USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Municipal history of Essex County in Massachusetts, Volume I > Part 44
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On October 29, 1834, the Rev. John D. Brady was appointed to succeed Father Wiley. Father Brady was a native of Ireland; he was ordained in Boston on July 27, 1833, and had been an assistant to Father Byrne in Charlestown previous to his assuming charge of the Salem parish. During his pastorate, Dover, N. H., was set apart as a separate parish, to which Newburyport was joined in 1836. Lynn seems to have been attended regularly at this time, Mass being said in the house of Mr.
Laurence Birney. Father Brady built the first parochial residence near
the church on Mall street. The marriage and baptismal registers for the period show a steady increase in the number of Catholics, but the peace and concord of the parish were occasionally marred by contentions neces-
sitating the intervention of the Bishop. Father Brady continued in office for over six years, being succeeded in 1841 by the Rev. James Strain, who remained but one year. Notable of Father Strain's short stay was his advocacy of Catholic education by the establishment of a school for boys and girls under the care of Mr. Daniel O'Donnell. This school was opened first in the quarters of Mr. O'Donnell, but soon transferred to the basement of "old St. Mary's." It was discontinued during the pas- torate of his successor. -
On March 4, 1842, Rev. Thomas J. O'Flaherty, a former physician, who had been ordained by Bishop Fenwick on September 6, 1829, became the fifth pastor. He had made some of his studies at Maynooth College, and some time after his arrival in America he received the degree of Doc- tor of Medicine from a college in Philadelphia, hence his popular title, Doctor O'Flaherty. He enlarged the church to meet the growing need of the congregation, and abandoned the old rectory on Mall street for a more commodious one on the corner of Howard and Bridge streets. As a student, scholar, and preacher he rendered great and useful service to the parish and to the diocese. His translation of Count de Maistre's
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"Letters on the Spanish Inquisition" placed much valuable information in the hands of English readers, and his expounding of Catholic doctrine brought many converts to the church. His promising career was sud- denly interrupted by death, March 29, 1846.
After the death of Doctor O'Flaherty, the Catholics of Salem were attended by Father O'Sullivan of Boston until the appointment, in June, 1846, of the Rev. James Conway as pastor. Father Conway was or- dained in Boston, July 31, 1831. The early years of his priesthood were spent among the Pennobscot Indians, and as assistant to Father McDer- mott at St. Patrick's, Lowell. In 1841 he was appointed to the new parish of St. Peter's in that town, where he remained until his assign- ment to Salem. "The zeal shown in the Pennobscot mission, the energy displayed and the experience acquired in the difficult task of forming a new parish in Lowell, and in building a new church there, were now to be spent with his life in laying broad and deep and strong the foundations of the present Catholic church in Salem."
His first care was to enlarge and beautify the church, increasing its seating capacity by six hundred. The Sunday school and choir were reorganized in 1846; a parochial residence on Winter street (1848) and later (1852) a much larger one on Mall street were his work; he pur- chased and opened the Catholic Cemetery in 1849. Though Lynn had ceased to be a part of the Salem parish in 1846, the rapidly increasing number of Catholics in Salem and vicinity in 1849 was so great that a larger church became necessary. Father Conway deemed it more ad- visable to build a new church and form a second parish. In 1850, the Church of St. James' on Federal street was begun, and Mass celebrated there for the first time on Christmas Day of that year. In 1855 "the Hodges estate," on Walnut street, now Hawthorne Boulevard, was se- cured as the site of the first distinctively Catholic school in Salem. The Sisters of Notre Dame were introduced to Salem in the fall of 1855 and installed in a schoolhouse and convent set up on the site of the present
school. They were insulted and almost attacked by the hostile natives, but persevered in their labors with almost immediate, success. Early in the spring of 1857 ground was broken, and the foundation of the present Church of the Immaculate Conception laid. Its walls were just begin- ning to rise under his supervision when sudden death called him to his eternal reward, May 24, 1857.
In 1850, just at the time the new Church of St. James was under contemplation, there came to Salem, as assistant to Father Conway, the Rev. Thomas Shahan, "whose name is now and will remain forever lov- ingly associated with the Catholics of Salem and of the entire Essex county." The young curate identified himself with the erection of the new church and attached himself closely to the people in its neighbor- hood. At the same time he took charge of the mission work at Danvers, South Reading and elsewhere. In 1854, while the new church was still unfinished, a new parish was formed, with Father Shahan as its pastor. Three years later, on the occasion of Father Conway's death, he was given charge of "old St. Mary's," thus reuniting both parishes under one head and embracing the territory of Salem, Marblehead, Reading, Dan- vers, Beverly and Gloucester.
Under Father Shahan, the building of the Church of the Immaculate Conception was pushed forward rapidly, and it was dedicated on Sunday morning, January 10, 1858, St. James' Church being dedicated the same afternoon. This same year, he exchanged the residence on Mall street
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for the house on Union street, which, much enlarged, is the present paro- chial residence. This same year, also, he bought an old Baptist church in Gloucester, and had it fitted for Catholic services. In 1859, the first churches in Marblehead and Danvers were opened under his supervision. The same year the basement of the present church in Salem was finished and fitted for three schoolrooms. At the close of 1861, the organization of the parish completed, Father Shahan, at his own request, was ap- pointed again to the charge of St. James' parish, and hence was made the final division of Salem into the two parishes (English speaking) just as they exist today. He remained at St. James' until 1864, when he was assigned to Taunton. A parochial school for boys was opened by him in St. James' parish in 1852, and subsisted until 1868. The intro- duction of the Sisters of Notre Dame and the founding of a girls' school did not take place until 1864. He was succeeded as pastor of St. James' by the Rev. William J. Daly, who remained four years. His successor, Rev. John J. Gray, came in 1868. Father Gray remodeled the old church into a parochial hall, with school rooms in the rear, built the convent and the parochial residence opposite. His greatest undertaking was the new St. James Church. The corner stone of the noble edifice of brick and granite was laid in 1891, and the work of erection well under way when interrupted by Father Gray's death in 1893.
Rev. Michael J. McCall, the present pastor, came to Salem from Con- cord as successor to Father Gray in 1894. Under his able administra- tion most of the improvements visible in the parish today have been made. The discovery of a radical defect in the construction of the new church necessitated its being taken down and rebuilt. In the brick school, conducted by the Sisters of Notre Dame, some seven hundred children receive instruction in primary, grammar and high school courses.
When Father Shahan returned to St. James', Rev. Michael Hartney, who was ordained at Boston in 1857, and had served as assistant to Father Shahan, chiefly at St. James', was promoted to the pastorate of the Immaculate Conception parish in 1862. One of his first acts was to convert "old St. Mary's" into a school house for boys. It was used for this purpose from 1863 to 1868. The old church was torn down in 1877, portions of both base and superstructure being preserved to form part of the tower of the present church. In 1864, Father Hartney fin- ished the work of the sanctuary, and erected an altar of Caen stone, which gave completeness to the interior fitting of the church.
In January, 1866, through the generosity of Mr. Thomas Looby, and with the moral and material support of the pastors and the people of the two parishes, an orphan asylum for Catholic children who, by misfortune, were too often exposed to the unfair methods of proselytism of the day, was opened on the corner of Washington and Bridge streets. This in- stitution, in charge of the "Grey Nuns," later removed to Lafayette street, and after many years of prosperous and progressive work was totally destroyed in the great Salem fire of June 25, 1914. It has not been re- built. Father Hartney labored among his flock alone for several years and won their regard by his devotion. His death, in Worcester, Janu- ary 15, 1868, was the result of an accident.
On February 3, 1868, Rev. William Hally came to take charge of the parish. Like his predecessor, he had been associated with Father Sha- han, to whom he had been assigned as assistant in October, 1860. After the division of the parishes in 1861, he remained with Father Shahan at St. James' until September, 1863, when he was made pastor of Quincy,
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from which place he returned to Salem as pastor of the Immaculate Con- ception parish. During the long and efficient administration of this able and zealous priest, many notable improvements were effected in the par- ish. His first care was the reduction of the parish debt; the old "School Fund Association" became the "Church Debt Society." His plan to further enlarge the church resolved itself eventually into the erection of the "Chapel of the Sacred Heart" in the rear; the church tower was built, replacing the old belfry, a new organ installed, new stations of the cross were erected, the interior of the church was re-decorated, a new convent built, and the old school house replaced by a new and more commodious one.
In 1872, the greatly-increased number of French Canadians, and the inability of many of them to speak English, demanded special considera- tion. The basement of the Immaculate Conception Church was given over to them, and Father Harkins-now Bishop Harkins of Providence- entrusted with their spiritual welfare. In May, 1873, Father Talbot, a French Canadian priest, was appointed their pastor. He remained, how- ever, but a few months, when Father Harkins again assumed their charge. He secured for their use a Sailors' Bethel on Herbert street. A few months later, Rev. Olivier Boucher took charge of his fellow countrymen in Salem, and remained with them until 1875, when he was transferred to Lawrence. Father Talbot returned for a time, but was finally suc- ceeded, in 1878, by Rev. J. Z. Dumontier, who remained but a few months. In September of that year, Rev. Octave Lepine became pastor; in 1879, he was replaced by Rev. F. X. L. Vezina.
Father Vezina purchased, in
1881, an estate on Lafayette street, in South Salem, where most of the French still live. On this site a church was erected, and opened for ser- vices in 1884. It was dedicated in 1885, under the title of St. Joseph's. In August, 1885, Rev. J. O. Gadoury came as assistant to Fr. Vezina, who shortly retired for a time to Canada. During his absence, Father Gadoury purchased and remodeled the parochial residence. Two years later, upon the resignation of Father Vezina, Father Gadoury was made pastor. In 1892 he founded a large school on Harbor street, in the rear of the church. A four-story brick building, having a hall on the ground floor and twelve large class rooms, was erected, and near this a wooden convent for the Grey Nuns, who taught the children. A new brick church was erected to replace the original St. Joseph's, a wooden church and separate parish erected in the "Castle Hill" district, and many other improvements made in the parish before his death in 1906.
He was succeeded by Rev. George Rainville. During his pastorate the disastrous fire of June, 1914, all but entirely destroyed the entire parish property. Undismayed by the disaster, the people under his direction undertook the work of rebuilding. The basement of the church was fitted up for services; the auditorium being used for school purposes ; a new convent and parochial residence were built, and plans for a school were under way when he died in March, 1920. His successor is the pres- ent pastor, Rev. Pierre H. Grenier, who has been sent to complete the work of restoration and sustain the high spiritual ideals of the people.
In 1877, Father William Hally retired as pastor of the Immaculate Conception parish. He was succeeded by Rev. P. J. Hally, who intro- duced the practice of holding services for the Catholic prisoners in the county jail and the almshouse. The interior of the church was much im- proved by him, and the parish school extended by an addition in the rear for boys. He replaced the Sisters of Notre Dame by the Sisters of Char-
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ity, who continue in charge of the school at present. In 1896 Father Hally resigned his pastorship, to take up missionary work among the negroes.
He was succeeded by Rev. John D. Tierney, formerly of Rockland. Father Tierney improved the property, especially the parochial residence. He also bought land on Lafayette street, in the then growing southern section, for a chapel; but the fire of 1914 has much changed the aspect of this district.
As with the French, in the time of Rev. W. J. Hally, so with the Poles, in Father Tierney's time. Their increasing number necessitated special consideration. The basement was given over to them, and Rev. J. Chmielinski of Boston attended to their spiritual welfare until the assignment of the Rev. Joseph Czubek as their pastor in 1901. Property was purchased on Herbert street, on which a church-St. John the Bap- tist-was erected, the basement being devoted to school purposes. A convent was erected on Union street. Some years later an old Protes- tant church on St. Peter street was purchased and renovated to meet the growing demands of the parish. The old church on Herbert street was converted into a school in which today more than six hundred children are educated by the Felician Sisters.
In 1904, Father Tierney was transferred to St. Catherine's, Charles- town. His successor was the Rev. Timothy J. Murphy of St. Ann's, Ne- ponset. Fr. Murphy died in 1911; his pastorate was marked by special interest in the cause of Catholic education, and in the matter of the tem- perance and no-license movement in the city.
The present pastor, Rev. John P. Sullivan, came from Middleboro as successor to Fr. Murphy. The years of his pastorate have been marked by many needed and notable improvements in and around the parish property ; by an active and public-spirited participation by himself and his people in all civic and religious activities of the community, and under hs leadership and guidance his people today receive the recognition which they have duly merited.
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CHAPTER XXXIII.
THE CITY OF BEVERLY
Captain Smith was so impressed with the natural beauty of this part of Essex county that he called it "the paradise of all these parts." When in 1626 the fishing station there was abandoned and the few who had settled there removed to Naumkeag, they coasted the Manchester and Beverly shore, which was also admired by Endicott and Higginson. The first settlement was effected on the peninsula between Collin's Cove and North River. Dr. Gardner of Salem, in his article on "The Planters," in this work, fully sets forth the conditions of settlement in Beverly and sur- rounding country. In passing, it may be stated that the leaders of the Cape Ann plantation and the most prominent men of the first Salem set- tlement were doubtless the founders of the first permanent colony of "Cape Ann Side", later incorporated as Beverly. Pioneer families in- cluded these: Balch, Conant, Woodbury, Brackenbury, Dixey, Palfrey, Trask, Dodge, and Scruggs; also Thomas Tuck, for whom Tuck's Point was later named; Ralph Ellingwood, for whom a Point was named, and the first ferryman ; John Stone, who conducted an "ordinary" or inn near the junction of Cabot and Front streets. Another pioneer here was Cap- tain Thomas Lathrop, who fell in the massacre at Bloody Brook. An- drew Elliot lived in the upper part of the town; his many descendants included the celebrated divine, Rev. Dr. Andrew Elliot; an ex-mayor of Boston, Hon. Samuel A. Elliot; and a president of Harvard College, Charles W. Eliot. Other early settlers in these parts were the Lovetts, the Prides, the Dodges; Richard Ober, founder of all of this name in New England ; Robert Briscoe, Lawrence Leach, Henry Herrick, Hugh Laskin, the Grover families-all settled here and built homes, and many of their number reared large families.
The following shows the advancement of the city: Beverly settled, 1626 ; incorporated as a town, 1668; incorporated as city, 1894; city char- ter adopted, 1894; city charter amended, 1898; charter revised and ac- cepted, 1910; area in present city (acres), 9,770 ; population in 1900, 13,- 884 ; population in 1910, 18,650 ; population in 1915, 22,959 ; population in 1920, 22,561; registered male voters, 5,305; female voters, 3,713; num- ber of polls, 8,444 ; miles in streets, 83; miles in sewers, 51.84; number of parks, 2; playgrounds, 7; public bath houses, 1; athletic fields, 1.
The Public Library was established in Beverly in 1857, and is open every day except Sundays and holidays from 9 a. m. to 9 p. m. The col- lection of books amounts to over 42,242 volumes. In the winter of 1918- 19 on account of the coal famine occasioned by the World War demand for coal, this library was closed from February to March. A room used as reading-room in the City Hall was utilized for reading room purposes. Again, in September and October of 1919, owing to the influenza epi-
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demic, the libraries were all closed by the board of health. Martha P. Smith, librarian, gave the above facts in her annual report in 1919.
Once attached to Salem, then in 1668 becoming a separate town, Beverly so continued until 1894, when it became a city. The following have served as mayors: John I. Baker, 1895; Charles H. Odell, 1896; Freeborn W. Cressy, 1897; Perry Collier, 1898; Benjamin D. Webber, 1899-1900; Samuel Cole, 1900-02; Parker S. Davis, 1903-04; Joseph A. Wallis, 1905-06; S. Harvey Dow, 1907-08; Charles H. Trowt, 1909-10; Frederick A. Dodge, 1911-12; Herman A. MacDonald, 1913-16; James McPherson, 1917-20; Frank D. Tuttle, 1921.
The present city officials are: Mayor, Frank D. Tuttle; City Audi- tor, Bertha L. Hayward; City Clerk, Edward P. Eldredge; City Collector, Frederick A. Cressy; City Engineer, Albert H. Richardson; City Elec- trician, William H. Greenlaw ; City Physician, Dr. James F. Lawlor; City Solicitor, Thomas J. Casey; City Treasurer, Percy A. Wallis; Commis- sioner of Public Works, James W. Blackmer; Harbor Master, Charles B. Chapman; Secretary of School Committee, Ralph C. Simmons; Superin- tendent of Almshouse, Walter Farnham; Superintendent of Schools, S. Howard Chace; Pumping Station Engineer, Herbert T. Conant.
Beverly being so near Salem did not have postal facilities of its own nearly so early as other towns in Essex county. Asa Leach was the first postmaster of whom we have any record. This was before the build- ing of the Essex bridge, and Mr. Leech was also in charge of the ferry and kept a public house at the corner of Cabot and Davis streets. He was postmaster many years. Succeeding him came Dr. Josiah Batchelder; he kept the office at his residence on the corner of Davis and Front streets. The next to hold the office was John Burley, who later resigned in favor of John Lemon, who was followed by Farnham Plummer. Then came Jonathan Smith, who held the office nine years, until the appointment of Stephens Baker in 1833, who held the position sixteen years and was suc- ceeded by Joseph D. Tuck, and he in turn was succeeded by Gilbert T. Hawes, who moved the office to the corner of Cabot street and Railroad avenue. Thomas A. Morgan succeeded him, under whom the postoffice was located in the Masonic Block, where his successor, Thomas D. Davis, continued it. Mr. Davis was a veteran of the Civil War, whose health had been impaired in Andersonville and Libby prisons. His successor was another veteran of the same war, Colonel Francis E. Porter, who was an excellent postmaster, but through a change from Republican to Demo- cratic administration, he was removed and the appointment of Jeremiah Murphy made, who moved the postoffice to Odd Fellows Block, where every modern convenience then existing was installed. Postmaster Murphy received his appointment at the hands of Grover Cleveland, August 2, 1896. Under the Harrison administration the office was in charge of Postmaster Charles H. Odell, after which the administration changed back again to Grover Cleveland, and Josiah Woodbury was
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made postmaster to August 10, 1894, and was succeeded by Francis Nor- wood, who held the office for sixteen years, appointed by President Wil- liam Mckinley. He was succeeded by Charles Prescott, who was ap- pointed by President Woodrow Wilson, and assumed charge February 1, 1914.
Beverly is a first class postoffice. Free delivery service was estab- lished November 1, 1888, and the four carriers appointed were Josiah Woodbury, Martin Murray, William P. Hanners and John C. Foley. There are now eighteen regular and six substitute carriers. The Federal building in which the postoffice is now conducted was completed in July, 1912, costing over $75,000.00 The postal receipts for the last fiscal year have been $70,470.81. Upon the opening of the new postoffice building, the first mails were sent from the office July 14, 1912, by clerks George A. Carr and William G. Smith.
The postoffice force in August, 1921, is as follows: Charles Pres- cott, postmaster and custodian; Calvin A. Pierce, assistant postmaster and assistant custodian; Charles A. Larcom, superintendent of mails. Clerks: George A. Carr, Edward C. Eldred, Roger W. Fegan, Willard R. Herrick, James A. V. Hurd, William G. Smith, Elmer A. Standley, George Thompson, Harry C. Woodbury, George L. Worcester, (sub-sta- tions) clerks in charge-Charles A. Baker, Arthur G. Farrin, Edwin L. Pert, Mary C. Jones. The list of city carriers at this time are these: William P. Hanners, J. Perley Stone, J. Lewis Preston, James S. Brown, Thomas J. Fraser, Alfred H. Larcom, Chester W. Sinclair, Joseph E. Darling, George E. Knowles, Willard A. Standley, Fred A. Hinchcliffe, George E. Hathaway, Dennis J. McGowan, Charles H. Dockham, Arthur W. Jones, Harlan A. Cole, Arthur B. Stiles, Thomas J. Wallace.
The following comprises a list of present-day enterprises in Beverly as relates to the shoe and leather industry: Austin & Hawkins Co., J. H. Baker & Co., Bartlett Trask Shoe Company, E. F. Bell & Co., Bray & Stanley, Criterion Shoe Company, P. A. Field Shoe Company, Flint Bros., Gagan Counter Co., Garden City Shoe Co., Millett Woodbury Co., Moore Bros., Peabody Shoe Company, F. A. Seavey & Co., M. Shortell & Co., Woodbury Shoe Company.
The Beverly Chamber of Commerce is a new institution for the young city of Beverly. It was organized in 1920. From its first annual report, the subjoined facts have been obtained: The purpose of the Chamber of Commerce is to carry out the wishes of the members in help- ing to solve problems affecting the good of the whole community. Sug- gestions are at all times welcomed by the board of directors, from the members, from the different organizations of the city, and from the cit- izens of the community interested in everything that is good for the whole city. It is the aim and object of this Chamber of Commerce to make it the medium through which the best thought of the citizens of the
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community may be coordinated and concentrated upon securing action in the things that tend to the progress of the city.
The program of activities for the first year's would-be accomplish- ments were inclusive of these subjects: Major-Housing, Public Health, Retail Trade, Transportation, Sidewalks, Schools, Publicity. Minor-Co- ordination of all civic and charitable work, Restaurant, Girls' Club, Re- creation, Traffic, Water Supply. Supplementary-Employment Bureau, Public waiting room; City plan of zoning; Community Memorial, Build- ing, Harbor Development, Boat service to Boston; Americanization, State Forestry.
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