USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Hartford > History of the diocese of Hartford > Part 36
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The present pastor, the Rev. Thomas Smith, began his pastorate on Sep- tember II, 1879. For well-nigh a score of years lie has labored faithfully to promote the interests entrusted to him. He introduced the Sisters of Mercy froin Middletown, having fitted up the old church for school purposes, and secured the handsome and spacious convent property at an outlay of $9, 500. A lot on Greenwich avenue has been added to the real estate already possessed by the parish. The grounds about the rectory and churchi have been beauti- fied and improved by macadam driveways. In 1884 Father Smith had the church handsomely decorated. St. Mary's church is 107 feet in length and 49 feet in width, and is a frame building.
St. Mary's school was opened with 150 pupils; 204 are now in attend- ance. There are six grades, with four teachers, whose Directress is Sister M. Philomena. The school maintains a high standard, and its graduates readily pass the required examinations for admission to the Town Academy.
The clergy who have served as assistants to Father Smith are : Rev. Thomas Cronin, Rev. Thomas Maloney, and Rev. John Lee. The present assistant is the Rev. T. W. Dolan.
ST. ALOYSIUS' PARISH, NEW CANAAN.
HE incorporation of New Canaan as a town occurred in 1801. Its Catli- olic history dates fromn 1855, when the first Mass was said here by Rev. 0 Father O'Reilly, of Norwalk, in a building on Main street, now occu- pied by the grocery of Thomas Fairty. Mass was said also in a hall and subse- quently in the Town hall by the Rev. Dr. Mulligan at intervals from 1859 to 1862.
The present church was erected in 1863 by the Rev. Peter A. Smith, pastor of St. Mary's parish, Norwalk. It was thoroughly renovated both exteriorly and interiorly, and new altars erected by the Rev. W. J. Slocum during his administration at Norwalk. Priests from Norwalk attended New Canaan regularly every Sunday until May, 1896, when the parochial dignity was conferred upon it by Bishop Tierney, who appointed the Rev. Jolin T. McMahon the first resident pastor. Father McMahon remained here about four months. He had secured a lot for a parochial residence, but was trans- ferred before liis designs were realized. His successor was the Rev. Thomas Kelly, whose pastorate of two years was crowned with great success. Upon his promotion to New Milford, lie was followed by the present pastor, tlie Rev. P. Byrne.
Wlien the first Mass was said in New Canaan in 1855, there were about thirty Irisli Catholics in town. At present they number 250 Irish and about forty Italians, Poles and Slavonians.
II-18
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THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN NEW ENGLAND).
'In 1896 and 1897 there were twenty-six baptisms and six marriages. The first child born after the formation of the parish was Mary Kelly, daugh- ter of James and Catherine Kelly, and the first to receive baptism was Maur- ice Corrigan, son of Joseph and Rose Corrigan. On July 22, 1896, the first marriage was solemnized between Thomas E. Donnillon and Mary Teresa Scott.
ST. ROSE'S PARISH,
NEWTOWN.
HE ancient Indian name of Newtown was Pohtatuck. The town was incorporated and received its present name in 1708. The first Catho- lics to reside in Newtown came, not voluntarily, forty-eight years after ; they were four Acadians, who were billeted on the town by Act of the General Assembly, January, 1756. The records are silent as to their fate. Perhaps they were among the 240 fortunate exiles who gathered at Norwich in 1767, and were carried to Quebec in the brig " Pitt." But if they remained they and their descendants lived and died without the consoling ministra- tions of anointed priests.
In 1781 the French army, under the Count Rochambeau, encamped at Newtown on its march from Providence to the Hudson in 1781. They remained here from June 28th to July Ist, and as the latter date fell on Sun- day, it may be averred that one or more of the chaplains offered up the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass on that day.
Statements as to the time and celebrant of the first Mass in Newtown vary. Some are certain that the Divine Mysteries were offered here for the first time by Rev. James Smythe, one of the pioneers of the diocese, in 1841, while others contend for six years later. According to the adherents of this latter view, the first Mass was said in Peter Leary's house, which stands now near the Newtown depot on the N. Y. N. H. & H. R. R., and that Rev. Jolin Brady was the celebrant. The first Catholics to establishi homes in Newtown were Michael Leary, Peter Leary, John Cavanagh, Patrick Cavanagh, James Carley, William Griffin, Andrew Egan, Daniel Quinlivan, Thomas Bradley, Bernard Donlan, Richard Reilly, Patrick Gaffney.
The first resident pastor of Newtown was the Rev. Francis Lenihan, who organized the parish on August 1, 1859. Previous to the appointment of Father Lenihan Newtown was served by priests fromn Danbury. Father Lenihan purchased the first cemetery ; but it was not blessed until the pastor- ate of his successor, the Rev. James Daly, who came here in March, 1862. Father Daly served the parish six years, leaving in July, 1868. Rev. John Rogers then became pastor on July 22, 1868, and remained until July, 1873. His successor was Rev. James McCarten, who came about August 1, 1873, and died in January, 1889. The present church was erected during his pastorate in 1882. The corner-stone was laid in May of that year by Bishop McMahon, and the sermon was preached by Rev. Lawrence Walsh. The old church had been a Universalist meeting-house and was purchased by Rev. John Smith about 1858. It was 38 x 48, but an addition enlarged it to 38 x 78. Rev.
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DIOCESE OF HARTFORD.
Patrick Donahoe followed Father MeCarten in January, 1889, and remained until February, 1891. The present incumbent, Rev. P. Fox, became pastor on February 13, 1891. In 1896 Father Fox built the parochial school at Sandy Hook. The corner-stone was laid on June 9th by Very Rev. John A. Mulcahy, V.G., in the absence of Bishop Tierney, who was in Rome on his ad limina visit. The sermon was preached by Rev. W. Rogers, of Stamford. The new cemetery was also purchased during Father Fox's pastorate, May 16, 1891. It was blessed by Very Rev. James Hughes, V. G., the Rev. William Maher, D.D., preaching the sermon.
St. Rose's parochial school opened with 125 pupils. It has now 173, with nine grades, taught by six Sisters of Mercy, whose superior is Sister M. Berelimans.
The elergy who have served Newtown as assistants are: Rev. Thomas Mullin, Rev. W. Gibbons, Rev. M. Cray, Rev. M. MeCarten, Rev. D. J. Kennedy, Rev. J. J. Loftus, Rev. C. Brady, Rev. P. Daly. The present assist- ant is Rev. Terenee Smith.
The number of Catholies present at the first Mass was about twelve; when the church was bought by Father Smith the number had inereased to 100. The present population of the parish is about 1300, all Irish and their descendants.
The first marriage solemnized in Newtown, of which there is record, was that between Jeremiah Cavan and Bridget Hayes, November 4, 1860. The first baptism was that of Charles English, son of William English and Bridget O'Connell, August 2, 1859.
Father Fox and his assistant attend also St. Stephen's church at Stepney twice a month. The church was erected in 1890 by Rev. P. Donahoe. There are about forty souls here and this number is decreasing.
Andrew Egan and brothers are numbered by the grateful parishioners as benefactors of St. Rose's parish.
ST. JOHN'S PARISH, NOROTON.
MONG the earliest settlers of this mission we may enumerate those who bore the following names : Corrigan, Everett, Kane, Rulihan, Gaffney, Stark, Waterbury, Conboy, Seely, Sheridan, Reilly, Fla- herty, Canovan and Wood. Prior to 1888, the Catholies of Noro- ton went to Stamford to Mass. In that year, permission was asked and obtained to celebrate the Divine Mysteries at the Soldiers' Home, as there were many Catholic veterans, inmates of the institution. A meeting was subsequently held at the Home of the Catholics of Noroton, both resident and visiting. Great enthusiasm prevailed, and it was the sense of the incet- ing that a churchi be erected. Accordingly a committee consisting of Rev. William Rogers, Mr. John D. Crimmins and Mr. H. W. Collender, were ap- pointed to carry the work to completion.
A beautiful site of four acres was purchased by Father Rogers from Mr. Francis S. Fitch, for which he paid $5,500; with the land was secured also a
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THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN NEW ENGLAND.
house. The property is among the finest in the town and overlooks Long Island Sound.
On August 29th, 1888, ground was broken and the corner-stone laid on November 29th, of the same year by Bishop McMahon. The Rev. Dr. Hig- gins, O. P., preached the sermon. The beautiful little church was dedicated on December 15th, 1889, by the above prelate. The discourse on the occa- sion was pronounced by the Rev. Jeremiah Curtin.
Noroton remained under the jurisdiction of Stamford, Father Rogers, pastor, until May Ist, 1895, when the Rev. Timothy M. O'Brien was ap- pointed the first resident pastor. When the parish was formed it contained about 250 souls, Irish and Americans ; at present it has about 300, with a few German and Hungarian families. From May Ist, 1895, to 1898, there were forty-five baptisms and twelve marriages.
The permanent Catholic population of Noroton is in character much the same as that which is found generally in rural districts throughout the State, and while a large proportion are in comfortable circumstances, there are none who are wealthy. However, there are in Noroton a number of country homes owned or occupied by wealthy families from New York. These families reside here from four to six months in the year. Attached to the households of the non-Catholic residents in one capacity or another is a goodly number of Catholics, and as a class they deserve recognition, not only as augmenting the congregation for a period of time, but as edifying it by their devotion, and as materially assisting it by their generosity.
St. John's parish is blessed with a number of benefactors, who manifest their interest in the church by their generous contributions; among them mention should be made of Messrs. John D. Crimmins, H. W. Collender, Wil- liam Rulihan, William Everett, Michael Kane and Felix A. Mulgrew.
The church, which is a handsome structure, is 75 in length and 40 in width, and has accommodations for 350 persons.
Though among the small parishes of the diocese, St. John's is among the most progressive and successful. Co-operation and Unity express the spirit that pervades the parish.
ST. MARY'S PARISH,
NORWALK.
HE honor of being the first Catholics to settle in Norwalk belongs to Michael Cooney and family, who came from New York in May, 1828. Mr. Cooney was a hat dyer and lived near the dock on the east side of Water street. William Donahoe followed with his family of six persons, in 1829. He was a chandler by occupation and remained in Norwalk until 1832, returning to New York. Clement Burns then came and boarded with Mr. Cooney. He was a potter and a stanch Catholic. Four years after Mr. Cooney's appearance here tlie family of Farrell Gillooly and a family, Brennan by name, arrived. Then followed in succession the family of Paul Bresnan and the families of James, John and Edmund Conners.
The Rev. James McDerimot, pastor of New Haven said the first Mass
REV. TIMOTHY R. SWEENEY.
REV. JOHN J. FITZGERALD.
REV. JOHN J. FURLONG, P. R.
REV. THOMAS FINN.
REV. D. J. O'CONNOR.
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DIOCESE OF HARTFORD.
offered up in Norwalk, in 1833, at the residence of Michael Cooney. Father McDermot visited Norwalk semi-annually until his transfer to Lowell in 1837, each time celebrating Mass in the front room of Mr. Cooney's house. "Here he met and preached to those poor, hard-working pioneers of our faith, numbering in all about twenty-five persons, at his first coming ; he was cheered by their hearty welcome and encouraged on his long and weary mis- sion in the heart of Puritanism by their fervent faith."
The next priest to visit Norwalk was the Rev. James Smyth of New Haven. During his visits here, he said Mass at Mr. Cooney's house, in the basement of George F. Belden's tin-store, and at the residence of Lawrence Martin, on the Newtown turnpike. Afterwards when Mr. Martin had re- moved to Five Mile River, Father Smyth said Mass in his house there, four or five times.
When Rev. Michael Lynch was given charge of Bridgeport, in 1844, he assumed jurisdiction also over Norwalk and neighboring places. His first Mass here was said in the house of Brian Mahoney, at the foot of Mill hill, on Wall street, and the second, in the summer of 1844, in a large tenement house, occupied by John Connors, John Kelly and two other families on River street. At this second Mass there were present about seventy-five per- sons. Possessing superior accommodations to other houses occupied by the Catholics, Mass was said here frequently afterwards.
In 1848, a committee, comprising Paul Bresnan, John Hanlon, John Foley, Terrence Reynolds and Farrell Gillooly, was appointed to present a petition to Bishop Tyler for a resident priest. The good Catholic spirit manifested by the petitioners in their letter impressed the Bishop so favorably that he visited Norwalk, said Mass in Marine hall or the Town House, and delighted them with the assurance that he would in the near future send them a priest. Accordingly he appointed the Rev. John Brady to Norwalk with Stamford and other places in the neighborhood as dependencies. The construction of the New York and New Haven Railroad had brought a goodly increase to the original number of Catholics and for their accommo- dation, Father Brady secured gratis the use of the Town hall for divine services. Before this Mass was said at intervals of four months ; now it was said semi-monthly. Father Brady began almost immediately upon his ar- rival to make preparations to provide his rapidly increasing congregation with a church. A site was purchased by Terrence Reynolds from a Mr. Bailey, on Chapel street, and a church 36 x 40 immediately commenced. Both Protestants and Catholics contributed generously to the erection of the edifice. An anecdote will illustrate the feelings of good-will that prevailed among all classes. "Paul Bresnan and Terrence Reynolds were appointed the committee to solicit from non-Catholics. The most influential man in town was the Rev. Dr. Mead, of St. Paul's Episcopal church. 'He must be got to lead the list with his name,' said the committee ; so to him they went, and after making their business known, Dr. Mead, who knew the inen very well, said : 'Paul, how is it you come to me first; why not go to the Con- gregational minister, Dr. Hall?' Paul, who was never known to be out-
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THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN NEW ENGLAND.
witted, promptly replied : 'Well, Doctor, we know you to be an off-shoot from the parent stock.' The Doctor took the list and headed it generously and was followed by Dr. Hall and many of the most influential citizens of the town." The church was completed in 1851, and on January 28th, of that year, it was dedicated by Bishop O'Reilly. Of this event, the bishop thus wrote in his Journal : " 1851, January 28th. Made the visitation of St. Mary's church, Norwalk, confirined about twenty and preached twice. These churches (St. John's, Stamford and St. Mary's, Norwalk) were built by Rev. John C. Brady ; are in debt each about $1,000, but I was pleased with his efforts." Father Brady's residence was on the "Cove Road," near Stamford. In 1852, Rev. Father Kelly was assigned to Norwalk as assistant, and there- after Mass was said there every Sunday.
In 1853 Father Brady was succeeded by the Rev. E. C. Cooney, but he remained only until March, 1854. Old residents remember him as especially zealous in promoting the cause of temperance. Following Father Cooney came the Rev. Hugh O'Reilly, whose pastorate lasted five years. His first work was the erection of a school, over which he placed Mr. and Mrs. Hes- sion ; but, owing to the great distance and many of the children being obliged to walk, it was soon discontinued. The school was in the rear of the church. Father O'Reilly enlarged the church by an addition of forty feet, and pur- chased the pastoral residence on Chapel street, known in later years as the " Eldridge Brown House."
Father O'Reilly's pastorate occurred during the years that the Know- Nothing element was triumphant in the State. They manifested their insen- sate hostility by setting the church on fire, and at another time by sawing off the gilded cross that surmounted the church. In 1858 Father O'Reilly pur- chased from the Fairfield County Agricultural Association a tract of land opposite the fair grounds for a cemetery. In the same year he was trans- ferred to Providence, and was succeeded successively by the Rev. Richard O'Gorman and the Rev. James Campbell, whose incumbencies were only temporary. On July 18, 1859, the Rev. John Mulligan, D. D., "justly con- sidered one of the most talented and promising clergymen in the Hartford diocese," assumed charge of St. Mary's parish. Among the works he accom- plished were the completion of the church at Westport in 1859; the organi- zation of St. Joseph's T. A. B. Society ; the establishment of a night school. He had also in contemplation the erection of a church on the present site of St. Mary's, when death closed his brilliant, though brief, career. He died on January 12, 1862. His remains were interred in St. Patrick's Cemetery, Hartford, his natal city.
Dr. Mulligan was followed by the Rev. Peter A. Smith, who came here from East Bridgeport. The works that marked his administration were the purchase of the pastoral residence, which, after many years of occupancy, gave way to the present commodious rectory, and also of the site of the church adjoining. A school was organized in a small building erected on the northeast corner of Orchard street and West avenue, which he placed in the care of a Mr. McGilleck, of New York, and Miss Jane Mahler, of Newtown.
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DIOCESE OF HARTFORD.
Their successors were Mr. James McGirl, of New York, and Miss Margaret Tierney, of Norwalk. The school was discontinued after an existence of two or three years. Father Smith built the church at New Canaan, began and completed the present church, with the exception of the spire. The corner- stone was laid in 1869, and on the same day of this ceremony Bishop McFar- land blessed the new cemetery. When the basement of the church was ready for occupancy the old church was sold to S. E. Olmstead. Though the church cost $85,000, there was only an indebtedness of $20,000 on it when dedicated in 1870. It is a Gothic structure, 60 x 130, and has a seat- ing capacity of 1, 200 persons. Father Smith's death occurred on December 16, 1875, after a most successful pastorate of thirteen years. His remains rest in St. Mary's cemetery, by the side of his brother, Rev. John Smith, who died on November 5, 1869.
The Rev. P. O' Dwyer succeeded to the pastorate of St. Mary's in January, 1876. His term of service was brief, though replete with works that redounded to the spiritual welfare of the parish. He founded many religious societies, and erected the memorial tablet to the deceased priests of the parish in the vestibule of the church at a cost of $350. He died on June 7, 1878, and was buried in Ansonia, where he had been pastor from 1870 to January, 1876.
The Rev. John Russell followed Father Dwyer and assumed formal charge of St. Mary's parish on June 30, 1878. The duration of his pastorate was five years, during which period he built St. Mary's parochial school, purchased the convent and introduced the Sisters of Mercy from Meriden into his parish. In April, 1883, he was transferred to St. Patrick's, New Haven, and his successor was the Rev. William J. Slocum. The works accomplished during his pas- torate attest his activity. Besides adding to and beautifying the convent he built the present parochial residence, purchased a valuable piece of property in the rear of the church, added a large tract to the cemetery, which was greatly improved, completed the church by the erection of a spire, put in marble altars, liquidated the indebtedness, and to the joy of his parishioners had the church consecrated, a heart offering of his people to God. During his incumbency St. Mary's parish was raised to the dignity of a permanent rectorship.
He was transferred to the Immaculate Conception parish in succession to Very Rev. John- A. Mulcahy, V. G., in September, 1895. His successor, the Rev. J. B. A. Dougherty, assumed control on September 19th. The ter111 of his pastorate was one year. He was succeeded by the present rector, the Rev. John Furlong, who began his administration on October 12, 1896. Recognizing the importance of a suitable place where the young of his parish could spend their evenings profitably, Father Furlong purchased a site opposite the church on which stood a dwelling-house, which he converted into a club-house and established the Catholic club in January, 1897. Plans are being drawn for a more commodious building, which 110 doubt will be an ornament to the town, as well as a source of social, intellectual and spiritual profit to its attendants.
St. Mary's school is one of the most proficient in the diocese. There are
1
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THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN NEW ENGLAND.
486 pupils with eleven Sisters. Sister M. Clare is the superior. The trustees, John Fahy and James Clavin, have held this office for upwards of thirty years, and have been pew-rent collectors for the same period of time.
The population of St. Mary's parish is 3100 souls, and comprises among this number physicians, merchants, expert mechanics and a number of public- school teachers.
ST. MARY'S PARISH, RIDGEFIELD.1
I T is a well-established fact that James Brophy and family were the first Catholics to stand upon the soil of Ridgefield. They came here on Thanksgiving Day, November 30, 1848. After them in succession we meet the familiar names of Whalen, Kirwin, Purcell, Kelly, Murphy, Cahill, Fitzgerald, Short, Mulhall, Gallagher, Halpin, Cullen and Enright. In a few years the number so increased that fromn fifty to seventy-five persons would gather about the humble altar when it would be known that a priest was to visit Ridgefield.
The house of James Brophy was the first to harbor a priest in Ridgefield. Returning to his home at Danbury, Father Ryan stopped at Ridgefield and administered the last sacraments to two of Mr. Brophy's relatives who were dangerously ill. His successor in the pastorate of Danbury, Rev. Father O'Farrell, becoming cognizant that there were a number of Catholics in Ridgefield and vicinity, arranged to pay visits at monthly intervals. Coming on Saturday evenings he would hear confessions and say Mass on the follow- ing morning at Mr. Brophy's residence. Father O'Farrell's successors, Rev. Fathers Smith, Kelly and Drea, continued to serve the Catholic people of Ridgefield. The number of Catholics increasing, it became necessary to secure the old Town hall for divine services, paying at each visit five dollars for the privilege.
On November 23, 1867, the site upon which the first church was built was purchased from George R. Scofield for $975, James Enright and Jaines Walsh acting as agents for their Catholic brethren. A frame dwelling-house stood on the lot at the time of the purchase and for a time served as a church. It was destroyed by fire in 1868. The destruction of this building was a severe blow to the devoted little band. It made a return to private houses and the Town hall necessary, and in this struggling condition they remained for nearly nine years. But their courage revived. They eagerly desired a church, and their faith and self-sacrifice provided the means. Generous souls contributed, $20, $30 and $50. Thus stimulated they bent their energies to the task before them, and in due time had the happiness to see their long- desired church erected-small, indeed-but their own, and when the work was completed, the financial manager of the work, Thomas McGlynn, presented to the pastor, Rev. M. P. Lawlor, of Danbury, a bill receipted in full payment for all debts that had been contracted.
1 The Indian name of Ridgefield was Caudatowa, a name signifying High Land. It was incorporated in 1708.
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DIOCESE OF HARTFORD.
Some time after the completion of the ehureh, Ridgefield was taken from the jurisdiction of Danbury, and transferred to that of Georgetown, which had been made a parish with the Rev. Thaddeus Walsh as the first resident pastor. Redding Ridge was also served from Georgetown. In 1880, Father Walslı transferred his residence to Ridgefield, Georgetown becoming the mission, where Mass is said by Father Shortell every Sunday and holy- day in the church of the Sacred Heart. This church was built during the administration of Father Walsh. Father Walsh died in 1886 and was imme- diately followed by Rev. P. Byrne, who in turn was succeeded six years later by Rev. Joseph O'Keefe. After a pastorate of ten months ill health com- pelled him to retire. Brief as was his pastorate he left in the treasury, the result of his efforts, $535, as a nucleus of a building fund.
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