in March, 1848, about twenty Catho- lics, the entire number in the town, gathered before a humble altar in a kitchen of the Lathrop House, corner Washington and Main streets. The pioneers present at that first Mass were the families of Owen Thompson, John Gates, Thomas Anderson, and Arthur McDonald, at whose home the Mass was held. In the fall of 1849 Franklin Hall was secured for the services, and here at monthly intervals until 1875 Rev. Father Brady and his successor, Rev. Michael McCabe, held services. In 1848, Father Brady had secured a tract of land on Jackson Street, the present site of the splendid later development of St. Joseph's Church and parish property.

Father O'Donnell records that "during Father McCabe's attendance upon Willimantic he and his devoted people were annoyed by exhibitions of bigotry which all good men today disavow." On one occasion the door of Franklin Hall was locked against him but "determined upon offering the Holy Sacrifice, he led his little congregation to the lot which Father Brady had purchased on Jackson Street and upon a rudely-constructed altar offered the Divine Victim." "At another time, having ministered to the spiritual wants of his little flock he started to drive to Baltic, which was in his jurisdiction, when one of the carriage wheels came off, throwing the priest to the ground ; investigation dis- closed the fact that bolts, screws and nuts had been removed, with the evident intention of causing serious injury to Father McCabe."

In 1857 Father McCabe purchased the building of the local Baptist Church and removed it to the Jackson Street site where it was remodeled and enlarged and christened as "St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church." He also secured and dedicated a tract of land for a cemetery. The parish steadily grew as more and more the Irish people were locating in Willimantic. Father McCabe died in 1860 at Danielson, where he had also ministered, and was succeeded by the Rev. Hugh J. O'Reilly, who became the first resident pastor at Willimantic. Father O'Reilly erected a parochial residence. Later he was transferred to Danielson, and the Willimantic charge was filled for four months by the Rev. Daniel Mullen, or until a permanent pastor should be named. This proved to be the Rev. Florimond DeBruycker, who assumed charge May 11, 1863, and was destined to remain in Willimantic and to become a leading figure in church and community, and a man of wide influence, during the next forty years.

When Father DeBruycker first came to Willimantic, the parishes at Staf- ford Springs, Baltic and South Coventry were also assigned to him. Early in 1864 Father DeBruycker secured about thirty acres of land for a cemetery near the junction of the Bricktop Road to Windham, and the remains of those who reposed in the earlier cemetery were on Good Friday of that same year reverently and with solemn ceremony transferred. The new grounds were

REV. FLORIMOND DE BRUYCKER Pastor of St. Joseph's Parish for forty years.

ST. JOSEPH'S CHURCH, WILLIMANTIC

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steadily developed and beautified, and in November, 1875, the entire tract received solemn dedication with appropriate ceremonies.

Meanwhile, the rapid growth of parish and congregation, due especially to the coming of the French-Canadian people made a new church building imper- atively necessary. In 1872, Father DeBruycker purchased the land with house and lot next west of the old church, and set out to develop a church property adequate for immediate needs. He removed the church rectory to Valley Street, where the church building still stands as the present St. Mary's Hall. The splendid brick edifice and the ample rectory now known as St. Joseph's was planned, and the erection of the new church begun; and on August 17, 1873, the corner-stone was laid, the late Bishop McFarland officiating, and this was the last public act of the prelate. The address was delivered by Rev. Lawrence Walsh of Hartford, and a notable assembly of priests was in attend- "ance. On November 17, 1874, the completed structure was dedicated by the Right Rev. Bishop McQuade of Rochester. The substantial and ornate struc- ture of Gothic design and beautiful interior decorations, its impressive setting of the sacred symbolism, was deeply satisfactory to the people of the parish. The high altar is of Munich construction, and a notable work of art.

Since the death of Rev. Florimond DeBruycker, December, 1902, St. Joseph's Church has had five pastors; Rev. James J. Gleeson being the third regular . appointed pastor, who came from St. Mary's Church, East Hartford, to St. Joseph's Church, January 22, 1903. Father Gleeson served his flock four years to a day. He died January 23, 1907, from apoplexy. He was fifty-eight years old and had been a priest thirty-two years. The fourth pastor was Rev. John Flemming, who came from Bethel on February 17, 1907, where he had been pastor for nine years. Father Flemming died October 2, 1912, at the age of sixty-eight years. He had been a priest over forty years. The fifth appointed pastor was Rev. Thomas Dunne, who came from Portland on October 29, 1912. His pastorate was brief-seven weeks-his death resulting from an operation which occurred December 16, 1912. He was fifty-eight years old when he died. The sixth appointed priest of the parish was Rev. Timothy F. Bannon who was appointed January 15, 1913. He came from Lakeville where he had been a priest for thirty years. Father Bannon was one of the scores of victims of the dreadful influenza epidemic of October, 1918, which carried away in that month alone in the Town of Windham over one hundred and twenty-five peo- ple. During the epidemic he labored day and night attending to the spiritual welfare of his people. His system became weakened and he too was taken ill. He died October 12 (Columbus Day), 1918, at the age of fifty-four years. The present pastor, Rev. John E. Clark, who is fifty-two years old, has been a priest thirty years. He became pastor of St. Joseph's Church October 30, 1918, com- ing from Suffield.

The curates who assisted Father DeBruycker were Rev. Arthur DeBruycker and Rev. Oliver T. Magnell. When the new St. Mary's parish was formed shortly after the death of Rev. Florimond DeBruycker, Father Arthur De- Bruycker was made pastor of St. Mary's parish, Father Magnell was then act- ing pastor of St. Joseph's Church, with his curate, Rev. F. X. Mulville, until the appointment of Rev. James J. Gleeson as pastor. Shortly after that Father Magnell was transferred to St. Mary's Church, East Hartford, later trans- ferred as pastor of the Sacred Heart Church, Wethersfield, and then a few years ago transferred to Bristol as pastor of St. Joseph's Church that city.

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During his pastorate at Wethersfield Father Magnell was Catholic chaplin at the state prison.

The next curates who followed after the death of Rev. F. X. Mulville were Reverends Edward M. Hayes and P. J. Reddy. Those two priests were sta- tioned at St. Joseph's Church but a short time. In 1903 Rev. James J. McGuane was assigned a curate to Rev. James J. Gleeson. A few years later Father McGuane was appointed pastor at the church at Noroton. In connection, he was appointed Catholic chaplain at the Old Soldiers' Home in that place. Rev. R. J. Morrisey succeeded Father McGuane as curate in 1906. The next regular curate was Rev. F. J. Custer, who came in 1909, while Rev. John Flemming was pastor. Father Custer stayed but a short time and after he was transferred, the next curate was Rev. Otto Baumeister and also Rev. M. J. Lynch, both in 1910, there being two curates on account of Father Flemming's feeble condi- tion of health. In 1911 or thereabouts both fathers Baumeister and Lynch were transferred, the former to Colchester and the latter to South Norwalk. They were succeeded by Rev. P. J. Mooney and Rev. T. J. Sullivan, both of whom served well into the pastorate of Rev. T. F. Bannon. In 1917 Rev. John A. Sullivan was appointed assistant to Rev. T. F. Bannon, and he was the only curate at that time and at the present time. Father Sullivan was in charge of the parish affairs from the time of Father Bannon's death to the appoint- ment of Rev. John E. Clark as pastor of the parish. All of the curates named were popular with the people and for the most part all are now pastors of churches in other places.

As the years passed on, the parish grew in membership and wealth. With the withdrawal of the French-Canadian people of St. Joseph's parish in 1903 into a parish of their own, it was believed that it would prove a hardship finan- cially for the parish but not so, the revenue in most of the years since, and par- ticularly during the past ten years, has doubled, though of course the expense also increased. To take the place of the French were the newcoming people of the parish, chiefly Poles and Italians, which were few in numbers in 1903. Today there are over fourteen hundred Poles and four hundred Italians in the city.

The plant of St. Joseph's Parish-as it may be called, for it is an extensive institution-is composed of the church, the school, St. Joseph's hospital, con- vent, rectory, three or four houses, St. Joseph's cemetery-the latter the bury- ing ground for both St. Joseph's and St. Mary's parishes. The cemetery, located about a mile northeast of the city, is one of the best kept and most beautiful to be found anywhere. The present school was built in Father Flem- ming's time at a cost of $30,000. A year or two later St. Joseph's convent was made over into a hospital, and an addition built on the north of the structure used by the sisters of the parish. When Father Florimond DeBruycker died, the parish was free from debt. The erection of the new school and other improvements caused a mortgage of $30,000 on the parish. Through a simple monthly contribution, a splendid collection of 25 cents a month, during the years that Father Bannon was pastor, the sum of $4,000 a year was paid on the debt for five years. During the past two years extraordinary repairs were necessary on church property, so that little could be paid on the church debt, but with the required work now done all look forward now to see the few remaining thousands of dollars of the debt paid in a few years. The value of St. Joseph's property based on present-day values is close to $500,000.

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ST. JOSEPH'S SCHOOL

St. Joseph's Parochial School was founded in 1878, to provide for the large number of children of the parish the special religious training of the church, as well as instruction in the rudiments of common-school work, as required by the laws of the state. The school is supported by the voluntary contributions of members of the parish, from the general funds, and no special assessment has been asked from the parishioners for many years, although any who desire to contribute for this special purpose may do so.

The school was established by the late Florimond DeBruycker, and he was the first principal, taking a constant and devoted interest in the work, from the beginning in 1878 until his death in 1902.

The first school sessions were held in April, 1878, with six Sisters of Char- ity of Tilburg, Holland, in charge. Sessions were held in the basement of the church for the boys and in the convent (now the Nurses' Home) for the girls. The number of children increased so rapidly that another building was erected two years later on Valley Street, which remained in use until torn down in 1907 to make room for a more pretentious structure. In 1896 the school regis- tration of St. Joseph's School was eight hundred or more.

After the death of Rev. Florimond DeBruycker, St. Joseph's parish was divided by the establishment of St. Mary's parish and parochial school, espe- cially for the French-Canadians, as elsewhere noted. Under the lead of the new pastor, Rev. John Flemming, the spacious new brick school building on Valley Street was erected, in 1907, and the old building was torn down. In addition to the usual grammar-grade studies, music, drawing and sewing are taught.

The teachers of the school since its organization have been from the Sisters of Charity of Our Lady of Mercy from the mother home in Tilburg, Holland. There are only four convents of the order in this country, Taftville, Baltic, and St. Joseph's and St. Mary's in this city. Some of the present corps of teachers have been connected with St. Joseph's school for over twenty years. Every pastor of St. Joseph's parish has been also principal of the school, yet in years past at times the' supervision of the school has been given over to assistants. It is with fond memories that many of the graduating classes of years gone by look back to the time that such able assistants carried on the work as Rev. J. J. McGuane, now of Noroton; Rev. Oliver T. Magnell, now of Bristol; Rev. Francis X. Mulville, now deceased, and Rev. Michael J. Lynch, now of South Norwalk. Especial mention is also due to Mother M. Tharsilla, whose long service in St. Joseph's parish has only recently been terminated (August, 1920) by her retirement and return to the "Mother Home" in Holland. Hundreds of children, many of them now grown up and in active life today, remember her devoted service with deep gratitude.

Rev. T. F. Bannon, now deceased, was principal of the school for several years, during his pastorate at St. Joseph's, and took a great interest in the work.

In the early years of the school the graduating classes were not large and graduation exercises were not conducted each year, for the reason that previous to 1893 a large majority of the finishing classes of the school went to work before the school year closed. However, after the year mentioned graduations were held each year and there has been a gradual increase each year in the

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number graduating. The following is the list of graduates of the school as kindly provided by Mother M. Tharsilla : Ella Broderick, New Haven; Lucy Sugrue, Mary O'Loughlin (Mrs. Thomas F. Henry), Mary A. Maxwell (Mrs. Thomas F. Connolly), Rev. James Broderick, Forestville; Edward Flynn, deceased; John Moran, Katherine Somers, Rose Casey, deceased; Rev. Michael E. Connor, Winona, Minn .; Hugh Lennon, Ann McCaffery, Agnes Murray (Mrs. John F. Collins), Mary Shea, Flora Casey, Nora Grady, Mary Murray (Mrs. Phillip Dwyer), New Haven, Florina Favreau, Fred Ward, deceased; Susan T. Murphy (Mrs. J. Louis Sullivan), Jennie Dougherty (Mrs. William McNellis), Waterbury, Conn .; Frances O'Neill, Annie Britton, William E. Foran, New York City; Eugene O'Loughlin, Lowell, Mass., Daniel Sullivan, Margaret G. Maxwell.

1895-Annie O'Loughlin, Hartford, Lucy Murphy, Veronica Ryan (Mrs. Harry Gallagher), Annie Regan (Mrs. William J. Donovan), Fitchburg, Mass., Mazie Elliott, Leona Gilman (Mrs. Philip Borton), Worcester, Mass .; Anna Carey (Mrs. Louis N. Dundero).

1897-Grace Vanderman (Mrs. J. E. Sullivan), Nellie Collins, Annie Kel- ley, Julia Murphy, Katherine Bowler, Rose Hickey, Thomas F. Courtney, New York City ; Alfred E. Magnell, New Britain; Edward F. Eagan, Louis J. Flynn.

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A modern history of Windham county, Connecticut : a Windham county treasure book, Volume I, Part 76

Author: Lincoln, Allen B Publication date: 1920 Publisher: Chicago : S. J. Clarke publ. co. Number of Pages: 930

Author: Lincoln, Allen B
Publication date: 1920
Publisher: Chicago : S. J. Clarke publ. co.
Number of Pages: 930