USA > New York > Onondaga County > Syracuse > Memorial history of Syracuse, N.Y. : from its settlement to the present time > Part 12
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MEMORIAL HISTORY OF SYRACUSE.
1885. The next regular pastor was Rev. J. C. F. Grumbine, who came September 1, 1885, and continued to February I, ISSS. The pulpit was then supplied until November 1, 1889, when Rev. F. W. Betts was called. The present officers of the church are : President, George .B. Clark : Clerk, James N. Betts ; Treasurer, G. A. Clark ; Trustees, John Eastwood, Geo. W. Englehart, A. Martin, F. L. Emmons, Charles Hall, Geo. B. Clark, Alex. Soul.
Reformed Presbyterian (Covenanter) Church .- Organized in Syracuse in 1849, with the following officers : Elders, John McClure, Sr., James Mc- Clure ; Deacons, John Scott, Wm. Faulkner, George Hunter. First church building was in Warren street, junction of Salina. The second and present building is in South Salina street -- then New Brighton, now Eleventh ward. The present officers are: Elders, John McClure, James McClure, Hugh Scott ; Deacons, Charles Dougall, Renwick W. McClure. The pastors of the church were John Newell, J. M. Johnston, J. M. Armour, S. R. Wallace.
Church of Assumption (Roman Catholic) .- This church is located on North Salina street, near Isabella. In the year 1844 the following persons were made trustees of this society, then called St. Mary's, and they pur- chased the church site of E. W. Leavenworth and erected a wooden building 30x46 feet in dimensions, surmounted by a spire. The builder was Emer- son Thayer. The church bore the motto " Deo." The trustees were John B. Lange, George Miller, and I. Afferdick. The first pastor was Rev. P. Adelbert Inama, who was appointed in 1843 by Rt. Rev. John McClosky, first Roman Catholic Bishop of the Albany Diocese. He was succeeded by Rev. Theodore Noethen, Rev. P. Flarian Schweninger, O. S. B., Rev. P. Simon Sanderl, and he by Rev. Joseph Raffeiner, under whose adminis- tration the church was enlarged to meet the growing demands of the con- gregation.
In the year 1861 began the administration of that branch of the Francis- can Fathers, known as Minor Conventionals. They built the new church edifice in 1865 at a cost of about $125,000. The work was done under di- rection of their Commissary.Ceneral, V. P. R. Lapold Morzygemba, O. M. C., and the Guardian of the Convent and Pastor of the church, Rev. P. Norbert Stoller, O. M. C. The church was consecrated on the 3d of May, 1867, by the Rt. Rev. John J. Conroy, then Bishop of the Albany Diocese, and the two towers were finished in 1872 by V. R. P. Fidelis Dehm, Guar- dian and Pastor. He remained pastor until IS78, when he was made a Bishop and sent to Europe. Father Joseph succeeded him as Superior of the Franciscans and appointed Rev. Father Leonard Erich as pastor. He remained until 1880. In July of that year a Chapter of the Franciscan Order was held at the church and Father Alexis Rossbauer was elected Superior and Pastor. He remained until November, 1883. During his
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ST. MARY'S CHURCH.
pastorate he erected a school building and introduced steam heat through- out the buildings, at a cost of $40,000. Father Lou. Reich was elected pastor in 1883 and continued to May, 1888. At that time another chapter was held and elected Rev. Dr. Louis Miller as Superior and Pastor. He remained until October, 1889, when another Chapter was held and the Rev. Francis Neubauer, D. D., was elected Provincial of the Order and Rev. Father Bonaventura Zoller was appointed Pastor. The other officials are Rev. Nazareno Graziani, D. D., O. M. C .; Rev. Anthony Gehring, Rev. Conrad Elison, O. M. C. Francis Baumer is Director and George J. Baumer, Organist. It was found necessary to erect a new building as the old one was insufficient. The new school on Townsend street cost $40,000.
St. Mary's (Roman Catholic) Church .- Previous to the year 1842 there were only a few Catholic families in the village of Syracuse ; but they early felt the need of a religious organization, which sentiment resulted, in 1842, in the organization of this society. In 1844 they purchased the wooden church building of the St. Paul's Episcopal society and removed it to the corner of Montgomery and Madison streets, where they had acquired a site. The building was enlarged and improved in 1848. Rev. Michael Haes was the first pastor and continued at the head of the church until his death in 1859. He was succeeded by the Rev. James A. O'Hara on the 4th of July, that year, who was pastor for thirty years, during which long period he labored with the most faithful solicitude for his congregation as well as in many ways for the good of the entire community. He won to himself the confidence and love of every member of his large congregation, and of thousands outside of his church.
During the administration of Father Haes the church grew rapidly and by the year 1852 the congregation had become very numerous, and in that year was organized the Church of St. John the Evangelist, the edifice for which was erected under his charge in 1854. In this undertaking he was greatly aided by the late Dennis McCarthy and Cornelius Lynch. Father Haes also brought the first Sisters of Charity to this city and three of them opened a school in the basement of the St. Mary's church. The sisters have now three schools under their charge; these schools are the St. Vincent de Paul Orphan Asylum and School, on Madison street, owning a brick edifice which cost $125,000 ; the Orphan Asylum for Boys and Home for Old and Infirm People, situated in the town of Geddes. The site for the latter was purchased by Andrew Lynch for Rev. Dr. O'Hara in 1867, who inaugurated an Industrial School for Boys, under the management of the Christian Brothers. Two years later, while Dr. O'Hara was in Europe, the undertaking was abandoned. In 1872 Messrs. Thomas Mccarthy, Patrick Phelan, and Timothy Sullivan, of the General Conference of the St. Vin- cent de Paul Society, re-established the institution under the management
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MEMORIAL HISTORY OF SYRACUSE.
of the Sisters of Charity, as a home for old and feeble of both sexes and an orphan asylum for boys. Connected with the institution is a farm of about sixty acres, which is worked by the inmates. Recently a large and very elegant building has been erected at a cost of $50,000 to take the place of the old one, and fitted up with all modern improvements ; it adds greatly to the comfort of the orphans.
In course of time the growth of the congregation in number and wealth made it expedient that a new and more commodious house of worship should be provided. Accordingly Rev. Dr. O'Hara purchased a prominent site on the corner of Montgomery and Jefferson streets, consisting of four lots. Here, during the succeeding ten years, was erected the finest and costliest church edifice in Syracuse. Its cost has been about $250,000. It is now complete, with the exception of the towers.
Rev. Dr. O'Hara was born in Ballyshannon, Donegal county, Ireland, Nov. 2, 1829. In his nineteenth year he came to America and began the study of law in Philadelphia, but soon abandoned it for the ministry. He pursued his studies, and taught in the Augustinian College of St. Thomas of Villanova, in the arch-diocese of Philadelphia, and in St. John's College, Fordham, where he completed the philosophical and theological course. He then spent some time in St. Mary's Seminary, Baltimore, from which he graduated with honor. In July, 1857, he was ordained by Cardinal McClosky, at Albany, and remained with the Bishop for a time as assistant priest. He was then appointed pastor of St. Patrick's Church at Oneida, and fifteen months later was sent to Syracuse and installed as pastor of St. Mary's Church, succeeding Rev. Father Haes, who died in 1859. Father O'Hara assumed his charge here July 4, 1859, and remained therein until his death. During the first fifteen years of his pastoral service here he held missions at Lafayette, Fayetteville, Otisco, and Pompey. In 1860 he built the St. Vin- cent de Paul Orphan Asylum and committed it to the charge of the Sisters of Charity. In 1868 he was presented with the grounds of the House of Providence in Geddes, and he there established an industrial school for boys, to which reference is made on another page. Father O'Hara must also be credited with the establishment of St. Mary's Cemetery, for which the lands were bought by him in 1870.
Previous to the opening of the last Ecumenical council held at Rome, Italy, December 8, ISS9, the Rev. Father O'Hara accompanied thither the late Bishop Lynch, of Charleston, S. C., as liis theologian. Meanwhile, in- spired by his love for study and investigation, he entered the University of Sapienza, where he received the degree of Doctor of Divinity. The distinc- tion thus conferred on Doctor O'Hara by this famous seat of learning is all the more noteworthy on account of his being the first American student and graduate thus honored.
سلك
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ST. JOHN'S CATHEDRAL.
Doctor O'Hara's name, however, will be more intimately associated with the noble structure at the intersection of Montgomery, Jefferson, and East Onondaga streets, to the building of which the best years of his life were devoted. The site was bought by Dr. O'Hara from Peter Burns for $30,000.
The new St. Mary's church is one of the finest houses of worship in Cen- tral New York. It is a crown of glory to the memory of the venerable pas- tor, through whose efforts it was erected. Dr. O'Hara died December 26, 1889.
Dr. O'Hara will always remain a historical character of Syracuse. Prob- ably no man has accomplished more for Catholicism than he, and his lovable traits of character and disposition endeared him to all with whom he came in contact.
The officers of St. Mary's are, Rev. John Grimes, Pastor ; Assistant Pas- tor, Rev. Francis J. Quinn; Secretary, Frank Diel; Treasurer, John O'Reilly ; Organist, William O. Fiske.
St. John's Cathedral ( formerly Church of St. John the Evangelist) .- This church is an outgrowth of St. Mary's church, an account of which precedes this. In 1852 the congregation of St. Mary's had outgrown its accommoda- tions in that church and Bishop McClosky delegated Rev. John McMenony, Assistant Pastor of St. Mary's, to begin the erection of the Church of St. John the Evangelist, on the corner of Lock and Willow streets. The build- ing was finished and opened in 1854. Rev. John McMenony was appointed pastor and officiated until 1868, when he was succeeded by Rev. Joseph Guerdet. He continued the active duties of the pastorate until 1882. Rev. Thomas W. Reilly then took charge of the affairs of the parish. During his administration the new school house, corner Lock and Hickory streets, was erected and the Parochial School for Girls was opened by the Sisters of St. Joseph, in September, 1883. . The boys' department continued under the care of the Christian Brothers. Father Reilly was ably assisted by Rev. Mat- thew Merns, now pastor of St. Johnsville, N. Y., and Rev. John F. Don- ohue, now pastor of Salem, N. Y.
Rev. J. J. Moriarity, L.L. D., succeeded Father Reilly in the admistra- tion of the parish ; he came in December, 1883, and continued in charge until May 1, 1887. Syracuse became the seat of a new Episcopal See in 1887, and on May Ist, of that year, Rt. Rev. P. A. Ludden, D. D., was con- secrated the first Bishop of the Diocese of Syracuse. He selected the Church of St. John the Evangelist for his Cathedral and Very Rev. J. S. M. Lynch, D. D., was transferred from St. John's church, Utica, N. Y., and became Vicar-General and Rector of St. John's Cathedral, Syracuse, N. Y. Rev. P. F. McEvoy was appointed Chancellor and Secretary of the new diocese.
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MEMORIAL HISTORY OF SYRACUSE.
To meet the requirements of the new order of things the church was considerably enlarged and completely renovated. A large addition was also made to the school building.
St. John's Catholic Academy was founded in August, 1887, as a Cath- olic High School, and received a charter from the Regents of the University of the State of New York, admitting it to all of the privileges of the Uni- versity. Recently a building was purchased by St. Vincent de Paul Society, on the corner of Greenway avenue and Vann street, where Sunday school is held for the accomodation of the children residing in the eastern portion of the parish.
The Church of St. John the Baptist .- The Church of St. John the Bap- tist, a large, elegant brick structure in the Romanesque style of architecture, is situated in the Second ward near the dividing line on the corner of Park and Court streets. It was built in the year 1866 by Rev. James Duffy, now pastor of St. John's Church, East Albany. Before his time the Cath- olics of Salina and surrounding country worshipped in the old wooden church on North Salina street. It stood in the First ward opposite the present Academy of the Sacred Hearts. It was commenced and the corner stone laid in 1829. Through the exertions of Thomas Mccarthy and James Lynch, together with the assistance of the few Roman Catholics, and donations made by Protestants, and Catholic friends along the line of villages between Syracuse and Albany, the little society of Catholics in Salina were enabled to bring their Church of St. John the Baptist to com- pletion. It was dedicated toward the beginning of 1830. Rt. Rev. John Dubois was the Bishop of the Diocese of New York, and for two succeed- ing years, the congregation being small, was visited by clergymen only once a month. The first regular resident pastor who officiated in the church was Rev. Francis O'Donohue, who was pastor for about six years, and was succeeded by Fathers Balfe and Drummond, who in turn gave place to James O'Donnell. The latter remained in charge of the church and mis- sion for some four or five years. The next pastors were Fathers Radigan and Cartier. Father Michael Haes came next. Under his supervision the church was much enlarged and changed. After a pastorate of about fifteen years he was transferred to the newly erected parish of St.Mary's, Syracuse. He was succeeded by Revs. Philip Gillick and Joseph Guerdet (who after- wards became pastor of St. John the Evangelist, the present cathedral of this city). The succession of pastors since has been Revs. T. A. Mullady, Michael Hackett, Maurice Sheehan, James A. Duffy, (the builder of the present church,) Father Brown and Rev. William J. Bourke and Rev. John F. Mullany, the present pastor. Rev. Father Mullany was formerly pastor of an extensive mission of which the village of Whitestown, Oneida county, was the center and his residence. Before his advent to St. John the Bap-
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ST. PATRICK'S CHURCH.
tist Church he had erected in this mission three beautiful churches. Dur- ing his present charge in Syracuse he has erected the Church of the Sacred Heart, in the village of Cicero, and has another in process of building in the village of Liverpool ; it will be known as St. Joseph's Church. These two missions have greatly increased the work of the parish, but with the aid of one assistant, Rev. Joseph S. Tiernan, he is enabled to give them ser- vices at least once a month.
The Church of St. John the Baptist occupies a beautiful and commanding site on the hillside, gently sloping to the lake. The church will seat 1,500 persons, was erected in 1871, and cost $125,000. This is now one of the leading parishes in the city and has a magnificent academy connected with it on Salina street. This academy is chartered under the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York, and is known under the name of the Academy of the Sacred Heart. It was built by Rev. William J. Bourke, but chartered under Rev. John F. Mullany. It consists of a prin- cipal building and a wing extending from the rear thereof. It is two stories high, with a basement now utilized for Sodality purposes. In the second story there is a hall which will seat 600 persons, with a stage where the school children hold public exercises monthly. Ten teachers are employed in instructing an average attendance of 500 pupils. The academy building, convent and lot are valued at $40,000.
St. Patrick's Church .- This church is located in Geddes, on the corner of Schuyler street and Lowell avenue. The society was organized in 1871, with the Rev. Hugh Shields as pastor, who remained but for a short time. Ile was succeeded by the Very Rev. Dr. Lynch, the present Vicar-Gen- eral of the Diocese of Syracuse, who completed the basement of the church and the work was continued by Rev. Patrick F. Smith, formerly of Hudson, N. Y., who was appointed pastor in July, 1871, and who finished the handsome structure. Father Smith was succeeded, in 1875, by Rev. James P. Magee, the present pastor, about 1875. Amongst the assistant pastors may be named the Rev. P. F. McEvoy, the present Chancellor of Diocese, Father Magee has remained in charge of the church since its organization and by his earnest and faithful work has made it one of the prominent Catholic societies of the city. Father Philip Herrick succeeded Father McEvoy as assistant, and he was followed by the present assistant, Father John C. Higgins. The church is a handsome brick edifice and was erected in 1872 at a cost of $50,000. A lot opposite the church has recently been purchased at a cost of $8,000, for school purposes.
St. Josephi's Church (German Catholic) .- This church was organized on the 19th of November, 1881, and the corner stone laid in the following year. On the 21st of November, 1882, the dedication took place. The building cost $20,000. A school building was erected in connection with the church,
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MEMORIAL HISTORY OF SYRACUSE.
in 1883, at a cost of $1,500. Rev. Joseph Pickl has been in charge of the church from the first and under his ministry the society has rapidly grown in numbers. The present officers are as follows : George Wolz, President ; Frank Schender, Secretary.
St. Lucy's Church .- The organization of this church was largely owing to the zeal of a few members of this faith who saw its need on account of the growth of the Catholic population in the Fifth ward. Permission to organize a society was obtained from Rt. Rev. John J. Conroy, Bishop of Albany, and the concurrence of nearly all of the Catholics of the ward, and meetings were held in the Cook block. The society promised rapid growth and it was resolved in the early part of 1872 to erect a church. To this end the following committee were appointed : Patrick Slattery, President ; John J. Lynch, Auditor ; John Helmack, Treasurer; Thomas F. Delany, Secretary, and Francis Connolly, H. A. Duffy, Patrick Holloran, Anthony Chryst, Lawrence Ryan, Charles McFall, Thomas Kendrick, Francis Murphy, William Michaels, and Dan Mooney. On the 15th of August, 1872, digging for the basement was begun, and about September 12th was finished, at which time the Rt. Rev. Bishop Conroy appointed Rev. John J. Kennedy pastor of the congregation. The society was then incorporated under the name of " St. Lucy's Church, Syracuse, N. Y." Plans were obtained for a church edifice and the work of its erection was pushed with vigor. The corner stone was laid by Rt. Rev. Francis McNeirny, the successor of Bishop Conroy, June 22, 1873, and the basement of the building was occupied for worship on the Ist of November, 1873. The church was entirely finished December 23, 1875, on which day it was dedicated by Rt. Rev. Francis McNeirny. Rev. John J. Kennedy has continued as the pastor of the church to the present time, and is assisted by Rev. P. Donohue.
St. Joseph's (French Catholic) Church .- This society was organized in 1869 by the Rev. Joseph Guerdet, at which time there were nearly two hundred members. In the same year the church building on East Genesee street was bought of the Central Baptist Society. The first trustees of the church were O. Duplessis and M. Rodier. The first rector was the Rev. Joseph Quevillon, who received his appointment from Rt. Rev. Bishop Mc- Nierny, of Albany. He remained until April, 1870, and in July of that year the Rev. J. S. Robillard succeeded. He was followed by the Rev. Mr. Brouillet, and he by the present pastor, the Rev. B. C. Thibault. This church has grown with the increase of I'rench population, and various im- provements have been made to the property, including a new rectory next to the church edifice. The church officers are : T. DuPlessis and N. Goss, Trustees ; Mrs. A. Harney, Organist.
Seventh Day Adventists .- In October, 1879, P. Z. Kinne, of Kirkville, opened a flour and feed store at 49 East Water street, Syracuse, with N. J.
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SOCIETY OF CONCORD.
Walsworth, manager, who with his family, were among the early Seventh Day Adventists in the city. Soon afterward Elder E. W. Whitney, with his family, came, and in connection with Mr. Walsworth, rented a house on Cherry street, where meetings were held every Sabbath. A little later S. N. Walsworth and others of the Adventist faith moved into the city. The Syracuse church of the faith is an offshoot from the Kirkville church. In 1882 the Kirkville church, organized in 1861, numbered fifteen members. Believing Syracuse to be a more central place of meeting, they changed their place of worship to this city. Members of the same faith in Syracuse united with them. This was the beginning of the Syracuse church proper. In 1884, mission rooms were opened in the Crouse building on Warren street, and in connection with these a free reading and lecture room was es- tablished. Here the society worshipped for three years. The mission was then removed to another point on the same street for one year, when prop- erty was purchased at 109 Harrison place, for a permanent place of worship. Through earnest missionary effort the membership has increased to seventy- eight at the present time, (1891,) besides eighteen Sabbath-keepers who are not yet members. Although the Seventh Day Adventists have no settled pastors, their ministers being missionaries mainly, still, besides Elder E. Whitney, who was the first Seventh Day Adventist minister that came to this city to labor, Elder A. E. Place has labored here principally. Elder M. H. Brown, a former President of the State Conference, has labored here to some extent ; also, Elder S. H. Lane, the present President, and Elder E. E. Miles, and H. E. Robinson, and J. E. Swift. The church officers are : Church Elder, C. V. Gilbert ; Deacon, N. J. Walsworth ; Treasurer, Wm. Lamb; Church Clerk, A. D. Kellogg; Trustees, C. V. Gilbert, W. R. Booth, S. N. Walsworth.
Society of Concord .- In 1841 there stood on the site of the present Bas- table block, the wholesale notion house of Bernheim & Block. This store was a sort of headquarters for traders from the East, and in the evening a meeting place for the Jewish young men living here. It was at one of these gatherings that a proposition to establish a Hebrew place of worship was first made. Here and throughout the State the suggestion was well received. On September 26, 1841, in New York city, twelve gentlemen met at the house of H. Weiksheimer, and decided to remove to Syracuse, then a thriv- ing village, and to establish there a Hebrew place of worship. These men were the founders of the Society of Concord. The first meeting was held on November 21, 1841, at the residence of Jacob Garson, Mulberry street. The officers chosen were: President, Max Thalheimer; Treasurer, Joseph Schloss; Trustees, H. Rosenbach and S. Manheimer; Secretary, E. Roths- child. None of these gentlenien are now living. The Rev. A. Gunzen- hauser was engaged as minister and reader. The first services were held in
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an upper room of Mr. Garson's house. Sometime afterwards services were held in the Townsend block on Water street. The Rev. Gunzenhauser, having then retired, the Rev. Joseph Goodman was chosen his successor. He entered upon his duties in August, 1846. The congregation having in- creased in membership, a house and lot on the south side of Madison street, at the corner of Mulberry, was purchased for $800. The house was trans- formed into a synagogue, and dedicated as such by the Rev. Dr. Isaac Wise, of Cincinnati. At that period, I. H. Bronner was President of the congre- gation, and after a few years was followed by Aaron Henocksberg. As time went on, the little church around the corner, as it was called, became too small to accommodate the congregation, and the necessity for a more convenient and larger house of worship was felt on all sides.
The first step toward the execution of the project was the election of Jacob Stone as President, a very popular man in the community and the senior member of the firm of Stone & Manheimer. He set himself vigor- ously to the task of building a place of worship suited to the growing needs of the congregation. The members co-operated with him in the heartiest and most energetic manner. A large number of ten dollar bonds were issued and each member took one or more. The result of their combined exertions was the erection of the present synagogue, corner Mulberry and Harrison streets, in 1850, which was dedicated by the Rev. Dr. Raphael, of New York, and the Rev. Dr. Lesser, of Philadelphia, and assisted by Dr. Leopold Els- ner, of this city. The Rev. Joseph Goodman having resigned, the Rev. Jacob Levi was chosen in his place. During his administration two factions, one called the Reform and the other the Orthodox party, sprang up in the congregation. The Reform party was headed by Joseph Falker, who was elected President of the Society in March, 1861. During Mr. Falker's ad- ministration, organ playing, choir singing, family pews were introduced, the custom of men worshiping with covered heads during services was abolished, and many doctrinal alterations were made. These reforms meant nothing more than the reconciling of the old spirit of Judaism with the newer light and the newer requirements of the newer age. The majority of the congre- gation felt that Judaism can never be preserved from decay by galvanizing dead forms, by rites and views which collided with modern civilization. They wanted a broad, enlightened Judaism, a Judaism appealing to the heart as well as to reason, a Judaism congenial to the free soil of America. These innovations introduced into the service stirred up a violent opposition, and the minority finding they could not reconcile their consciences to the actions of the majority, finally seceded in a body and established themselves into an Orthodox society, which is still in existence.
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