A modern history of Windham county, Connecticut : a Windham county treasure book, Volume I, Part 77

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 77

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

1898-Anna Corrigan, deceased; Delia Hoey (Mrs. William Smith), Irma Meunier, New Jersey ; Mary Mccarthy (Mrs. H. St. George), New York City ; Katherine Grady, Marian Lessard, Loretta Maxwell, Alice Carey, Delia Casey, Mary Grady, Daniel Looney.

1899-Grace Hennessey, Providence, R. I .; Frances Casey, John Kelley, James D. Courtney, Edmund Dussosoit, Boston, Mass .; Rev. Eugene Cryne, Waterbury; Daniel Killourey, John Hennessey, Providence, R. I .; James Sul- livan, deceased; Cornelius Carey, deceased.

1900-Rose Moreau, Loretta Cotter (Mrs. William A. Costello), Mary Regan (Mrs. Frank Strahlau), New Haven; Annie Morrison, Gertrude Fahey, Kath- erine Sullivan, Bessie Foley, deceased; Ovila Martin, New Haven; Daniel Kel- ley, deceased.

1901-Katherine Logan, Katherine Donohue, Margaret Hurlihe, New Haven ; Helen Burke, Eileen Ottenheimer, Dorchester, Mass .; Theresa Twomey (Mrs. Albert B. Cunningham), Nellie Hickey (Mrs. Benjamin Savory), Berthia Mori- arty, Loretta Moran (Mrs. Elmer Carpenter), Margaret Kelley, deceased ; Dr. Daniel Sullivan, South Norwalk; John Curry, Bridgeport; John Flym, New- port, R. I .; William Cotter, Edward J. Moriarty.

1902-Francis Palmer, Hartford; William B. Sweeney, Arthur Routhier, Leo Curry, Barbara Moriarty, Winnie Cunningham, Anna MeGlone, Della Moreau (Mrs. W. B. Sweeney), Mary Sullivan, Mary Maxwell, Elizabeth Shea, Alice Morrison, Mary J. Sullivan, Bernadette Potvin.

1903-Mary Mullen, Agnes McNamara, Margaret Shea, Albina Blanchette, Mary Ottenheimer, Lottie Teevans, Mary Lessard, Nellie Connaughton, Elsie Challenger, William Flynn, Fred Moriarty, deceased, William Kelley, Henry Martin.

1904-John Pickett, Benjamin Murphy, Jacksonville, Fla .; Flora Curran (Mrs. Frank Wood), Pansy Gilbert (Mrs. Clyde Martin), Mary Moriarty, Annie Burke, John Lynch, New York City; Helena Twomey (Mrs. John McQuillan), Margaret MeGlone, Collette Lee, Mary Keating, Ana Lynch (Mrs. William Ryan), Webster, Mass .; Elizabeth Hardman.

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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY

1905-John Foran, Edward Moriarty, T. Frank Cunningham, Harry Tobin, Northampton, Mass .; Vincent Sweeney, Claire Fahey, Arthur Casey, John Moriarty, Francis Curran, Michael Kelley, Eugene J. Curan, Theresa Lee, Martha Curry, Beatrice Moran, Ethel Clancy, Mary J. McCabe.

1906-Josephine Coffey, Blanche Hallahan, John Killourey, Thomas H. Kil- lourey, Honora McKenna, Anna Moran, William J. Sullivan.

1907-Loretta Sullivan, Marguerite Maxwell (Mrs. Harry Lester), Ger- trude Gilbert, Mary Flynn, Annie Kelley, Marguerite Curran, Rosaline Byrnes, Mary Hevrin, Grace Gardiner, Pawtucket, R. I .; Veronica Palmer, Mary McCarthy, Charles J. Regan, Paul Vanderman, Thoms Shea, Robert Pickett, William Moriarty.

1908-Gladys Bulger (Mrs. Alfred Morin), Elcia Casey, Helen Hallahan, Marguerite Healy, Rose A. Healey, James Lee, Mary Mccarthy, Francis Moriarty, Bernadette Ottenheimer, Charlotte Summers, Mary Sweeney, Mar- garet Twomey.

1909-Helen Vanderman, deceased; Elizabeth Flynn, Mary Rooney, Mary Sullivan, Norene Gallivan, Julia McCarthy, Mildred Moriarty, Loretta Curran, Helen Doyle, Marion Rafferty, William Bransfield, Vincent Shea, William Shea, Mary Connor, Helena Fogerty, Bridget McCarthy, Margaret Sullivan, Alice Ottenheimer, Mildred Fitzgerald, Mary Gallagher (Mrs. Byron Fiske), Helen Sweeney, Irene Donohue, Henry McDermott, Frank McQuillan, Thomas Con- nell, Arthur Moran.

1910-George F. Casey, Edward Connaughton, Josephine B. Lee, Rose Peters (Mrs. William Robinson), Brattleboro, Vt .; Mildred Pickett, Edward T. Pickett, Francis Sayers, Harold Sheehan, Jewett City; W. Clayton Smith, Elizabeth F. Uncles.

1911-Evelyn Jennings, Mabel Hardman, Clarence Mathieu, Mildred Bul- ger, Josephine Hurlihe, Claire Rourke, Bridgeport; Edward Kelley, George Doyle, Eugene Moriarty, Leroy Hallahan, Mary Sugrue, Arthur Welsh, Daniel Harrington, John Rahilly, Gilbert Flynn.

1912-Norberta Smith, Helen Bransfield, Edna Vanderman, M. Sayres, Agnes Fahey, Irene Moran, Frances Lee, Laura Warren, Frances Farrell, James Curran, Robert Casey, Arthur Ashton, John Regan, Freeman Gallivan, Stanley Healey, James Moriarty, Edward Ottenheimer, William Grady.

1913-Peter Carcia, William Casey, Henry Flynn, Raymond Hurlihe, Wal- ter Moriarty, Thomas Pickett, John Ryan, James Squires, Ethel Connors, Helen Curran, Florence Grady, Bertha Hoffman, Helen Hurley, Mary Jenkins, Veron- ica Jenkins, Bernadette Murphy, Catherine Shea, Mildred Smith.

1914-Francis Flynn, William Healey, William Jennings, John Meehan, Louis Moran, Andrew Ottenheimer, Charles Shea, Harry Sullivan, Catherine Cavanaugh, Marjorie Connors, Catherine Hickey, Lillian Jennings, Margaret Jones, Mary Lynch, Lillian McKenna, Rose Murphy, Jennie Nichols, Catherine Ronan, Margaret Ryan, Margaret Smith, Mildred Sweeney, Mary Wilson.

1915-Veronica Ahern, Claire Calnen, Helen Connor, Doris Curran, Sadie Doyle, Muriel Gelinas, Mary Grady, Alice Healy, Alice Hickey, Mabel Jenkins, Mildred Mathieu, Eleanor Moriarty, Gertrude Smith, Margaret Tighe, Edith Wingertsman, Raymond Sullivan, Paul Welch.

1916-Edward Brookman, Andrew Connell, Maxwell Connelly, Charles Cur- ran, Patrick Dannehey, James Dillon, Walter Gavigan, James Healy, Anthony Meehan, Russell Robarge, Murray Tighe, George Vegiard, Kathleen Colgan,

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Alice Donohue, Bessie Flynn, Winifred Hevrin, Mildred Kelley, Anna Ronan, Mary Ellen Sullivan, Alice Sweeney, Irene Vanderman.

1917-John Ahern, Donald Connelly, Ralph Gibson, Paul Moran, Forrest Richards, Debbie Dannehey, Dorothy Hevrin, Marion Hurlihe, Mary De Marchi, Rose Murphy, Mildred Mayehardt, Marion O'Connor, Helen Ottenheimer, Mary Agnes Welch.

1918-Gerard Comtois, Harold Connor, Joseph Connor, Raymond Flynn, Henry Jedziniak, Raymond Jennings, Leo Sullivan, Walter Sullivan, Anna Brookman, Rose Casey, May Curran, Rose Doubleday, Ruth Foye, Rose McQuil. lan, Loretta Noel, Catherine Sullivan.

1919-Raymond Connor, Stanley Latusek, Clarence Moriarty, George Murphy, Arthur O'Connor, Louis Ronan, Thomas Sayers, John Sugrue, Edward Sullivan, May Ashton, Margaret Ashton, Irene Curran, Steffa Gelaska, Helen Jones, May Moran, Elizabeth Simpson, Rose Welch, Viola White.

1920-Patrick Dillon, James Donovan, Joseph Fitzgerald, Lester Gelinas, John Gibson, Patrick Haggerty, Joseph Hanson, Lawrence Hickey, Anthony De Marchi, Richard Moriarty, John Simpson, Joseph Tubridy, Bridie Dan- nehey, Harriet Dillon, Agnes Kelley, Eileen Murphy, Lillian Ottenheimer, Mary Sugrue, Mary Rose Vegiard, Irene White.

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

Following the death of Rev. Florimond DeBruycker on December 31, 1902, there came division of St. Joseph's parish, whose communicants included those of French-Canadians, Irish and Americans. The French-Canadians, as they grew to be the larger proportion, sought from the bishop the privilege of having a parish of their own, which was granted them a few months later, to be exact, February 20, 1903. The parishioners held service from that time in the old St. Mary's Hall for nearly a year, or until January of 1904, when the present handsome house of worship was built. On the land bequeathed by the will of Father Florimond DeBruycker on Valley Street, the new church was built of brick and of the latest modern design of that time, with a seating capacity of 1,400.

The cornerstone was laid with impressive religious services on Sunday, August 23, 1903, by Very Rev. John Synett, vicar general of the diocese of Hartford. The solemn high mass at 10:30 A. M. was preceded by a procession of over fifteen hundred members of the parish through the church property headed by Wheeler's American Band. The mass was celebrated in the open air with the weather conditions ideal. The officers of the mass were: Rev. U. Belle- rose of Taftville, celebrant; Rev. Francis X. Mulville of St. Joseph's Church, deacon; Rev. John Lamantagne of Hartford, sub-deacon and the parish curate; Rev. Louis Baud, master of ceremonies. Two sermons were preached, one in French by Rev. A. R. Grolleau, O. P., of Fall River, Mass., and one in English, by Rev. Oliver T. Magnell of St. Joseph's parish (now pastor at Bristol). The church was dedicated January 1, 1905.

Rev. Arthur DeBruycker, a graduate of St. Joseph's Parochial School and a curate at St. Joseph's Church for many years with his cousin, the late Rev. Florimond DeBruycker, was the first pastor of the church. His first curate was Father Mulville and then Father Baud and then Rev. C. H. Palquette.

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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY

On September, 1919, Rev. Arthur DeBruycker preached his farewell sermon having decided to return to his native home in Belgium. His successor as pastor, Rev. J. J. Papillon, arrived on September 22d, and four days later preached his first sermon and since that time has been pastor of the church.

Father Arthur DeBruycker, on the last Sunday as pastor, gave his annual report for the eight years' existence of the parish up to that date. He estimated the worth of the buildings, church, school and other properties as about $200,000 with an indebtedness of $80,000.

During the pastorate of Rev. J. J. Papillon, great work has been performed both in a spiritual and financial way. The parishioners assisted nobly in con- struction work in the parish in the building of schools as told in the school history of the parish. It has been a struggle, but each year a little has been done to reduce the church debt. Father Papillon, whose aim has been to reduce the church debt, to decorate the church interior and the erection of a new parochial residence to replace the present one which is considered inadequate, evolved a plan which proved a master stroke, that of a "drive" for money similar to "drives" for various patriotic purposes during the World war.

At a meeting on June 17, 1920, plans were formulated and fourteen teams organized with captains to canvass the parish members. The drive started Wednesday, June 16th, and came to a finish the following Sunday evening at the state armory. The quota set for $60,000 was oversubscribed by $112. The scene, when the announcement was made, was one of great rejoicing, because it makes possible the desired improvements and will also be used in part to reduce the parish indebtedness.

During the years of Father Papillon's pastorate he has been blessed with curates who have given him great assistance. The curates in turn were Rev. C. H. Paquette, Rev. Edward Walsh, Charles J. Lemieux, Rev. L. Paradis and his present assistant, Rev. Edward A. Mathieu.

Several years ago the handsome brick dwelling owned by former Mayor George M. Harrington was purchased and transformed into a convent for the Sisters of Charity of Our Lady of Mercy, teachers of St. Mary's Parochial School.

The property of the parish now consists of a church, a large school, a rec- tory, and two houses, the whole estimated to be worth, as property is valued today in Willimantic, close to $300,000.

ST. MARY'S PAROCHIAL SCHOOL

Coincident with the establishment of St. Mary's Church came the establish- ment of the St. Mary's Parochial School, with grades generally corresponding to the public school system as required by state law. In addition to the usual grammar grades, which all pupils must follow, there is a business department where pupils who have successfully completed the eighth grade may secure training in business principles and practice. There is also special instruction in music.

Pupils from St. Mary's School may enter Windham High School on teacher's certificates, as many do, and many others have gone to the State Normal-Train- ing School or to business colleges, and not a few to classical or professional training.

Under the leadership of Father Papillon, special course in the French lan- guage has been established, as he wisely believed that a knowledge of that

ST. MARY'S CHURCH, WILLIMANTIC

ST. MARY'S SCHOOL, WILLIMANTIC

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language, together with a thorough training in the elements of the English language would strengthen not only the intellects but also the character of the pupils and experience has proved the wisdom of that course.

The graduates number 174, 66 boys and 108 girls, the average class has been ten a year. The smallest class was one in 1906 and the largest, seventeen in 1920. The school averages about six hundred and twenty pupils with fifteen teachers. Rev. J. J. Papillon is director of the school. The number from each graduating class going to high school has been very small, as most of those who continue in school go to some college or to a Canadian school.

LIST OF GRADUATES ST. MARY'S PAROCHIAL SCHOOL

1904-Phillipe Lapalme, Arthur Labarge, Henry Martin, Carrie Dion, Oli- vina Bacon, Hilda Trudeau.

1905-Martin Mullen, Arthur Parent, Adelard Bacon, Florimond Trudeau, Dora Blanchette, Adelaide Gelinas, Theolymbe Lord, Marie Parent, May Ritchie. 1906-Wilfrid Gagnon.

1907 -- Romeo Vote, Hector Laberge, Irene LaFleur, Lena Brousseau, Maris Rose Blanchette, Alma Dion, Blanche Piche.

1908-Arthur LeFleur, Arthur Bosse, George Martin, Antoinette Dion, Lina Labby, Lillian Cheney.

1909-Mathilda Brind'Amour, Arthur Brind'Amour, Georgine Dube, Hec- tor Dupre, Melanise Lord, Bella Parant.

1910-Blanche Archambeault, Docina Trudeau, Leon Belcourt, Juilette Cote, Albert D'Amour, Jeannette Parent, Adelard Potvin, Napoleon Lamontagne, Wilfrid LeClair, Antoine Lavigne, Leone Lord.

1911-Nellie Cheney, Rosine Caisse, Blanche Laravivere, Laura Bacon, Angeline Dube, Loretta Labby, Alma Trudeau, Alfred Rivard, Arthur Vegiard, Alexandre Gelinas.

1912-Arthur Beaulieu, Joseph Archambault, Azarie Bertrand, Adelard Beauchemin, Leopold Paradis, Rosanna Hebert, Leonie Duval, May Cheney, Blanche Charron, Olivine Chabot, Fidelis Lambert, Esther Labby, Helene Mar- tin, Esther Parent, Dora Paradis, Dora Thetreault.

1913-Clarence LaFleur, Valnore Monast, Irma Berard, Jeanne Cote, Docinia D'Amour, Dorilla Fontaine, Marie Rose Lariviere, Antoinette Lussier, Isabelle Pepin, Carrie Lussier, Irene Parent.

1914-Arthur Boucher, Leo Monast, Rosanna Bergeron, Esther Cote, Gretchen Vegiard, Euclide Brind'Amour, Blanche Millette, Loretta Gelinas, Lena Dublois, Helene Loiselle, George Chabot, Yvonne Mullen, Arthur Parent, Laura Laprade.

1915-Lucia Theroux, Eveline Beaulieu, Ernest Lafleur, Marie Rose Gin- gras, Arthur Leblond, Alfred Charren, Florence Chasse, Emelienne Lavigne, Florence Coutu, Hilda Berard, Dorothe Piche, Marie Rose Boucher, Anna Caisse, Antoine Arbour.

1916-Alexina Caisse, Gerard Loiselle, Florina Dubreuil, Lea Cote, Rhea Phenauf, Jerome Piche, Beatrice Comtois, Albert Paulhus, Omer Turcotte, Lucien Cartier, Blanche Vaillant, Alice Dube, Edna Laramee.

1917-Emma Trudeau, Dorothee Boucher, Blanche Beauchemin, Marie Rose Bertrand, Blanche Marcuix, Florimond Larue, Rene Lussier, Adrien Lambert, Wilfrid Chartier, Leo Lavigne, Armand Perreault, Wilfrid Cote.

1918-Alice Bonin, Jeannette Laliberti, Irene Leclair, Eva Langlois, An-

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toinie Bergeron, Alexis Caisse, Albertine Gagnon, Clara Beausoleil, Virginia Gagne ..

1919-Eugene Cote, Henri Lissier, Aline Millette, Albertine Coutu, Marie Rose Demer, Candide Dansereau, Leona Hurteau, Norbert Girard, Eugene Marrotte, Maria Cote, Yvonne Matte.

1920-Agnes Mullen, Francis Boucher, Victor Pellerin, Wallace Lemieux, Leo Lessard, Leo Gilbeault, Florence Matte, Viola Dube, Arthur Cailouette, Viola Piche, Lina Clothier, Delphis Boucher, Florimond Joly, Pierre Bouree, Anna Aubin, Loretta Lise, Bertha Gaudreau.

NEW CATHOLIC PARISH AT WARRENVILLE

A new Roman Catholic parish has recently been established at Warrenville in the Town of Ashford, and regular services are now held every Sunday morning, conducted by visiting priests with large attendance from the vicinity. The former Mathewson residence (latterly occupied by Roscoe H. Wright) and standing next west of the Baptist Church, has been purchased for a parish rectory, possession to be taken November 1, 1920, and it is stated that a resi- dent priest will by that time be appointed. It is understood also that ultimately a church will be built at Warrenville, but for the present the services will be held in a portion of the new parish residence, which will be fitted up for the purpose.

ST. MARY'S OF THE VISITATION, PUTNAM

As far as can be ascertained from existing records, the first Catholic in Putnam was a French-Canadian, Peter Denault, who came in 1843, with a large family. After the opening of the great factories in 1848, other Canadians came and soon formed a comparatively numerous colony. Among the other early Catholic settlers of this mission, were Nicholas Cosgrove, James Rafferty, Francis Madden, James Bracken, Matthew Ragan, John Conway, Jean Bap- tiste Lapointe, Francois Picher, Denis Bibeault, M. Champeau, Ambrose Lapointe and Thomas Luby.

The Rev. William Logan, S. J., of Worcester, celebrated the first mass said in Putnam, in the residence of Nicholas Cosgrove, on July 8, 1849. His succes- sor was also a Jesuit priest of Holy Cross College, Rev. Peter Blenkinsop, who celebrated mass in the house of Mr. Ambrose Lapointe. The Rev. Michael McCabe came next and celebrated his first mass here in a private house, but afterwards secured Morse's Hall. The presence of Catholics, however, in this hall was displeasing to the Know-Nothing element, and Father McCabe and his congregation were ordered to discontinue their services there. Determined to build a church for his people, if possible, Father McCabe purchased an acre of ground from Edward Wilkinson. But the financial means of the people not cor- responding to their own nor to their pastor's desires, they secured Quinnebaug Hall, where divine services were held once a month. In 1858 Putnam was attended from Pascoag, R. I., whose pastor was the Rev. William E. Duffy. In the year following he began the erection of the first church in this section of Connecticut. It was a small frame buiding, and cost when completed and fur- nished about $2,200; its dimensions were 60x24. Father Duffy was succeeded in 1866 by the Rev. Eugene J. Vygen, who became the first resident pastor. When Bishop MeFarland appointed him to this mission he said to him : "Putnam

Vol. I-40

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is a poor missionary field, and will not be able to support you; but go there, board at the hotel and do the best you can." "Sent to administer the sacra- ments at Putnam, he was greatly moved by the spiritual destitution of the peo- ple without resident priest, schools or burial ground; it was no marvel that 'scandals became frequent and the church of God suffered.' The keen-eyed young missionary saw at a glance the great capabilities of the field. Some half- dozen large manufactories in Putnam and Thompson were bringing in hundreds of Catholic families. Putnam Village gave promise of becoming an important business center, and was a natural church home of this increasing Catholic population. With much earnestness Father Vygen laid the need and oppor- tunity before the bishop of the diocese, and was allowed to enter upon the Putnam pastorate."

The first work accomplished by Father Vygen was the purchase of a res- idence from a Mr. Tanner; he then secured five and a half acres of land, which he laid ont for cemetery purposes, and had it consecrated by Bishop McFarland in 1868. He then added to the church's possession by purchasing additional property, and soon after erected a pastoral residence near the church at an expense of about $4,000. But Father Vygen's ambition, and a laudable one it was, was directed to the building of a church more adapted to the growing importance of his congregation. Before entering, however, on the project he visited the various capitals, and other cities of Europe, making a tour of inspection of the chief church edifices. With this experience and hav- ing secured financial aid among his European friends, he returned with a determination to begin and prosecute the work to a successful completion. To this end he purchased additional property from Messrs. Morse and Wilkinson, and removed the old church. The new edifice, an impressive brick structure, was dedicated by Bishop McFarland on November 24, 1870. The dimensions of this church were 160 by 93; transept, 90 feet. But Father Vygen's labors were not yet finished. Early in 1873 he began the erection of a school and convent, and in April, 1874, the former was opened under the direction of the Sisters of Mercy.

But Father Vygen and his devoted people were to be tried in the crucible of affliction. On February 6, 1875, a conflagration destroyed the church, and what had been "the pride of the Catholics of Putnam, was a charred and blackened mass of ruins." The fire spread so rapidly that the sacred vessels, the vestments, the altar and organ, and a valuable library of a thousand vol- umes-in a word, all the treasures of the church were consumed. Among the precious articles destroyed was a gold chalice presented to Father Vygen by his parents on the day of his ordination. The church with its treasures was valued at $85,000, and was insured for $48,000. Of this amount $32,000 was spent in the liquidation of the debt on the school and convent. Undismayed by this severe loss, Father Vygen began immediately the erection of a chapel, his people worshipping in the meantime in Quinnebang Hall. Within a year after the conflagration St. Joseph's chapel was dedicated, on November 1, 1876, by Bishop Galberry. The dimensions of the chapel were 95 by 60 feet, and it had a seating capacity of 800.

Father Vygen celebrated his silver jubilee in March, 1889. He was sum- moned to his reward in October of the same year. His had been a most useful and active life, and his memory is honored by Protestants and Catholics alike. A contemporary paid him this tribute: "Father Vygen is much beloved by

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his people and respected by all for his consistent Christian character, and faith- ful labors in behalf of temperance, morality and all salutary enterprises."

The present rector of St. Mary's, the Rev. John Van den Noort, became his successor.

In 1849, when the first mass was said in Putnam, about thirty-five persons were present. When the first church was built the Catholic population was estimated at 1,000, probably a high estimate. When the church which was destroyed by fire was completed, a census showed the presence in Putnam of 2,500 Catholics. The present population of the parish is 3,400 souls, of mixed nationalities.

ST. MARY'S OF THE VISITATION CHURCH, PUTNAM

In 1874, when the school was opened, 400 pupils asked for admission. The present number of pupils is 586, taught by nine sisters, whose superioress is Sister M. Paula.

The assistants who served in St. Mary's at various periods were the Rever-

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ends H. Martial, T. Joynt, A. Van Oppen, T. Cooney, W. Flannagan, T. Cronan, E. Broderick, E. Chapdelaine and J. Papillon.

Among the special benefactors of the parish mention should be made of Bishop McFarland, Rev. Eugene Vygen, Rev. F. DeBruycker, Rev. Van Laar, and Rev. A. Princen, Michael McGuirk, Maria McDerby, Wm. Mullen, Augustin L'Esperance, Misael Desrosiers, Francois Bibeault.

The most remarkable conversion to the Catholicism within the jurisdiction of Putnam was that of Mrs. Clara Thompson, of Pomfret, the authoress of several Catholic works of great value. She had formerly professed the Episco- palian faith.

Rev. Van den Noort resigned his parish in August, 1912, and went back to his native land. His successor was Rev. Charles F. Bedard, who is the pres- ent rector of the church. Finding that the school could not accommodate the number of children, he closed the boarding school and gave the use of the whole building for the children of the parish. At the end of the year 1912 he brought in the Sisters of the Holy Ghost. Twenty-two of these sisters are now engaged in teaching 817 children in St. Mary's School.

Then Father Bedard turned his attention to the church. He put in new pews, electric lights; had the interior decorated by the Blank Bros., from New- ark, N. J. These artists made St. Mary's one of the most beautiful churches of the diocese. There are magnificent oil paintings, and the stations of the cross are beautiful.

Then at a cost of $25,000 Father Bedard built the new rectory, which is the pride of the parish. He also enlarged the cemetery and beautified the sur- roundings of the church and school.

In the meantime he bought from the Morse estate their property on Church Street, and superintended the construction of a splendid convent, at a cost of about $100,000, which is the Mother Home of the Sisters of the Holy Ghost in America. Father Bedard is now getting ready to enlarge the school, which is altogether too small for the growing number of the children. The present population of the parish is about four thousand two hundred souls, about four hundred Irish, three hundred Poles, five Italians and all the rest French- Canadians.

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A modern history of Windham county, Connecticut : a Windham county treasure book, Volume I, Part 77

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