USA > Connecticut > Windham County > A modern history of Windham county, Connecticut : a Windham county treasure book, Volume I > Part 78
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ST. JAMES AT DANIELSON
The Rev. Michael McCabe, a Franciscan Friar from Ireland, was the first missionary priest to exercise his ministry permanently in Windham County. Prior to his advent, Jesuit priests of Worcester, Mass., had made occasional visits to this section, as the needs of the people became evident. Father O'Don- nell in his history of Hartford diocese records that Father McCabe entered upon his ministry at Danielson in 1850, and offered the holy sacrifice of the mass for the first time in a private residence on Franklin Street. Bacon's Hall was afterwards secured for divine worship. Father McCabe also ministered to the people of Willimantic, making monthly visits there. His pastorate ter- minated with his death in 1860; the Rev. Philip B. Daly served here for a short interval, and then the Danielson parish centers were administered by the Rev. James Quinn of Moosup. On August 29, 1864, Father Quinn purchased an old Second Advent Chapel and this, the first Catholic Church in Danielson, afterwards became the transept of a larger edifice. Father Quinn secured addi- tional land of Elisha Chamberlain, July 3, 1866, enlarged the church property
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and erected the parochial residence. In September, 1869, Rev. A. Princen became resident pastor. Father Princen found it necessary to erect the sanctu- ary and vestry. On the death of Father Princen in April, 1863, the Rev. Thomas J. Preston assumed the duties, and began a notable pastorate. He remodeled and renovated the church, liquidated a $6,000 indebtedness, erected a parochial school, at an expense of $11,000, including lot which comprises 21/2 acres and was purchased March 7, 1877, of Betsy H. Ely. The parochial school was opened in September, 1889, under the conduct of the Sisters of St. Joseph. During Father Preston's administration the estimated number of parishioners was about thirteen hundred French-Canadians and about five hundred of Irish descent. Father Preston's administration closed in 1895 when St. James passed under the jurisdiction of the Missionary Fathers of Our Lady of La Salette, Hartford, with the Rev. C. F. Soquet, M. S., as pastor. In 1898, Father Soquet was succeeded by the Rev. J. P. Guinet, M. S.
ST. JAMES ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH AND RECTORY, DANIELSON
The clergy of St. James also attended one mission at Hampton, where mass was for many years celebrated every other Sunday; also at Brooklyn and Chestnut Hill once a month. The cornerstone of the Hampton church of Our Lady of Lourdes was laid on Thursday, November 15, 1877, by Bishop Golberry, during the administration of Father Princen, and with Rev. Father DeBruycker as deacon, Rev. Daniel Mullen of Norwich as sub-deacon, and Rev. Father Preston as master of ceremonies. The sermon was delivered by Rev. Father DeBruycker. An acre of ground had been given to the Catholics of Hampton for a church site by ex-Governor Cleveland. At that time, as Father O'Donnell states, there were thirty-four families in Hampton professing the Catholic faith.
During his very successful pastorate, Father J. P. Guinet was able to build
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on Franklin Street the new church at the very low figure of $24,000. The church was dedicated by Right Rev. Michael Tierney, December 16, 1900. Before the church was completed, Father Guinet built also the rectory which was later on to be occupied by the sisters. When called to Hartford to be Superior of the La Salette college, and then Provincial of the Missionary Fathers of La Sallette, he was suceeded in 1905 by Rev. C. Crozet, D. D., M. S., who completed the parochial buildings by the erection of a well-planned rectory over the site of the old convent. These four buildings, facing Franklin Street, form one of the best appointed parochial plants in the diocese and also one of the most attractive pieces of property in Danielson. In 1907 he bought from Mrs. T. Quinn a spacious piece of land for a new cemetery which was blessed October 21, 1910, by Right Rev. J. J. Nilan, D. D.
In July, 1912, Father Crozet was transferred to St. Joseph's, Fitchburg, Mass., and was replaced by Rev. M. J. Ginet, M. S., the present pastor. Owing to better labor conditions and to the hearty cooperation of the parishioners, he has been able not only to remodel the school, at a cost of over $2,000, the church, at a cost of over $3,000, to purchase a new pipe organ costing over $2,200, but also to reduce the debt from $32,500 to $6,000 at the present day. Besides, he obtained from the generosity of the Quinnebaug company a valuable corner lot adjoining the church property on the other side of Water Street for the erection of a parochial hall for which there already is a fund of over $7,000, which fund would more than pay all the church debt, had it not been set apart for that much-needed improvement, a parish hall or house where the young will find rooms for recreation and reading, the societies a home of their own and the parish a commodious hall where all may gather for recreative and social events. This move is made imperative because the present hall in the school building has to make way for class rooms to accommodate the ever- growing number of children, which actually is 450, distributed in nine class rooms, with ten sisters. The present superioress is Mother Amy Mary.
On Saturday, Sunday and Monday, October 4-6, 1919, the golden jubilee of St. James parish was celebrated with notable ceremonies. Saturday evening was the presentation of the Roman drama "Patricia;" by the children of Mary. Sunday at 10 A. M., solemn high mass was celebrated in the presence of Right Rev. J. J. Nilan, D. D., Bishop of Hartford, with the Very Rev. P. Pajot, M. S., Superior General of the Missionaries of La Salette as celebrant ; sermon in English by the Rev. John Cotter, M. S .; sermon in French by Rev. J. C. Mathieu of Wauregan. Sunday at 4:30 P. M. there was a banquet in St. James' Hall, under the auspices of St. Ann and the ladies of the U. S. St. Jean Baptist d'Amerique, and at 8 P. M. the French operette "La Fille du Sonneur de Cloches" was given by the French Children of Mary. Monday, solemn high mass of requiem for all the departed members of the parish, with the Very Rev. J. P. Guinet, M. S., as celebrant.
St. James parish has a wonderfully beautiful service flag, the loving and artistic work of three ladies of the parish, and which has the unique distinction of bearing the name of a soldier embroidered on each of its stars. St. James parish was represented in the war by 157 of its boys. Thanks to the special protection of the Sacred Heart, to whom they were consecrated, every one of the 157 soldiers returned safe home in spite of the frightful dangers to which many of them were exposed on the firing line, as well as to the terrible epidemics in camps.
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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY
ST. JOSEPH'S PARISH, GROSVENORDALE
The early Catholic, residents of the two Grosvenordales attended divine services at Putnam and Webster, Mass. The first priest to minister to their spiritual wants was the Rev. William E. Duffy, of Pascoag, R. I., who had Putnam in his jurisdiction. When Putnam received a resident pastor in Sep- tember, 1866, Thompson was attached to it as a mission, with the Rev. Eugene J. Vygen as pastor. Father Vygen purchased in 1872 twelve acres of land between Grosvenordale and North Grosvenordale, and immediately began prep- arations for the erection of a church. Having matured his plans, St. Joseph's Church, a frame structure of Gothic design, was built at an outlay of $10,000. The church was dedicated by Right Rev. Bishop McFarland, on September 29, 1872, the Rev. Father Martial, of Putnam, delivering the address.
CATHOLIC CHURCH, NORTH GROSVENORDALE
In January, 1873, St. Joseph's was elevated to the parochial dignity, having in its jurisdiction the whole town, with the exception of Mechanicsville, West Thompson and Quaduc or Quanduc. The estimated population of the parish at that time was about nine hundred souls. The first resident pastor was the Rev. H. Martial, and the lay trustees were Patrick Kelly and Louis P. Lamou- rex. Father Martial built the parochial residence in the same year, and in the year following the cemetery was blessed by Very Rev. James Hughes, V. G .. Administrator, on June 15th. Six years later the limits of the parish were extended to embrace the whole town, and Rev. A. J. Haggarty was appointed assistant. During this year the church of the Sacred Heart at West Thompson was erected, and dedicated by Bishop MeMahon. Upon the death of Father Martial the affairs of the parish were administered by Rev. Father Flannagan until February 14, 1883, when Rev. Thos. Cooney began his administration. Soon after entering upon his labors Father Cooney extended his missionary
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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY
sphere to New Boston and Quinnebaug. Mr. Eben S. Stevens, of Quinnebaug, moved by generous impulses and desirous of advancing the interests of religion, donated a piece of land for church purposes, and added $300 to this donation. The church was erected in New Boston and dedicated in honor of St. Stephen by Bishop McMahon on March 30, 1884. The edifice cost $3,000. St. Joseph's Parochial School, an attractive, substantial and commodious structure, embrac- ing also the convent and hall, was erected in 1881, at an expense of $12,000. The school was placed in charge of the Sisters of the Holy Cross and of the seven donors, and was opened for the reception of pupils on January 2, 1882. On that day 300 children presented themselves for enrollment. At present 473 pupils are taught by nine sisters whose directoress is Sister M. St. Beatrice.
The congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Cross was founded in the City of Mans, France, in 1837, by the Very Rev. Basil Moreau, C. S. C. The congre- gation is at present divided into three branches, each having a superior and a government of its own. The mother-house of the Marianites of Holy Cross is the cradle of the institution of Mans, France. The American branch has its mother-house at Notre Dame, Ind., the title of the community being Sisters of the Holy Cross.
The Canadian branch, to which the Sisters of Grosvenordale belong, has its mother-house at St. Laurent, near Montreal, and the official title of the com- munity is Sisters of the Holy Cross and of the Seven Dolors. In April, 1881, Rev. Father Martial, pastor of St. Joseph's, first broached the question of a parochial school to his parishioners. Generous subscriptions were offered imme- diately, the St. John Baptist Society, Cadets of Temperance, the Dramatic Club, and the parishioners vying with one another in their contributions. Encouraged by these marks of good will on the part of his people, Father Martial visited Montreal during the same month, and through the intervention of the bishop of that see, secured the services of six Sisters of the Holy Cross from the mother-house at St. Laurent. On his return to Grosvenordale, Father Martial began the building of the convent and school, which were completed in November of the same years. The convent is a substantial wooden structure, 48 by 39 feet, and three stories high. The school adjoins the convent, is two stories high, 98 by 29 feet, the largest portion being used as a public hall. The sisters arrived in Grosvenordale on December 21, 1881, and were cordially received by the ladies of the parish. On Sunday, Christmas Day, Mr. Joseph Magnan, at an assemblage of the parishioners, addressed the sisters in behalf of the French-Canadians, and Mr. Patrick Kelly, in behalf of the Irish mem- bers of the congregation.
Of late years the building has been enlarged and improved and the work begun by Father Martial is continued by his zealous and energetic successor, Father Cooney.
ST. JOSEPH'S PARISH, DAYVILLE
Besides Dayville, St. Joseph's parish embraces within its jurisdiction Wil- liamsville, Attawaugan and Ballouville. Dayville was formerly attached to Danielson as an out-mission, and for some years the Rev. A. Princen said mass in Sayles Hall. In 1873, St. Joseph's Church was built, and was dedicated by Very Rev. Jas. Hughes, V. G., Administrator, in May, 1875. The lot on which the church stands, containing about three acres, was donated by Sabin L. Sayles. Dayville remained a mission of Danielson until September 1, 1881,
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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY
when the Rev. Theodore Ariens was appointed first resident pastor. Father Ariens built the parochial residence, and also the Church of the Five Wounds, in Ballouville. Father Ariens served five years, when the Rev. Terrence J. Dunn was appointed his successor. On February 7, 1894, Rev. Jas. H. Fitz- maurice was appointed pastor of St. Joseph's. In 1898 the Dayville Woolen Company became a benefactor of the parish by the generous donation of a tract of land to serve as an addition to the cemetery, which had been previously given by Mr. Sales.
The site on which the Church of the Five Wounds, Ballouville, stands was presented by the Attawaugan Company.
In January, 1902, the Rev. J. H. Fitsmaurice was promoted to the pastorate of St. Mary's Church, Jewett City, and the Rev. J. J. Papillon, pastor of Volun- town and Glasgo, became pastor of St. Joseph's, Dayville, and its mission Church of the Five Wounds in Ballouville. After a very successful pastorate of eight years, he was promoted to St. Mary's, Willimantic (French), and the Rev. Joseph A. Grenier from St. Louis' Church, New Haven, became pastor of St. Joseph's and its mission on July 10, 1910. His health was delicate, and not strong enough for the arduous work and the mission. He died January 19, 1911, and is buried in Dayville Cemetery.
On the Feast of St. Joseph, March 19, 1911, the present pastor, the Rev. Ignatius Kost, took over the pastorate of St. Joseph's. He was born in Bavaria on the 10th of January, 1866, made his classical studies in Bamberg and Mün- nerstadt, his philosophical studies in St. Nicolas, Belgium, and his theological studies at the University of Louvain. He was ordained to the priesthood at the American College of Louvain on June 29, 1889. He was assistant priest in the parishes of Putnam, Willimantic, New Haven, Waterbury, Meriden and South Manchester. He afterward became pastor of St. Mary's, Meriden; St. Mary's, South Coventry, from where he was promoted to Dayville.
At his arrival, he improved the church property inside and outside, also placed a new boilerhouse in the church and, through the kindness of the Assawaga Company, obtained running water for the house and church. During his pastorate, the Goodyear Tire Company of Akron, Ohio, bought the old and rundown mill property of Williamsville, changed its name to Goodyear, put up new mills and new houses, improved the old ones, thus necessitating, on the 30th of April, 1917, the engagement of an assistant priest for Saturdays and Sundays, with two masses in Dayville and one in Ballouville on Sundays, and the engagement of the Sisters of St. Joseph, Danielson, for the teaching of catechism on Saturdays.
Dayville, and its mission, Ballouville, comprises at present 99 English- speaking, 193 French-speaking, 55 Polish, 5 Italian and 1 German, families, a total of 353 families with 800 male and 840 female, a total of 1,640 souls.
SACRED HEART PARISH, WEST THOMPSON
Mechanicsville began its existence as an independent parish on February 2, 1886, the Rev. W. E. Flannagan having been appointed by Bishop McMahon its first resident pastor. The pastoral residence was built in 1887, at an outlay of $3,000. In 1880 Mechanicsville and West Thompson were assigned as dependencies of Grosvenordale. ' In that year the Church of the Sacred Heart was built, the principal benefactor being Mr. Thomas D. Sayles, who donated the site and $500 additional to insure the inception of the edifice.
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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY
The present pastor is the Rev. James Cunningham.
Attached to West Thompson is the mission of Pomfret, Church of the Holy Trinity.
First settled in 1686, Pomfret was granted the privileges of incorporation in 1713. In this vicinity is Putnam's "Wolf Den," famous in Connecticut history as the scene of the great American's encounter with a she-wolf, in which the former was victorious.
Previous to the erection of the church, divine services were held in Pomfret Hall. A class in Christian doctrine was also conducted. Work on the construc- tion of the church was begun early in 1885, and mass was said in it for the first time on Easter Sunday, 1887. Shortly after it was dedicated.
HOLY TRINITY CHURCH, POMFRET
An efficient auxiliary to the clergy in religious and charitable work, a munificent benefactor to the parish, Mrs. Clara Thompson, a convert from the Episcopal faith, was a power for good among her co-religionists, devoted and zealous, withal prudent, enjoying the confidence and affection of all classes. She passed among them a striking example of the sweet and precious influence of the Catholic religion upon a soul who realizes its relationship with its Creator, who recognizes that, not earthly pleasure, nor preferments nor wealth, is the goal towards which man should tend, but that his destiny, a supernatural end, is the eternal possession of God, and who from a heart craving for divine love, cries out with St. Augustine : "Our hearts know no rest, O God, until they find rest in Thee."
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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY
ST. JOHN'S CHURCH, PLAINFIELD
By Rev. John H. Broderick
Previous to the coming of the Lawton Manufacturing Company in 1906, but a few families represented the adherents of the Catholic faith in the Vil- lage of Plainfield and vicinity. The Coffeys, Downings, Sullivans, Sheas, Doyles, Haydens, O'Neils and Leahys 'settled in Plainfield in the early days, and for many years attended divine service at the Moosup Church, which had the towns of Plainfield and Sterling within its parish boundaries. The opening of the Lawton mills brought with it great prosperity to the Village of Plain- field, and a large number of Catholic working people, mainly French-Canadians. Rev. John H. Broderick, then pastor of the Moosup Church, said mass for the newcomers for some months in the old Union Hall on Plainfield Streeet, and, foreseeing that the Catholic population of the village was destined to increase, purchased the present church lot on Railroad Street. The erection of the new St. John's Church was begun soon after; the corner-stone laid in 1907, and in 1909 the building was dedicated to the service of God. The following year, Father Broderick acquired the Landsome residence, formerly owned by Dr. E. H. Davis, and directly opposite the church, with the intention of having it occupied as a rectory. The Plainfield Church continued to be attended as a mission from Moosup until September, 1911, when the village was made a separate parish, with Rev. W. A. Keefe as its first resident pastor. Father Keefe did splendid work in organizing and carrying on the activities of the parish, founding the various church societies, and in paying off the entire church debt. In September, 1919, he was promoted to the pastorate of St. Mary's Church, Norwich, and was succeeded by the present incumbent, Rev. Richard P. Morrisey, who has made many improvements in the church property and is proving a capable administrator of one of the most flourishing Catholic parishes in Windham County.
EPISCOPAL CHURCHES THE STORY OF ST. PAUL'S CHURCH OF WINDHAM, CONN.
By Ida Warner MacLean
In Doctor Beardsley's "History of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut," we find the first mention of what eventually grew into St. Paul's Parish of Wind- ham. He writes that the Rev. Samuel Seabury, who was the father of Bishop Seabury, and then stationed in New London, held a service in Windham in the summer of 1735. This was apparently the initial step toward the little gray stone church which was erected just ninety-eight years later. Doctor Beardsley writes :
"Here a congregation of eighty people assembled, some of whom lingered for hours after service was closed, seeking information in regard to the church ; and having obtained it, they confessed that her doctrines had been sadly misrep- resented, and that henceforth they would have a more favorable opinion of their character and tendency."
That these stirrings of church life were not merely spasmodic, is proven by mention in the second volume of Miss Larned's "History of Windham County," of the organization of an "Episcopal Society under the auspices of the Rev.
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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY
John Tyler of Norwich, who held church service with them as often as was practicable"; also by the following letter, dated Windham, August 5, 1799, and now in the possession of descendants of the Rev. John Tyler of Norwich, Conn. :
"Rev'd Mr. Tyler, "Sir :
"We take the liberty to request you to come to Windham for the pur- pose of performing divine service on the first Sunday when it will be convenient for you. There are a considerable number of Gentlemen in this Town who join in this request, and you may be assured of a respectable audience.
"Mr. Taintor, the Bearer hereof, can more fully explain our object, and you may rely on what he says.
"We are, with sentiments of great respect
your very obt Sert
Timo. Larrabee, Zephaniah Swift John Fitch Sam'l Lee, Jr."
That Mr. Tyler responded favorably, is witnessed by a notice in the Wind- ham Herald of that year, which states that "The Rev. Mr. Elisha Abbe on Sunday, the eighteenth of August-" and once again :
"Mr. Tyler will preach at the Court House in this town on Sunday next, September first, 1799."
Volume IX, Number 461, Windham Herald of January 2, 1800, contains the following :
"The Episcopal Society meeting stands adjourned to Thursday, the ninth day of January next, at two of the clock, afternoon, of which the inhabitants of Windham, Lebanon, Mansfield, Hampton and elsewhere belonging to said So- ciety are desired to take due notice and be particular in attending, not only on account of choosing officers for the year ensuing, but other matters relating to said Society of importance. Windham, Dec. 31, 1799."
Again, under date of March 22, 1802, we find:
"The Reverend Mr. Haskell will preach at the Court House next Sunday, and Rev. Mr. Tyler the Sunday after."
"The inhabitants belonging to the Episcopal Society of the town of Wind- ham are hereby warned to meet at the Court House in Windham on Saturday the twenty-ninth inst. at two o'clock P. M. to choose Society officers and do any other business necesary to be done at said Meeting. Charles Taintor, John Fitch, Joshua Smith, Committeee.
"Windham, October 18th, 1803."
"The members of the Episcopal Society in the Town of Windham are hereby warned to meet at the Court House in said Windham on Saturday the 27th day of October, inst. 2 o'clock P. M. A general and punctual attendance is re- quested as business of importance is to be transacted at said Meeting. Charles Taintor, Joshua Smith, John Fitch.
"Windham, Oct. 23rd, 1804."
Twenty-eight years later the growth of that little "Episcopal Society" was registered in the following extract from a letter written in March, 1833, by Dr. E. S. Avery of Windham :
"Mr. Corson from Hartford, an Episcopal gentleman, preaches every Sab-
CHRIST'S MEMORIAL CHURCH (EPISCOPAL) AND RECTORY, POMFRET
TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH, BROOKLYN. DEDICATED IN 1771
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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY
bath at the Masonic Hall. Subscriptions have been raised sufficient to build an Episcopal Church ; to be built on the ground west of my office, where Edward Clark's barn stands."
Also in a statement, dated Windham, December 17, 1832.
"On this day several persons met in the Masonic Hall in Windham for the purpose of organizing an Episcopal Church to be under the Pastoral care of the Rev. L. H. Corson who had previously officiated among them for a few weeks." The paper originally drawn up, was signed by twenty-five respectable citizens. See Church Records, Page 3.
The money for this edifice was raised by selling shares of stock, and on the twenty-fifth of December, 1833, the little church was first opened for divine service, and on April 11, 1834, was consecrated by the Rt. Rev. Thomas Church Brownell, bishop of Connecticut.
The Rev. Mr. Corson remained rector of the parish until Easter, 1836, and he was succeeded in order by the reverends :
William A. Curtis,
Clayton Eddy,
Charles J. Todd,
Isaac W. Hallam,
John W. Woodward,
Richard K. Ashley,
Henry Beers Sherman,
Richard C. Searing,
Giles H. Deshon,
Henry B. Jefferson,
Abel Nickols,
Abel Ogden,
George Buck, Edgar L. Sanford,
.Joseph Brewster,
Henry Macbeth,
Henry Edwards,
Richard D. Hatch,
Sanford J. Horton,
John H. Anketell,
Alfred Houghton Stubbs,
J. H. Townsend, Charles Lawrence Adams, Walter Frederic Borchert.
The Ladies' Benevolent Society of St. Paul's Church, Windham, Conn., was organized September, 1833, with a president, three vice presidents, a sec- retary and treasurer. There were thirty-seven charter members, and their source of income depended entirely upon the personal efforts of those members; varying each year with the necessities which arose.
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