USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Concord > History of Concord, New Hampshire, from the original grant in seventeen hundred and twenty-five to the opening of the twentieth century, Volume II > Part 14
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weeks to hold public services. These services were conducted in the halls in the city, Rumford hall being the principal one used for this purpose. Athenian hall was occasionally in use for such ser- vices, and for other meetings of pastor and people.
In 1865 Concord was again created a parish of the diocese, and on the last day of September, that year, Father John E. Barry came here as the pastor. He had been but recently ordained a priest, and this was his first charge. He was born in Eastport, Me., August 1, 1834, in the public schools of which town he was educated prepara- tory to his collegiate and divinity courses of study. The stay of Father O'Reilley had been so bricf, and his health so poor while here, that Father Barry's coming was the first realization of the peo- ple of Concord that Catholicism was to be permanently established here. Father Barry was accompanied by his mother and sister, and took up his residence at the northwest corner of Green and School strects. There was then here, as elsewhere, an inherited lack of sympathy between Protestant and Catholic, and for some time no social recognition was given to Father Barry and his family by Prot- estant people. This ostracism was broken, however, by ex-President Pierce, who called one day to pay his respects to the new-comers; and in his affable and courtly way he bade the strangers welcome to Concord. Slowly but surely the barriers fell, and Father Barry very early gained a place in the esteem of the citizens of Concord which he ever held. Prudent, tactful, and unassuming, he won for himself and his people a consideration which disarmed prejudice and softened bigotry. Catholic priests in other New England communities suf- fered more or less contumely, but his quiet demeanor and exemplary life spared him such annoyance.
Father Barry's first work was to organize a Sunday-school, which grew rapidly in numbers and continued very large until the building of a parochial school in 1888 relieved it of many of its older pupils. The first superintendent of the Sunday-school was the late Thomas F. Robinson.
The people were poor, and much as they desired a church edifice, were without means to build. This was the cause of thought and anxiety to the young priest. The congregation was increasing, and there was great need of a church. Services were held in Phenix hall, for the other halls were too small for the accommodation of the people on the Sabbath, though they were occasionally used for other meetings of the pastor and his parishioners. At a triduum ordered by the Holy Father,-a three days' prayer preceded by appropriate religious instructions,-Father Barry had to use Athenian hall. He was obliged to limit the number of his parishioners mecting there at
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any one time, and often he was apprehensive of the collapse of the building because of the crowded condition of the hall.
The first contributions for the church grew slowly, and the under- taking seemed almost beyond the parish. There was land to be bought and buildings to be erected, and the purchase price and build- ing fund must be created from small collections. Yet the necessity stimulated the best endeavors of the people, and the patient perse- verance of the pastor overcame many troublesome obstacles. When a few hundred dollars had been pledged, the question arose where to locate. There were desirable locations enough, but many of them were beyond the purse of the congregation. The site favored by Father Barry was the lot at the north corner of Main and Court streets, now owned by Mrs. James M. Killeen, and then the property of a woman residing in Derry. A visit to Derry convinced Father Barry that the lot was held at too high a valuation to be available. Then the Fuller lot at the northwest corner of State and Pleasant streets, the lot at the southwest corner of Main and Pitman streets, and the present location were considered. The Fuller lot was held at too high a price, and there was objection to the lot on the corner of Main and Pitman streets, because of the name Smoky Hollow attached to it. Some of the Protestant people of Concord looked with appre- hension at the location of a Catholic church near them, and a few threatened to sell their residences if the church was placed adja- cent thereto. The Ivy Field, so-called, bounded by Grove, West, and South streets, was offered, but it was too far from the settled portions of Concord. The present location, when chosen, was a large field owned by George and Charles Hutchins, in which was a frog-pond. Although accepted, it was not considered central enough by pastor and peo- ple, and a site farther north would have been preferred. It was, however, purchased April 26, 1866.
After buying the lot, contracts were made for building the church, and the work of con- struction occupied about two years. Its dimen- sions were one hundred feet by fifty-four, with a tower seventeen feet square and a spire one hundred and thirty-five high. There were one hundred and eighty-three pews made of ehest- nut, with their numbers placed on black wal- St. John's Church. nut shields. The organ loft and general woodwork were also of chest- nut. There were twenty-two windows of stained glass, all the gifts of individuals or families. The cost of the completed edifice was over forty thousand dollars.
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Entrance to Calvary Cemetery.
The dedication occurred Sunday, March 14, 1869. The attendance was very large, all the seats, and even standing room, being taken. Friends were present from Manchester, Nashua, and Boston, besides many prominent citizens from other religious societies of Concord.
In 1870 the present handsome rectory was built, at a cost of twelve thousand dollars. In 1875 Father Barry secured, at a cost of twenty- five hundred dollars, a fine tract of land adjoining Blossom Hill cemetery, laying it out for burial pur- poses. He had it consecrated the following year by Bishop Healey, under the name of Calvary cem- etery. This cemetery was beautified in 1893 by the erection of a gothic arch at its entrance.
Father Barry's pastorate included Concord prop- er, Penacook, and Suncook. He went every second Saturday afternoon to Penacook, and every third Saturday to Suncook, to minister to the people and to hold early service Sunday morning, returning to Concord in season for the regular service here. He traveled in response to sick calls to all sections of the state, frequently to towns in Merrimack county, and sometimes as far distant as Plymouth, Leba- non, and Sandwich. For a time he was the nearest available priest for all the northern part of New Hampshire. Pena- cook and Suncook were his missions for fourteen years before they were created parishes of the diocese, and there was hardly a Sunday that he did not ride twelve or fourteen miles to offer the Holy Sacri- fice for their people. No better summary of Father Barry's labors can be given than the tribute paid to him by Father O'Callahan on the occasion of his silver anniversary in 1889. Said Father O'Calla- han :
" Relying on the co-operation of your people, with hope and trust in the future, you set to work after your arrival to build here this church, which for beauty of design and finish, for convenience, for richness of ornament, and what is still better, for freedom from debt, equals, if not surpasses, the finest in our diocese. The fine pastoral residence, the neat cemetery with its pretty chapel, a church property little less than one hundred thousand dollars in value, all this the work of but a quarter of a century, all this in the lifetime of one man, laboring among a people few in number compared to many another congregation, surely your work speaks better than any words of ours of the prudence, the courage, the zeal, the faith, the ability, which have characterized your long pastorate."
The silver anniversary of the beginning of Father Barry's pastorate
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was a memorable event in the history of the Catholic church of Con- cord. He was presented with a purse of one thousand dollars by his congregation, besides a gift of one hundred silver half dollars by the children of the convent of the Sacred Heart. The clergy of the dio- cese presented him with a purse of six hundred dollars with which to purchase some article most pleasing to himself, as a memorial of the occasion. In addition to these gifts there were numerous other mementoes from friends in the city, the state, and other parts of the country. Among the congratulatory letters was one from every clergy- man in Concord.
In May, 1883, the work of enlarging St. John's church was begun, and it was finished in May, 1884. The addition was made in tran- septs and an addition to the rear of the church for the sacristry. The transepts have galleries furnished with pews and add three hundred sittings to the church. The cost of the enlargement was sixteen thousand dollars.
The rededication of the church occurred Sunday, June 22, 1884. The occasion possessed special interest, as it was the first official act of the Right Reverend D. M. Bradley as bishop of the new diocese of Manchester, recently created, who celebrated pontifical high mass for the first time in this state. After the celebration of mass Bishop Bradley preached a sermon. John M. Mitchell, in behalf of the con_ gregation, presented an address to the bishop, to which the latter fittingly responded.
July 23, 1875, Father Barry was honored by a visit of the papal embassy, consisting of His Excellency Monsignor Roncelli, Papal Ablegate, Rev. Dr. Ubaldi, secretary to the Ablegate, Very Reverend William Quinn, vicar-general of New York, Very Reverend Monsig- nor Desanlets of Montreal, and Reverend M. C. O'Farrell of Ron- dout, N. Y. A serenade was given to the distinguished visitors by the Independent Club of Concord, accompanied to the residence of Father Barry by a large number of citizens. Ablegate Roncelli addressed the assembly in Latin, which address at its close was freely translated into English by Vicar-General Quinn. Monsignor Ron- celli was the first ablegate sent to this country by the Holy Father to settle ecclesiastical affairs. At a later day Bishop Conroy, the apostolic delegate of the pope, became a guest of Father Barry.
April 6, 1887, Father Barry bought the Pickering property at the corner of State and Thorndike streets, and, remodeling the build- ing that stood thereon, he began at once to build near by the Sacred Heart school for boys and girls. The cost of this purchase and con- struction was over twenty thousand dollars. In September, 1888, a community of Sisters of Mercy arrived, and organized classes in the
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school. In addition to the usual nine grades, geometry, Latin, and civil government are taught. The courses of study are modeled after those of the public schools, and its graduates, who are examined by the board of education, readily pass for admission to the public high school. Property has been purchased at the north end of the city on which a school is to be built for the education of the children of that section.
Father Barry was the first priest to say mass at the state prison, and through his efforts regular celebrations of mass are held at the asylum for the insane. Of the latter institution he was a trustee, having been several times reappointed by the governor and council. He was also an active member of the New Hampshire Historical society, and served as a member of the Concord school board.
Father Barry was twice appointed administrator of the diocese of Portland upon the death of Bishops Bacon and Healey, and upon the consecration of the latter was made vicar-general of the diocese, a position he held until his death.
On the afternoon of November 14, 1900, the people of Concord were shocked by the news of Father Barry's death in New York, whither he had gone to attend to ecclesiastical duties. While cross- ing Broadway he was struck by a cable car and instantly killed. All Concord was cast into gloom, and spontaneous tributes to his beau- tiful life were heard on every side. Every clergyman in the city testified to the excellence of his character, the nobility of his work, and the purity of his life. Protestant and Catholic alike were in mourning for his loss. All places of business were closed on the day of his funeral, and the Catholic church was crowded by citizens of the capital and others from abroad to pay their respects to the hon- ored dead. In one of the Protestant churches (the Unitarian), the Sunday preceding Father Barry's funeral, one of the speakers thus voiced the sentiment of Concord :
" No event of recent years has cast such universal gloom over this community or touched so many hearts with sadness as the tragic death of Father Barry. For more than a generation he has mingled with our people, an example of a holy life, a life without spot or blemish, a character above reproach. We now measure in part his influence and the love we bore him by the widespread sorrow his death has caused."
At the time of his death, Father Barry was the dean of the clergy of Concord, his pastorate covering a period of thirty-five years. Shrinking from all publicity, declining more honors, civic and eccle- siastical, tlian he accepted, he nevertheless made a deep and lasting impression on the community by the excellence of his life, the fidelity
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of his ministrations, and the breadth of his public spirit. Laboring among a people largely wage-earners, he not only created for them a handsome church property, keeping his parish free of debt, but he enhanced their moral welfare by his labors for temperance and other reforms. Nor was the influence of Father Barry confined to his own parishioners. He possessed the confidence and affection of all peo- ple, and by his precept and example wrought greatly for the good of Concord.
At the earnest solicitation of Bishop Bradley, Reverend Eugene M. O'Callaghan of Portsmouth became the successor of Father Barry at Concord, and took charge of the parish January 28, 1901. Father O'Callaghan was born in Ireland, September 28, 1845, and was or- dained a priest May 22, 1869. He was immediately attached as assistant to St. Dominic's church, at Portland, Me. In September he was transferred to the cathedral, and was in charge during the absence of the bishop at the Vatican Council. The same year he was appointed chancellor of the diocese, an office he held until Bishop Bacon's death in November, 1874. In May, 1874, he was appointed pastor of Augusta, Hallowell, Gardiner, and Togus, and remained until October, 1875, when he was transferred to the Church of the Immaculate Conception, at Portsmouth.
He began his pastorate at Portsmouth with a debt of twenty-six thousand dollars on the church property, and an annual interest charge of two thousand dollars. On the tenth anniversary of his coming to Portsmouth, he was able to announce to his people that the entire debt was discharged. During his pastorate some ten thou- sand dollars were spent in completing the church, besides building a parochial school, purchasing a new cemetery, and adding materially to the church property. In 1891 he was offered the large parish of Nashua, but declined, and the same year was appointed one of the four permanent rectors of the diocese.
His coming to Concord was entwined with sad memories. In addition to leaving a people to whom he was fondly attached, his intimacy with Father Barry and his being a witness of his tragic death made the new appointment anything but a pleasant one. But he entered upon his duties with carnestness and zeal, and most gen- erously has his parish responded to his appeals for assistance in improvements. The rectory was first put in complete repair at a cost of five thousand dollars, and then the church entirely trans- formed at a cost of ten thousand dollars. Staincd-glass windows, made in Munich and representing scenes in the life of Christ and events in the history of the Catholic church, were procured. One of thesc, portraying St. Patrick preaching to the Irish kings, is a memo-
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rial to Father Barry, a gift of the present pastor. The church and sanctuary have been frescoed by W. J. Dolan, a New Hampshire man by birth, but now eminent in his profession; while on the walls at each side of the sanctuary are four beautiful mural paintings, the work of Gustav Kinkelin, a celebrated German artist. Extending the entire width of the church and enclosing the three altars is a new and heavy mahogany altar railing, and suspended from the high arch is a handsome sanctuary lamp. Another feature is a butternut-wood pulpit, a model of beautiful carving. Three marble altars from Car- rara, Italy, are soon to be added to the other improvements.
This, in part, represents the work of the new rector, whose age and previous service entitled him to freedom from change and the exacting labor of a station like Concord. Cheerfully, however, he has taken up his burden, encompassed as it is by many touching associations of his former friend. His assistant is Reverend Thomas M. O'Leary, who was with Father Barry during the last four years of his life, and who did much to prepare the way for the coming of Father O'Callaghan. The latter, in addition to his cares as rector of the parish, is vicar-general of the diocese.
A census of the Catholic population of St. John's parish, which includes East and West Concord, but not Penacook or the French Catholics, taken in 1901, shows them to number two thousand nine hundred.
THE CHURCH OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION (CATHOLIC) AT PENACOOK.
There is a no more painstaking historical student than John C. Linehan of Penacook, and, where so much of the early history of churches is a matter of tradition, it is especially fortunate to be able to draw from the accurate memory of one whose residence in Pena- cook began almost with the birth of this society and with the village. Of this church he says :
" According to the late Henry F. Brown, Martin Sherlock was the first known Catholic to reside in Penacook. He was an Irishman, and came here in 1845 or 1846. He was in the employ of H. H. and J. S. Brown. This is all that is known of him. In the Directory published by Witherell of Penacook in 1850 are the names of Patrick Cody, Patrick Doyle, John Driscoll, Catherine Gahagan, John Gaha- gan, and Cornelius Hurley. The Gahagans were brother and sister. John Gahagan was the father of Mrs. James Kelly, and lived and. owned the house in Church street, now occupied by James Kelly and family. He died in 1856 or '57. His son Thomas served three years in the Fifth New Hampshire in the Civil War. His stepson, Richard
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Nolan, was killed in the ranks of the Seventh regiment in the charge on Fort Wagner. His sister later married Nelson Speed of West Concord, and lives in that village at present. Patrick Doyle built the house on Church street owned for so many years by the Pender- gast family. He went to Manchester before the war, dying there a few years ago. Cornelius Hurley left before 1861, and nothing more is known about him. But one of the six named has any descendants here now. Few of this class came to the village until 1852. The family of John Linchan arrived in May of that year, and with the exception of an interval of a few months, have lived here since.
"They were followed within a year by many others whose names are now a part of the Penacook Directory, such as Pendergast, Keenan, Cooney, Kelly, Dolan, O'Brien, O'Neil, Reagan, Foley, Nolan, Corbett, Coakley, Devlin, Mclaughlin, McArdle, Brennan, Flannigan, Kenny, Maher, Thornton, Taylor, Spearman, Griffin, Barry, and others. A few of these have disappeared, but representatives of the greater part remain.
" The first priest having charge of this mission was Reverend Will- iam McDonald of Manchester. When he came to the latter city it is said there was but one Catholic church between Boston and the Canada line along the Concord, Northern, and Vermont Central rail- roads, the exception being at Lowell. It is believed that the first child who was baptized in Penacook was Andrew Linehan in May, 1852. Father McDonald was succeeded by Reverend John B. Daley, who took charge of Concord and the mission around it in 1853 or thereabouts. Mass was said at first in private houses, usually on week days, at half past three in the morning. This early hour was necessary, as those employed in the mills were obliged to go to work at five o'clock. The first houses in which mass was said were those of Michael Bolger, John Gahagan, John Linehan, and Ellen Cooney.
"Father Daley was succeeded in the Concord parish by Father O'Reilly, who died shortly after assuming his pastorate. Father Daley again took charge for a short time until the appointment of Reverend John O'Donnell of Nashua. It is a question if in New Eng- land the Catholic Church possessed a more devoted servant than Father Daley. His mission at one time or another took him through the six New England states. There were but few localities between Bur- lington and Boston where his name was not a household word. He is given honorable mention in the history of the town of Littleton.
" Reverend John O'Donnell, who succeeded him, remained in charge until October, 1865. He was at the same time pastor of a parish in Nashua. A public school in that city bears his name, evincing the estimation in which he was held by his fellow-citizens. During his
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pastorate, for the first time the Catholics of Penacook were gathered as a congregation, and had services regularly. They met in what was known as Granite hall, formerly occupied by the Methodists, and later, when their numbers increased, in the Pantheon hall on the Boscawen side. He organized the first Sunday-school, appointing John C. Linehan as superintendent. This position was held by the latter until 1885. A library in connection with the school was started by the superintendent, and up to the time that Father O'Donnell left Penacook the penny collections taken on Sundays were contributed by him for the purchase of books. Father O'Donnell died some years ago.
" Reverend John E. Barry succeeded him, when he was appointed the first regular pastor of Concord, with Penacook as a part of his mission, in October, 1865. Under his ministrations the congregation rapidly increased. In June, 1867, the Methodist society offered their church edifice for sale. Here was an opportunity of which the Cath- olics of the village availed themselves. Not a few of them, by habits of industry and thrift, had accumulated enough to buy comfortable homes. With the approval of Father Barry, a committee, consisting of John C. Linehan and John Thornton, was appointed to secure the means, if possible, to buy the property. There was no money in the church treasury, and it was impossible to secure any from the banks. Catholic church property was not looked upon then as a desirable investment. An arrangement was made, however, with John L. Tal- lant for a loan in the September following. The committee, there- fore, negotiated with the Methodists to the end that the property was transferred to the Catholic congregation, a joint note being given as security for the payment of two thousand and fifty dollars. The date of the note was June 3, 1867. The date of payment was September 20th of the same year, the committee agreeing to have the entire amount paid on the latter date. It was quite a task the two members of the committee assumed. The joint signers were John C. Linehan, John Thornton, John Pendergast, Thomas Igo, Patrick Kelly, John Mack, Edward Taylor, Edward McArdle, Lawrence Gahagan, Edward Halloran. But two of the signers survive, and but one is now in Penacook. The other, John Mack, lives in Lowell, Mass.
" Between June 3d and September 20th the congregation paid in hard cash the sum of nine hundred and fifty dollars with three months interest on the entire amount. The balance of the principal, eleven hundred dollars, was hired of Mr. Tallant, a note being given accompanied by a mortgage as security, not only on the church but on the homes of John C. Linehan and John Thornton. This note became due a year from the date of issue. One hundred and fifty
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dollars was lacking at the latter date, and it was loaned to John C. Linehan by Barron, Dodge & Co., on a note signed by himself as security, and Mr. Tallant's note paid in full. A month later Barron, Dodge & Co. were paid, and the debt, amounting from beginning to end, principal and interest, to two thousand two hundred dollars, was discharged in full early in November of the same year.
" This edifice was consecrated under the patronage of St. John the Baptist early in 1870 by the late Bishop Healey of Portland. The details of this transaction are given in order to show the zeal of the Catholics of Penacook, the first of whom practically settled there but fifteen years before. Within a year from this time nearly seven hun- dred dollars were paid in by the congregation to paint the church and place the basement in condition for the Sunday-school and library.
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