USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Meriden > An historic record and pictorial description of the town of Meriden, Connecticut and men who have made it > Part 53
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Although from this parish have sprung, directly or otherwise, all the several different parishes now con- tained in the town of Meriden, it still possesses 3,200 individuals and main- tains an attendance at the parochial school of 700 registered children.
Rev. John Cooney, the present rec- tor was born in the County of Armagh, Ireland, in, February, 1841. After ob- taining his early education in his native town, he studied for the priesthood in the American College; Lourain, Bel- gium, where in 1867 he was ordained by Cardinal Sterks. After his ordina- tion he came to this country and was appointed curate at St. Peter's Church in Hartford, where he remained for two and a half years. He was then transferred to St. Patrick's Church in Valley Falls, R. I., where he con- tinued to serve as pastor until 1871, when he was appointed pastor of St. Patrick's Church, Thompsonville, Conn., where under his direction both a parochial school and a rectory were built. In 1878 after a successful pas- torate at Thompsonville, he was ap- pointed rector of St. John's Parish, New Haven, where he remained for ten years. His next charge was at Colchester, Conn., where he remained for eight years, and during his ser- vice there he built a church in the neighboring town of Fitchville, and
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a parochial school, which territory was contained in his parish. During his residence in Colchester, he also serv- ed as a member of the school board. In 1896 he became rector of St. Ber- nard's Church at Rockville, Conn., where he remained for four years, and during his pastorate there a large debt was considerably reduced. Since coming to Meriden, thirty-five acres adjoining Sacred Heart Cemetery have been added to the church proper- ty. Father Cooney has two assist- ants, Rev. L. A. Guinan, a native of Hartford, who has been attached to the present parish since 1895; Rev. J. J. McGivney, a native of Water- bury, was one of the curates at this church until 1891 when he became one of the Connecticut apostles and joined the mission band. He was suc- ceeded by Rev. John A. Conlon, a native of New Haven.
ST. LAURENT'S CHURCH.
The first assemblage of the French- Canadian Roman Catholics of Meri- den took place at the Young Men's Christian Association hall, June 2, 1880. As may be readily assumed the object of this first mass meeting of the French-Canadians was the formation of a new parish. Two hundred men were present with the result that a president and secretary were chosen and the fol- lowing committee of organization was named, R. T. Chalifoux and L. Morrisseau, trustees ; advisory
board, N. Anger, R. Dessureau, D. Dolbec, Joseph Chalifoux and N. Lisee, according to the statutes of the diocese and becoming incorpor- ated under the laws of the state. The formation of the parish is consider- ed, however, to date from June 6, 1880, the Sunday following the first mass meeting, at which time Rev. A. van Oppen took charge of the par- ish, which then included not only the French, but the German, Polish and the Italian Catholics of Meriden. The parish was formed with some mis- givings even then in regard to num- bers, though the different collectors who had finished taking a census reported 1,150 individuals of the French speaking population. These serious doubts were entertained ow- ing to the previous efforts to form a parish having proved futile. The French-Canadians, however, in- spired by the presence of a rector of their own, made up their minds that it was then or never that the enterprise was to be assured. The first subscription of $100 was made with the understanding that the money should be refunded if the project failed but the sum of $3,500 was quickly subscribed. This fund was swelled to the extent of $600 by St. Jean the Baptiste Society, who thus came to the aid of the new parish.
On Palm Sunday, April 10, 1881, services were first held in the base- ment of the present St. Laurent's Church and were largely attended, Bishop Laurent McMahon, for
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ST. LAURENT'S CHURCH.
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whom the church was named, being one of the several notables present. On that day the first mass was cele- brated by Rev. F. de Bruycker, and sermons were preached in English by Mgr. Shanahan, Bishop of Har- risburg and in the French language by Rev. L. G. Gagnier of Springfield who was then and is still the oldest French missionary in New England.
Photo by Akers & Pigeon. REV. A. VAN OPPEN.
During this service, which was long to be remembered by those who at- tended, the parish was named.
The building of the superstructure was commenced by Father van Oppen in 1886 and the contract, involving an expenditure of $30,000 was let. Upon the completion of the edifice a solemn dedication took place Nov. 4, 1888, and
this became a notable event in the history of the church; and then the bishop of the diocese and many visiting clergymen of the faith were also pres- ent. In 1882 St. Laurent's church ac- quired its first rectory which was pur- chased at a cost of $6,000, but that, since the completion of the present rec- tory, finished in 1892, has been occu- pied as a convent by the Sisters of the Assumption, whose headquarters are at Nicolet, P. Q. Since that date these sisters have conducted a paroch- ial school, where the different branches have been taught by them, and the French language has also been pro- pagated. The school was first con- ducted in the basement of the church, but in recent years a handsome school house has been erected by the parish at the cost of $10,000 and some- what concerning it is stated in the article by William P. Kelly on Meriden's educational institu- tions, in one of the following pages. On March 13, 1900 the deeds of St. Laurent's Cemetery were passed to the church by M. J. Rodier and W. L. Henreux, and the French cemetery in the Hanover District was opened at once.
The present total value of St. Laurent's Church property is $105,- 000, and the lay trustees of the corporation are Dr. A. S. Alain and Zotique J. St. Cyr. At the present writing there are 1,850 parishioners. In June 1905, the parish celebrated its silver jubilee.
Rev. A. van Oppen, whose ser- vice as rector of St. Laurent's
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Church parish covers a period of twenty-six years, is a man of schol- arly attainments, speaks several lan- guages fluently, and is a native of Holland. He was born in Heerlen Kingdom of Holland, and studied for the American missions at the American College of Lourain, Bel- gium, emigrating to the United States in November, 1875. His first
ent parish, but those of other nation- alities, who, under his spiritual guidance and encouragement have been enabled to form other parishes in Meriden. St. Laurent's Church is of French Gothic architecture and has been minus a completed steeple, but this, a spire extending skyward over 160 feet, will be finished in the comparatively near future.
Photo by R. S. Godfrey.
HOLY ANGELS' CHURCH AND RECTORY.
charge was at Windsor Locks, CHURCH where he served as curate, after- wards at the church at Putnam, Conn. His extended pastorate in Meriden has been a great blessing to his parishioners. The growth of the parish speaks volumes for his favor- able work, and he is much beloved not only by the members of his pres-
OF THE HOLY ANGELS.
This attractive suburban church of the Roman Catholic denomina- tion is an offshoot of St. Rose's par- ish. The church was built under the pastorate of Rev. Paul F. Mc- Alenney as a mission church to
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accommodate the members of his parish residing in South Meriden, Tracy and Yalesville and who had found the distance too great from their homes to attend, very frequent- ly, the services at St. Rose's church on Center street. The first pastor appointed was Rev. R. F. Moore, A. M., and during the following year adjoining land was purchased and the present church rectory built.
the same, 350 individuals, since the first year after the church was built. The parish became inde- pendent of the mother parish in 1888 and since that time has been entirely self supporting. In 1896 Rev. Fr. Moore removed to New Britain and became pastor of St. Joseph's church, leaving behind him the affec- tionate regard and respect of his parishioners. He was succeeded as
Photo by R. S. Godfrey.
ST. MARY'S CHURCH.
This church property is now valued at about $12,000 and at this writing there remains a debt of $1,500 which is gradually being reduced. As the church of the Holy. Angels is the only church of its denomination be- tween Meriden and Wallingford, its services became well attend- ed from the first but its mem- bership has remained approximately
rector by Rev. Patrick Byrne, who came to the South Meriden church from Thomaston where he had been previously located. He remained pastor for a period of two years and then went to New Canaan, Conn. Rev. Thomas Cronan became the next pastor, also remaining two years when he went to New Milford. The present pastor, Rev. James W. Cunningham,
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came to South Meriden from West Thompson, after having been pre- viously connected with a church at Putnam, Conn., and he has met here with the hearty support of a loyal peo- ple in ministering to their spiritual wants and by whom he is held in high regard.
ST. MARY'S GERMAN ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.
This parish of the Roman church, and in which is propagated the Ger- man language, was established in Meriden by Bishop McMahon of Hartford, and was organized March 12, 1890. At that time services in the German tongue were held in the basement of St. Laurent's Church, where services in the French lan- guage were also held, as they were before that time and have been since. Previous to that date there were several German families of the Rom- an Catholic faith in Meriden, but it was not until the Rev. Ignatius Kost was appointed rector of the new parish that the Germans of this faith became united to any considerable extent.
Under Father Kost money suffi- cient to begin the erection of the present church edifice was raised, and this was dedicated Dec. 6, 1891. The church is a wooden structure and comprises both a place of wor- ship and a school, the latter being opened in 1896, and in which at the present writing 220 pupils are taught in German by four Sisters of Mercy.
The entire parish comprises about 250 families or approximately 1,250 individuals. The church is incor- porated and owns all of its property without incumbrance. The lay trustees of the corporation are Paul T. Saleski and John Kopske, Sr.
Since the church was built there has been acquired an adjoining par- sonage and additional land, the latter
Photo by Akers & Pigeon.
REV. N. F. X. SCHNEIDER.
fronting on Grove street, upon which a new and permanent church edifice may be erected at some future time, there being in the hands of the present rector, Rev. Nicholas F. X. Schnei- der, the nucleus of a necessary fund, or about $3,000. The present rector of the church assumed his charge after having served as assist-
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ant pastor at New Britain. He is said to be held in high regard by his parishioners.
THE CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL.
This house of worship at which the Italian residents of the Roman Catholic faith of Meriden receive their spiritual food was erected in 1894. The church, which is located on Goodwill avenue, on the boarder of the Italian district of Meriden, is shown in the accom- panying illustration. Before the formation of the present parish the Italians of Meriden attended princi- pally the St. Laurent's Church on Camp street, but to that church their attendance was not entirely confin- ed. The creation of the parish was a source of much spiritual comfort to the sons of Italy and gradually it has grown in membership until at the present writing it numbers ac- cording to the figures of the present pastor, about 2,200 souls. The church property consists in 1906 of the church edifice only, which was dedicated in 1894 and valued at $4,- 500, and upon which $1,200 was ex- pended in 1905-6 in repairs and improvements. The parish is incor- porated under the laws of the state and the lay trustees are Leonordo Suzio and Pasquale Iannetti. The Sunday school is conducted by the Sisters of Mercy from St. Bridget's Convent, but the parochial day school is yet a thing of the future.
The different rectors of the parish have been as follows: Father Mor- elli, under whose pastorate the church was built; Rev. Antonio de Falco, Victorio Sarilla,, Father Mc- Laughlin, who though of Irish birth also spoke Italian, and the present pastor, Rev. Antonio DeSimone,
Photo by Akers & Pigeon.
OUR LADY OF MT. CARMEL CHURCH.
who was appointed rector of the parish and commenced his duties as such April 2, 1905. Father DeSim- one has accomplished much for the parish in a comparatively short time, and receives the undivided sup- port of his parishioners. He is a
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man of gentle manners and sympa- thetic nature, and the worshippers at his church hold him in affectionate regard. He was born at Caiazzo, Province of Casserta, Italy, April 13, 1871 and was educated for the priesthood at the seminary in his native town, where he was also or- dained in 1894, and was first a cur- ate at the Church of San Giovanni e Paolo. In 1903 he emigrated to this
Photo by Akers & Pigeon. REV. A. DE SIMONE.
country and was appointed one of the assistants at the cathedral at Albany, N. Y., and during his two years' service there he looked after the spiritual wants of the Italians of the capitol city of the Empire state.
ST. JOSEPH'S CHURCH.
This now thriving parish of the Roman Catholic church was orga- nized in October, 1901, and is an off- spring of St. Rose's parish, having been made a parish by itself by Bishop Tierney of Hartford. The first services were held in the little chapel on West Main, near the cor- ner of Butler street, formerly occu- pied by the Trinity Methodist Church, but which had for some time been used as a chapel of ease by the mother parish. Rev. John T. Lynch, to the good fortune of the parishioners, was made first pastor, and under his leadership it has thriv- ed and prospered, and now com- prises 2,700 souls. The territory set off for St. Joseph's parish comprised that part of Meriden west of the N. Y., N. H., & H. Railroad. Almost immediately after the appointment of a rector, the little chapel where services were first held became overtaxed, and plans were formulated for a new church.
The committee appointed for that purpose was made up of the follow- ing : John A. Hurley, Roger Crough, William Lewis, Michael Keating, M. F. Fitzgerald, M. G. Reynolds, Henry Cashen, Chas. McGuire, John McWeeney, Cornelius J. Dan- aher, John F. Butler, Wm. B. Cashen, J. J. McMahon, John T. McLoughlin and M. F. Morrissey. The first lay trustees of the corpo- ration were John A. Hurley and C.
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J. Danaher, but after the former's removal from the city, he was suc- ceeded by John McWeeney. In 1902 the new parish became pos- sessed of a most desirable location for the new church and a proposed
residence and adjoining buildings on the property was immediately begun, and the foundation for the new church, as yet uncompleted, was started, the corner stone of which was laid on October 12,
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ST. JOSEPH'S CHURCH.
new rectory, in a section of the old Goodwill homestead property, and now bounded by West Main street, Goodwill and Lewis avenues. The work of tearing down the historic
1902. The basement chapel was com- pleted in March, 1903, and since that date services have been there held. The completion of the church entire was postponed by
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Father Lynch to avoid heavy inter- est on money that would have been necessary for the work. Fr. Lynch originally planned to spend $70,000 on the new church, but when the auditorium is finished,
Photo by Akers & Pigeon. REV. JOHN T. LYNCH.
which it bids fair to be at no dis- tant date. a sum somewhat in excess of that amount will have represent- ed the cost of the fully completed edifice.
Since the new church became occupied, the little chapel, which is also owned by the corporation, was converted into a parochial school of five rooms, where studies from the first to the sixth grades have since been taught to about 260 children of the parish, by five Sisters of Mercy
from St. Bridget's convent. Another acquisition of the new parish is a lot on North First street and North Avenue, which comprises a most desirable location for church pur- poses. After the completion of St. Joseph's church, the building of a rectory will be begun and this will be situated in the rear of the church in the comparatively near future.
St. Joseph's parish has now, be- sides its regular pastor, two assist- ants, Rev. John F. Donohue. a na-
Photo by Akers & Pigeon.
REV. JOHN F. DONOHUE.
tive of Litchfield, and Rev. Wm. J. Judge, who was born and brought up in Hartford. Rev. Father Lynch, in addition to presiding over his parish, with his assistants, looks
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after the spiritual needs of the Cath- olic inmates of the Conn. School for Boys. The Sunday school of St. Joseph's Church comprises about 500 members. An idea of the growth of the parish can be gained when it is stated that during the month of April, 1906, mission services held there attracted as many as 1,000 men at each service held for them, and a
Photo by Akers & Pigeon.
REV. WILLIAM J. JUDGE.
larger number of women during the women's mission.
Rev. John T. Lynch was born in Waterbury, January 24, 1857, and was educated in the public schools of Ansonia, and the Collegiate and Theological departments of Niagara University, being ordained June 19, I886. He began his career as a
clergyman as assistant at St. John's church, Stamford, and was after- wards transferred to St. Peter's Church, Hartford, where he remain- ed for a period of ten years. When a
new parish was formed at Wethersfield, he became its first rector, and while located there re- modeled the church and bought the land upon which he built a rectory. During his pastorate at Wethers- field and while connected with St. Peter's Church, Hartford, he served as chaplain at the Connecticut State Prison. Since coming to Meriden his tireless work has resulted in the remarkable growth of the parish and large acquisitions of church property in a comparatively short time. He is greatly beloved and respected by his parishioners and is also held in high regard in the community.
ST. PAUL'S UNIVERSALIST CHURCH.
One of the more imposing houses of worship in Meriden is St. Paul's Universalist Church, a handsome structure from an architectural point of view, the corner stone of which was laid in 1891, the dedication taking place September 27, 1893. The present edifice was erected dur- ing the pastorate of Rev. W. S. Perkins, D. D., at an approximate cost of $100,000, the late Isaac C. Lewis, who in later years was for a considerable time superintend- ent of the Sunday school, being one
m N se m pr th an los
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of the large contributors, not only to the building itself, but presenting the set of chimes which, from the church tower, have in tuneful peals ever since resounded for the benefit of the citizens of the town and vicinity.
The Universalist society was organ- ized May 30, 1854, but previous to that
eroy, Calvin Coe, E. E. Smiley, Wm. H. Golden, John S. Blake, Moses Waterman, Isaac C. Lewis, J. V. Thayer, B. F. Stevens, Edwin Day- ton, Monroe Barnes, John L. Ives, B. R. Stevens, H. E. Welton, James T. Pomeroy, E. R. Aspinwall, John C. Marion, J. U. Foster, Charles
Photo by R. S. Godfrey. ST. PAUL'S UNIVERSALIST CHURCH.
meetings were held at the house of Noah Pomeroy, where also the first sermon in Meriden by a Universalist minister, Rev. Mr. Brooks was preached. Rev. James Gallager was the first regular pastor of the society, and signed to the constitution the fol- lowing names are found: Noah Pom- I3
Pomeroy, N. W. Pomeroy, Phillip S. Pelton, P. S. Bliss, jr., Silas Gladwin, G. E. Leonard, Aaron Gardner and J. P. Lewis.
In April, 1855, the society had become increased by thirteen mem- bers, but it was not until December 5, 1860, that the first edifice was
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erected and dedicated. The build- ing committee of this first Univer- salist church was composed of Dr. T. F. Davis, Isaac C. Lewis, Silas Gladwin, Moses Waterman and Robert Hoadley. The whole cost
REV. J. H. CHAPIN, PH. D.
of the first building including car- pets and furnishings was $9,214.18 and at the time of the dedication the church had a debt of $4,432.46. It is said that of the sixty-six per- sons who contributed to the erection of the first Universalist church, but forty-eight of them were avowed Universalists.
This church, a wooden structure of unprepossessing appearance, stood where St. Paul's church now stands, fronting on Norwood street, but was
moved to the northeast corner of Lib- erty and Norwood streets when the erection of the new church was be- gun and services were continued there until the present church was com- pleted. Since the winter of 1904, when the town hall was destroyed by fire, the old church building has been occupied as a temporary town hall, and used for both town and city offices, as it is at this writing.
Rev. Frederick Foster was the first pastor to occupy that pulpit, and he
REV. J. HARRY HOLDEN.
was followed, Nov. 1, 1862, by Rev. J. H. Farnsworth, who presided over the flock for seven years and placed the society on a permanent basis, for dur- ing his pastorate and with thirty-six members the church became perma-
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nently organized, June 20, 1863. Rev. Martin J. Steere became the next settled pastor becoming located here in 1869, and remaining until 1873, when the late Rev. James Henry Chapin, Ph. D., was secured. Dr. Chapin resigned on account of protracted ill health in 1885, and dur- ing his pastorate 149 persons received the right hand of fellowship and 148 children were baptized. During his pastorate also a new organ, one of the finest in the city, was placed in the church at a cost of $4,000. Dr. Chapin was a scholarly man who exerted a great influence in the com- munity. He showed a profound interest in educational and philan- thropic matters. He was succeeded by Rev. C. A. Knickerbocker, also an effective preacher and whose pastorate was marked by increasing congregations, and during the four years of his ministry the question of a new church was first agitated.
Rev. W. S. Perkins, D. D., followed Rev. Mr. Kickerbocker as the next settled pastor and his ministry in Mer- iden exceeded in length of service that of any other man in the history of the church. Dr. Perkins was a strong preacher and possessed a kind and sympathetic nature, and during his successful pastorate many new mem- bers were received into the church. His work in the cause of Universalism resulted in a continued growth of the church and he will be long remem- bered by the people of the town.
The parish at the present writing has a membership of about 300 and
possesses a Sunday school of 200. Rev. J. Harry Holden was installed as pastor succeeding the Rev. Mr. Perkins as regular pastor, May I, 1903. He was born at Middlesex, Vt., March 18, 1861, was educated at Goddard Seminary, afterward tak- ing a course at the Academic De- partment of Tufts College, from which he received the degrees of A. B., B. D., and A. M., and where he later studied for the ministry. graduating in theology in 1888. His first pastorate was at Amherst, Mass. He afterwards went to At- tleboro, Mass., and after presiding over the church there for some years accepted the call to St. Paul's Universalist Church. While at Am- herst, Mr. Holden, in addition to his pastoral duties, served as super- intendent of schools, and at Attle- "oro was for four years a member of the school board. He is a mem- ber and chaplain of Meridian Lodge 77, A. F., & A. M., and has become a prominent figure in the promotion of Universalism and social life in Meriden.
He was married in South Boston, Mass., June II, 1889 to Grace Lucas and they have four children as follows : Charlotte, Kathryn, James Henry and Kenneth Winslow Holden.
ST. JOHN'S GERMAN EVAN- GELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH.
This, the mother church of the evangelical Lutheran denomination in Meriden, was organized in the
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ST. JOHN'S GERMAN LUTHERAN CHURCH.
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court room of the town hall, on Nov. 6, 1865. The first service at which a sermon was delivered by a pastor, was held December 25, the same year in the old Episcopal Church on South Broad street. The first pastor of this church society was Rev. G. Guericke, but he resigned the following year and returned to Germany. The second pastor, Rev.
REV. S. F. GLASER.
G. A. Schmidt, of Utica, N. Y., arrived in Meriden Oct. 1, 1866, but was not installed until the first church edifice, which had been for some time in the process of con- struction, was dedicated, March 5, 1867. Rev. C. A. Graeber, the next pastor, and who came here from Rockville, was installed August 22,
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