Worcester county; a narrative history, Volume III, Part 64

Author: Nelson, John, 1866-1933
Publication date: 1934
Publisher: New York, American historical Society
Number of Pages: 700

USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester county; a narrative history, Volume III > Part 64

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In June, 1850, the Catholics of Millbury deter- mined upon the erection of a ch irch. Michael

Coogan, who had been a resident here since 1830, gave the land for a church site and on October 20, 1850, Father Gibson began the erection of St. Bridget's. The first mass was said in the church on Christmas Day of the same year. On October I, 1851, Father L'Eveque was appointed first pas- tor of the new parish of Millbury and on October 2d, the Church of St. Brigid was dedicated by Bishop Fitzpatrick of Boston. On September 20, 1853, Millbury ceased to be an independent parish and was annexed as a mission to Uxbridge, in the care of the Rev. E. J. Sheridan. Later, St. Brigid's became a mission of St. Anne's Church, Worcester, then under the control of the Rev. John Power, who served Millbury for eleven years. On June 30, 1869, however, Millbury was again made a separate parish and the Rev. Michael Dougherty was appointed its pastor. Two years after this he built the Presbytery. Father Dougherty re- mained at St. Brigid's until his death in August, 1886, and was succeeded by the Rev. William H. Goggin, LL. D., who served here until the fall of 1898. During his pastorate he enlarged the church considerably, redecorating and beautifying it, and erected new altars. He also installed a new church organ. Father Goggin was succeeded by the Rev. Charles J. Boylan, who remained but a short time because of failing health. During the next six months St. Brigid's was in charge of the Rev. James M. Prendergast, who was followed on October 6, 1898, by the Rev. P. L. Quaille.

Father Quaille served at Millbury until his death in November, 1902. He was followed by the Rev. William Finneran, who remained until March 28, 1903. On September 30 of the same year, the Rt. Rev. Msgr. John F. Conlin became the new pastor of St. Brigid's Church and continued in charge until his appointment as permanent pastor of the church at Chicopee, Massachusetts, on March I, 1905. He was succeeded at Millbury by Father J. J. Tyrell, who remained until December 7, 1905, when the Rev. John F. Griffin was made pas- tor. Father Griffin served until the death of Bishop Beaven, when he was transferred to Ware, and in 1920 Father Daniel H. Tully entered upon the notable pastorate at Millbury which was terminated only by his death on November 20, 1932. In addi- tion to his duties locally, he served as director of charities for the Springfield Diocese. Father Tully was a priest of the highest possible order, much beloved not only by his own people but by all with whom he came in contact. Upon his death, the body lay in state at the rectory for two days and was then removed to St. Brigid's Church, where the funeral services were held. The solemn high requiem mass was celebrated by the Rt. Rev. Thomas M. O'Leary, Bishop of Springfield, and the beautiful eulogy was delivered by the Rev. Thomas F. Curran. During the funeral all places of business in the town were closed as a mark of respect, and the town officials in a body attended the services, together with representatives of local organizations, prominent figures of the community and hundreds of its people in every walk of life. More than a hundred priests and members of the Catholic hierarchy were also present, not only from the Springfield Diocese, but from other cities and towns within a radius of two hundred miles All were gathered together to pay their heart- felt tributes to one whose life was a career of service to the church and to his fellowmen.

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Father James M. Burke, S. T. L., the present incumbent of St. Brigid's Church, was appointed to Millbury on July 31, 1933. He was born at Clinton, Massachusetts, on April 5, 1880, and received his preliminary education in the public and parochial schools of that town. Subsequently he studied at St. Charles College, Ellicott City, Maryland; St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore; and the Catholic University of America at Washing- ton, District of Columbia, taking degrees from all of these institutions. In 1903 he was ordained to the priesthood of the Catholic Church by Cardinal Gibbons in Baltimore, and in order to prepare him- self more completely for his priestly duties he then carried on special post-graduate studies at the Catholic University of America, where he remained until 1905. In the latter year he was appointed assistant pastor of St. John's Church in Worces- ter and in 1908 was sent to Milford, where he was assistant for one year. At the end of that period he went to St. Paul's Church, Worcester, remaining for eleven years.

When the United States entered the World War, Father Burke enlisted in the 18Ist Regiment from Massachusetts and was assigned to Camp Devens, with the rank of first lieutenant. Later he was promoted to senior chaplain. When his war serv- ice terminated with the signing of the Armistice, Father Burke was sent to Gardner, as assistant pastor of the Catholic Church, remaining for seven years. During this period he redecorated and re- painted the church and put the entire property in first-class condition. He was also instrumental in purchasing for the parish the famous Heywood estate, upon which the convent and school of the Parish are now located. In 1926 Father Burke was appointed pastor of St. Catherine's Church at Leeds, Massachusetts, where he also served for seven years and again was largely instrumental in bringing the church property to a high level. He continued his service there until he was appointed to Millbury on July 31, 1933, by the Rt. Rev. Thomas M. O'Leary, D. D., Bishop of Springfield.

As pastor of St. Brigid's Church, Father Burke ministers to a parish of about one thousand souls. It is a vigorous parish, whose people are deeply interested in the work of the church and the vari- ous church societies, all of which are conducted under Father Burke's active supervision. The church itself is one of the well-known landmarks of the community and the rectory occupied by the priest is one of the great houses of former days, forming part of the old estate of Asa Waters, who manufactured guns for the government dur- ing the Civil War.

This residence Asa Waters built for his own use and, although it is now more than a hundred years old, it stands as solidly as the day it was built. It is in the English Georgian style and constitutes one of the finest examples extant of the architecture of the early nineteenth century. An impressive colonnade of the composite order dis- tinguishes the front entrance and its carved entabla- ture is carried about the main house with pilasters at the corners. Above the principal cornice, a third or attic story is crowned by another carved cornice and an ornamental balustrade. The design is skillfully treated throughout and the academic proportions are maintained with beautiful correct- ness.

The frame of the Asa Waters house was raised in June, 1826, and a large company collected. Prayer was offered by the Rev. Mr. Goffe and a collation was served to celebrate the occasion. The builder was Captain Louis Bigelow of Worcester, and the architect, Mr. Bryant, of Boston, who, in the same year, built the first American railroad. This was the line used in carrying granite blocks needed in the construction of Bunker Hill Monu- ment. Two years were taken in gathering the materials for the Waters mansion. In those days railroads were non-existent, and even the slow- moving canal boat had yet to make its appearance. Consequently, all the hard pine from the South, of which the main house was built, the mahogany from South America, used in the trimmings, the marble from Italy and the bricks from Baltimore were brought into Millbury by horse and wagon. It was an unprecedented undertaking in build- ing on a site so far from tide water. The finished lumber was of pumpkin pine from the Maine woods, and all boards, mouldings, joinings and carvings were slowly wrought by hand. No other method was possible since wood-carving machines had not yet been invented.

Mr. Waters enjoyed Thanksgiving dinner, in November, 1829, in his new home, but its final completion was not celebrated until 1832. On that happy occasion, numerous musicians, vocal and instrumental, were engaged and an original code, written by the host, was sung by the choir led by Captain Longby. Christmas Day, 1832, was selected for the house warming and a general invitation to all neighbors of this and surrounding towns was extended. Governor Levi Lincoln, of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, invited Daniel Webster and other prominent officials to ride down from Worcester to see the house, and in later years many other famous figures were entertained within its walls. When Henry Clay. the great apostle of the protective tariff, visited New Eng- land in 1835, he held a reception in the East Parlor. It is an interesting incident of the period that on that occasion the manager of the Cordis Mills presented him with a roll of broadcloth. Dur- ing the days of the New England Lyceum lectures, Agassiz and other distinguished lecturers were en- tertained here, and many years later the grand- daughter of the builder had as her guests the President of the United States, William Howard Taft, and Dr. Alexander Graham Bell, of telephone fame.

This famous mansion, with its twenty-one rooms, is equally noted for the beauty of its interior. The marvelously carved woodwork, much of it placed here by Father Burke since it has been used as the rectory of St. Brigid's Church, exem- plifies the finest workmanship of skilled artisans. The woods used in the trimmings and paneling are in many instances fine mahogany, which has been carved in unique and beautiful designs. From the front hallway, a winding staircase, along the side of which is an exquisitely designed banister, leads up three flights of stairs to the upper floors. Father Burke has for many years been a collector of antiques, especially antique glassware, of which he is a connoisseur. His collection, containing many examples of the rarest hand-blown glass, beautiful in design and coloring, receives a fitting setting in the Millbury rectory and occupies a 1

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part of its three floors. Many of the pieces are in cases, which are all hand-carved and polished, extending around three sides of the rectory walls. One very large room is devoted entirely to the choicest pieces of the collection, which is unexcelled, if indeed it is equalled, by any private collection in the country. In fact, there are probably few museums that have so large and beautiful an exhibit of the glassmaker's art. St. Brigid's rectory receives many visitors annually, who are drawn by the fame of the old mansion and by a desire to see Father Burke's collection. He is always happy to share with them the pleasure he has derived from collecting his glassware over a long period of years.

WILLIAM J. HEFFERNAN-In newspaper publication, William J. Heffernan has figured prom- inently in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, particularly in Worcester County. He is now the owner and publisher of the Spencer "Leader," which he took over in 1892; and the influence that he has exerted in his community and county through its columns and through his other jour- nalistic efforts has been an outstanding one.

Mr. Heffernan was born at Spencer, July 10, 1870, son of Daniel and Mary Heffernan. After receiving his preliminary education, he attended Spencer High School and in 1884, when only four- teen years of age, was apprenticed to the office of the Spencer "Sun." Four years later, in 1888, he entered the job printing business. And in 1892, as noted above, he took over publication of the Spen- cer "Leader" and Leicester "Banner," adding to them the Brookfields' "Union" two years later. He erected his own building, to house the printing plant, in 1894 and then started to develop his great printing business. He specialized in school and college books until, in a dozen years, the business had quadrupled. He still conducts his joint print- ing and publishing enterprises and through them performs a valuable work in his community, county and State. In 1922 his son, Neil T. Heffernan, became associated with the business.

Along with his labors in connection with pub- lishing and printing in Worcester County, Mr. Heffernan maintains a number of affiliations in social, civic and professional quarters. He served for twenty years as secretary of the Massachusetts Press Association and was also vice-president of the New England Suburban Press Association. He also is a member of the National Editorial Associa- tion, the Worcester Chamber of Commerce, the O'Reilly Assembly of the Knights of Columbus (in which he is also affiliated with Spencer Coun- cil), and the Spencer organization of the Foresters of America.

Adding other business and public affiliations to those already enumerated, Mr. Heffernan served as town treasurer and town moderator. He is also vice-president and a member of the investment committee of the Spencer Savings Bank. His reli- gious affiliation is with the Holy Rosary Church. He is a member, too, of the Worcester Country Club and the Hillcrest Country Club. Into all his activities and undertakings, he continuously puts his finest energies and his fullest measure of enthu- siasm, with the result that he has come to be esteemed, respected and honored by his fellow- citizens.

Mr. Heffernan married, in Natick, Massachu- setts, on October 12, 1897, Margaret T. Sweeney, daughter of Michael and Bridget Sweeney. By this marriage there were born two children: I. Ray W., born November 20, 1898. 2. Neil T., born February 25, 1900.

CHARLES N. PROUTY-In the realm of industry, Charles N. Prouty is engaged in a busi- ness said to be unique in New England-the man- ufacture of baker's yeast, with a plant in West Brookfield. He is himself a resident of Spencer, where he is chairman of the school board and otherwise is interested in town affairs.

His father, Charles N. (1) Prouty, a represen- tative of the prominent Spencer family of this name, was a shoe manufacturer in that town. He had also served as a member of the Massachusetts Senate. He married Jennie Richardson.

Charles N. (2) Prouty, son of Charles N. (1) and Jennie (Richardson) Prouty, was born in Spencer, May 27, 1877, and after passing through the public schools, entered Exeter Academy, where he prepared for college, graduating in 1896. He took an academic course at Harvard College, where he was graduated in the class of 1900. On leav- ing college, he went to Honolulu, Hawaiian Is- lands, and was connected with the railroad busi- ness there for four years. He next returned to Spencer, where he was associated with the shoe manufacturing industry until 1930, in which year he went to West Brookfield and united with Elmer R. Varnum in the manufacture of baker's yeast. In this business they have met with gratifying success.

In the affairs of Spencer he has attained prom- inence in various lines. In addition to having held the chairmanship of the school board for twelve years, he served on the town finance com- mittee for a number of years, and is a director of the Spencer National Bank. He is affiliated with Spencer Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, and the Harvard Club of Boston.

Mr. Prouty married (first), in 1906 Ethel M. Wight, and by this marriage there is a son, Charles N., 3d, born in 1907, who was graduated from Exeter Academy in 1927 and from Harvard Uni- versity, Bachelor of Arts, in 1931. He is asso- ciated with the Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company at Minneapolis, Minnesota. Mrs. Prouty died in 1908. Mr. Prouty married (second), March 7, 1914, Claire Rockwood Kane, of Spencer, and by this marriage there are five children: David, Loth- rop, Richardson, Martha and Marion. Mrs. Prouty is a leader in women's activities, music director of the John Nelson Memorial Church at Leicester, a member of the Monday Club, and captain of the local troop of Girl Scouts.

ALEXANDER McNEISH, M. D .- After thirty-one years of continuous practice of the med- ical profession, Dr. Alexander McNeish, of Leices- ter, retired to a period of well-earned leisure, re- taining the good-will and well wishes of his former patients. He is interested in the civic affairs of the community, being chairman of the Leicester Board of Health.

Born in Dalhousie, Province of New Brunswick, Canada, December 1, 1869, Dr. McNeish is the son of William and Jane (Miller) McNeish, natives

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of Canada, the former a farmer. Passing through the grade school and graduating from the high school of Dalhousie, his boyhood days were spent on the home farm. In 1893 he came to Boston and entered Tufts College Medical School. Here he completed his professional training and was grad- uated with his degree of Doctor of Medicine in the class of 1897. In the same year he arrived in Leicester, established himself in his own office and began practice. To his patients in this town and the countryside he gave of his expert counsel and treatment of their respective cases with unfail- ing devotion until 1929, which was the year when he withdrew from active practice. His old patients were loath to see him retire, but it seemed best that he should conserve his strength by removing himself from the exacting responsibilities of a phy- sician. He maintains a winter home in St. Peters- burg, Florida.

Thirty years ago Dr. McNeish was first elected chairman of the Leicester Board of Health, and this post he has since filled without interruption. He has performed a fine work in cooperation with his colleagues in enforcing the health standards and policies of the board. He is a trustee of the Leices- ter Savings Bank and a former clerk of the board. His professional alliances are with the Brookfield Medical Club, Massachusetts State Medical So- ciety and American Medical Association. He is affiliated with Spencer Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, and has his religious fellowship with the First Congregational Church of Leicester, of which body he is a deacon. His favorite recreation is contract bridge.

Dr. McNeish married (first), June 19, 1900, Laura Haynes Stone, of Leicester, who died in 1917. By this marriage there is a daughter, Marion, a graduate of Wellesley College and the Katharine Gibbs Secretarial School. He married (second), May 10, 1919, Esther O. White, a native of St. John, New Brunswick.

MORTIMER J. HOWARD-The president of the North Brookfield Savings Bank and mer- chant, Mortimer J. Howard was born at North Brookfield, July 2, 1876, son of Eugene and Kath- erine (Howard) Howard. After completing his education in the local high school, from which he was graduated with the class of 1895, he became associated with his father in a grocery business, which the latter had established in 1874. This establishment has been continued for sixty years, a record for the community and one seldom equalled in other places.

Mr. Howard has not confined his activities to merchandising. He has served as a selectman of North Brookfield for a period of fourteen years ; during nearly half of this time he was chairman of the board. He was one of the organizers of the North Brookfield National Bank, of which he has been continuously a director. He was elected president of the North Brookfield Savings Bank in December, 1927, and has served since that time in this office; he is also a trustee of the institu- tion.

On August 2, 1910, Mortimer J. Howard mar- ried Jeannette Griffin, and they are the parents of a son, Mortimer, now a student in the North Brookfield High School.

FRANKLIN L. BISHOP, M. D .- Engaged in the practice of medicine more than thirty years, a veteran of the World War with the rank of major, and prominent in American Legion and pub- lic affairs of Leicester, Dr. Franklin L. Bishop is highly esteemed in his profession and by the com- munity he so capably serves.

Dr. Bishop's parents were James L. and Emily S. (Rooks) Bishop, the latter a native of Maine. The father, born in Nova Scotia, was a ship joiner and followed his trade in Boston. For some time in his old age he lived with his son in Leicester, where he died in 1923, aged ninety-six years.

Born in Boston, May 12, 1876, Dr. Franklin L. Bishop received his early education in the public schools of that city. He took his pre-medical course at the University of Pennsylvania and was graduated from the university's medical department with the degree of Doctor of Medicine in the class of 1901. For eighteen months he served an interne- ship in the Chester (Pennsylvania) Hospital. He then returned to Boston and entered practice, re- maining in his native city until 1917. In May of the latter year he enlisted for the World War and was assigned to the medical department of the army. Receiving the commission of a first lieu- tenant, he was promoted to captain and finally to major, which rank he held when honorably mus- tered out of the service in August, 1919, having been for all his period of enlistment stationed at Camp Devens, Massachusetts. In 1919 he removed from Boston and opened an office in Leicester, where he has built up a large and select following. For two terms he was a member of the Leicester School Committee and at present is the school phy- sician. He is a member of the Massachusetts Medical Society, Worcester County Medical So- ciety, and the Physicians and Examiners Society. Among his affiliations are William J. Cooney Post, No. 121, American Legion, of which he is a Past Commander and at present the finance officer, being also a member of the rehabilitation committee ; Spencer Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons; and Zenith Lodge, No. 42, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Boston, in which he is a Past Noble Grand and Past Chief Patriarch. He is a member of the Army and Navy Club of Boston.

Dr. Bishop married, June 7, 1904, Helen A. Lukens, of Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania. They have a daughter, Helen Frances, born April 7, 1905, who married Raymond P. Dorr and has four children. Mrs. Bishop is Past National President of the American Legion Auxiliary and president of the Leicester Red Cross unit.

JAMES J. WARREN-Among poultry breed- ers the name of James J. Warren, of North Brook- field, stands for the finest and best of the Rhode Island Red breed. On his farm it is not unusual for him to raise 20,000 chickens in the summer and to carry through the winter 7,000 mature stock. To his credit are many records for birds of remark- able egg production. Mr. Warren purchased his present poultry farm in 1923, it having been used previously as a dairy farm. During the decade that followed there has been a great alteration of old buildings and the erection of new ones to fit the place for its new use. Electric incubators of 50,000 egg capacity have been installed, and dur- ing the spring season of 1933 about 75,000 chicks

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were hatched, most of these going out as day-old chicks to customers all over the United States.

Mr. Warren is a native of Batavia, New York, born October 2, 1892, and was brought by his parents to North Brookfield in the first year of the present century. He attended the local schools and was graduated from North Brookfield High School with the class of 1913. In 1917 he was graduated from the Massachusetts State College and shortly after enlisted in the United States Army as a member of the Signal Corps, serving from Septem- ber, 1917, to 1919. After training at Camp Devens, Massachusetts, he was sent overseas with the American Expeditionary Forces and participated in the St. Mihiel and Argonne campaigns. Upon his return to America and civilian life, Mr. Warren was connected with Iowa State College at Ames, Iowa, as a specialist in poultry extension work. During his four years of service he traversed all the counties of Iowa and became thoroughly familiar with all phases of the poultry industry, a knowledge and practice which he has put to good use on his North Brookfield plant. Mr. Warren is president of the Worcester County Poultry Asso- ciation and a member of the Certified Poultry Breeders Association, of which he is vice-president. Fraternally he is affiliated with the Knights of Columbus and the American Legion.

On September 20, 1928, James J. Warren mar- ried Mary J. Savage, a native of Worcester and they were the parents of three sons: James J., Jr .; William H., and George T. Mrs. Warren died on February II, 1933.

CLIFFORD J. HUYCK, M. D .- For more than twenty-five years, Dr. Clifford J. Huyck has been engaged in the practice of medicine at West Brookfield. He is well liked in the community for his professional ability and social and civic qualities.

Born in Exeter, New York, December 25, 1873, Dr. Clifford J. Huyck is the son of Robert and Margaret (Warner) Huyck, the former a farmer. After passing through the public schools of Exeter, including a high school course, he entered Cleve- land (Ohio) University to prepare for his profes- sion. He took both medical and surgical work and was graduated with his degree in the class of 1896.

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Worcester county; a narrative history, Volume III, Part 64

Author: Nelson, John, 1866-1933 Publication date: 1934 Publisher: New York, American historical Society Number of Pages: 700

Author: Nelson, John, 1866-1933
Publication date: 1934
Publisher: New York, American historical Society
Number of Pages: 700