USA > New York > Dutchess County > The history of Dutchess County, New York > Part 57
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tice of their religious duties * * the young men and women of the parish were also carefully looked after; dramatic societies were established to keep them from evil associations; they were carefully
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instructed regarding their reading, and advised as to the books which should prove entertaining and profitable. The material wants of the aged poor were also provided for, but so secretly that it was only after his death that Fr. Farrell's extensive charities became known." The health of Fr. Farrell having become seriously impaired, he found it necessary to resign and go to Europe. It happened that the Rev. Peter McCourt, who became Fr. Farrell's successor, was on board the same steamer and devoted himself in caring for his dying friend. Fr. McCourt was succeeded by the Rev. John C. Henry in May, 1877, and he in turn by the Rev. Michael McSwiggan, a native of Ireland, who officiated for the first time September 15, 1884. During his pastorate Archbishop Corrigan visited the parish and blessed the new bell. During these past twenty years or more the large building had been kept in the best order, and improvements and embellishments of various kinds owing to the liberality of the members were being made from time to time. On the 16th of August, 1891, the parish cele- brated the thirtieth anniversary of its dedication. Fr. McSwiggan died in Belgium, October 25, 1890, and as if anticipating his death, one of his last acts was the purchase of additional ground for the cemetery. His funeral, which took place on the 22d of November following, was attended by a large number of the clergy and the laity. On this occasion Mr. James Forrestal acted as grand marshal of the procession which acted as an escort, bearing the body of the dead priest from the railroad station to the cemetery.
The next pastor of the parish was the Rev. Terence P. Kelly, who was installed on the 1st day of December, 1890. During his pas- torate the parish continued to expand and the number of the faith- ful having so increased in the town of Fishkill that it was decided to establish a new parish. Accordingly on the 26th day of April, 1891, the corner stone of St. John's Church was laid in the Village of Fish- kill-on-the-Hudson. The Rev. T. F. Kelly having been transferred to Villa Nova he was succeeded by the Rev. J. H. Briody, who is pas- tor of the church now.
The following information concerning St. John's Church, Fishkill, appeared in St. John's Fair Journal, printed December 5th, 1891, signed "One of St. John's Members."
"This parish was established by his grace, Archbishop Corrigan, of New York, and the first pastor, Rev. John A. Hurley, was appointed December 12th, 1887.
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The formation of the new parish from a part of the old parish of St. Joachim's, Matteawan, was brought about by the men who lived in Fishkill-on-Hudson call- ing meetings and debating the advantages to be gained by having a church in the village here, instead of going two or three miles to Matteawan to attend divine service.
Those meetings were held during September, 1887, and committees appointed to learn facts as to the number of families belonging to the Catholic Church in Fishkill-on-Hudson. Mr. William A. Toohey was chairman of those meetings and Mr. James Peattie, secretary. The committee on census, Messrs. Andrew Kane and John McManus, reported two hundred Catholic families in the village. Of this number one hundred and seventy-five families joined the new parish and twenty-five families remained attached to the old one.
The committee on suitable building, Messrs. William A. Toohey and John Crea- gan, reported that Swift's Hall, on Main street, could be leased for a period of five years or could be purchased for $4,000.
Mr. William A. Toohey received a letter from the Archbishop a few weeks later, saying that our petition for a new parish had been granted and a pastor would be appointed in the course of a few weeks. Our building committee had learned in the meantime that the owner of Swift's Hall would not lease it. This gentle- man, Mr. David Graham, asked $4,000 for the property and very generously offered to donate $200 to a fund for our new church. His terms were $400 cash, $1200 at end of four months and balance on mortgage for five years. His terms were accepted, and carpenters and others set to work to fit the old hall for use for a church.
Rev. John A. Hurley arrived at Fishkill-on-Hudson December 13, 1887, and at once took charge of the new parish. He approved of all the work and plans the committee had arranged and all being in readiness, on Christmas Day, Sunday, 1887, the first Mass was celebrated in the new church. A small organ had been engaged and a choir had prepared suitable music for the opening occasion.
On October 21, 1888, Rev. Archbishop Corrigan visited Fishkill-on-Hudson and dedicated St. John's Church.
On February 11, 1890, the old Swift's Hall, or St. John's Church as it was now known, was burned to the ground, also all its contents, excepting the many sets of vestments and boys' suits belonging to the parish, which alone were saved.
The old 'Elm Tree' property was then purchased from Mr. Lewis Tompkins at a cost of $3,500 and plans were drawn for a new church.
On December 1, 1890, Rev. J. A. Hurley was moved to Williamsbridge, N. Y., and Rev. John J. McGrath, of Croton Falls, N. Y., was appointed second pastor of St. John's parish.
The difficulties which beset this gentleman's path from his first assuming charge until he had a church erected, were numerous and most discouraging. However, by untiring zeal, the great help which he received from many of his people, and from numerous friends in town and God's blessing over all, he and we had the happiness of seeing our church completed on November 22, 1891. The corner stone was laid April 26, 1891.
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DOVER AND PAWLING CHURCHES.1 Usually men of experience ad- mit in friendly conversation that wherever the Church of the Apostles, the Church of Ages, has held sway, the precepts of her wise and salu- tary teachings have been a factor indeed, both potential and influen- tial for the moral, religious and intellectual good of all classes of people. In the region covered by the churches of St. John the Evan- gelist at Pawling, and St. Charles Borromeo at Dover Plains, much has been done, and a great good has been accomplished. Yet it can- not be said that the people were affluent; quite the reverse has been the case. Still, out of their little they gave much, and the grand joint parish of St. John's and St. Charles is to-day the result-a monu- ment for all time to the steadfast faith of the Catholic.
The first priest to visit Pawling and Dover Plains was of French- Canadian birth, by name Fr. Cheveau, about 1848, the year the Har- lem railroad was built to South Dover. So it happened, when he visited Pawling and Dover, bulletins were posted announcing the coming of the missionary priest, for the first time, the following Sun- day. The place of worship selected for the religious exercises at Pawling was at the Le Grande Hall Hotel and opposite the old rail- road depot; and at Dover Plains, the old Union Church that stood near the Brown vault in the present Valley View Cemetery. Prior to that time, and at long intervals, Catholics, for miles around, had been compelled to go afoot to Danbury, Conn., a journey both ways of thirty-two miles, to hear Mass. With no church in either of the missions (excepting the Union Church at Dover) the sturdy people of that abiding day were compelled, from their limited means, to have recourse to barns and dwelling houses to hear Mass. Still they, their children and their children's children, have by trials and many priva- tions, proved themselves equal to the task of keeping alive and spread- ing the faith for God's greater glory and their own spiritual welfare. Owing to the dearth of priests at that time in this and other sections of the country, Catholicity was somewhat impeded in its advancement.
The next priest to come into this section was Fr. Riordan, who had succeeded Fr. Duffy, the founder of the first Catholic Church in Poughkeepsie, and who was also pastor of all Dutchess County. Fr. Rior- dan came to Dover Plains in 1852, and afterward ministered to the peo- ple of Dover Plains and Pawling at long intervals. He was succeeded
1. Contributed by Richard F. Maher, Dover Plains, N. Y.
REV. CHARLES SLEVIN.
REV. D. J. McCORMACK.
REV. JOSEPH A. MAHER.
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by the pious and learned Fr. Sheahan, who was installed as pastor of Wappingers Falls in 1854. During Fr. Sheahan's administration Mass was celebrated once a month, and in turn at the house of Messrs. Connell and Maher at Dover Plains, and Begley and Hopper at Paw- ling. While the best was being done for the people spiritually, other arrangements were being made for closer relationship between priest and people, until, finally, news began to spread that a resident priest would shortly be appointed, and in 1859, Archbishop Hughes ap- pointed the Rev. Charles Slevin. Dover Plains being centrally located was chosen as the parish, about which encircled the missions of Pawling, Amenia, Millbrook, Beekman and Millerton, in which places there were as yet no churches. The extensive territory em- bracing the missions running north and south covered something over fifty miles by about twenty-five miles east and west. On taking charge of the parish in 1859 Fr. Slevin set to work to secure, by purchase, a site for the church. He met with disappointment in buying, and William Maher presented the present site to him, on which he erected a handsome frame edifice, and dedicated it to God in the name of the pious St. Charles Borromeo, the patron and protector of young men preparing for the priesthood. South and east of the church, in the same lot, ground was surveyed and marked off for the burial of those dying in the Lord. Prominent among the active workers in build- ing and paying off the indebtedness may be mentioned, with credit, Mr. Jeremiah Whalen, Mr. Michael Maher, Mr. Patrick Wetheral, and Mr. Terrence Connell, at whose homes Mass was said frequently prior to the erection of the church. Fr. Slevin remained in charge five or six years. During his pastorate the Civil War broke out and he was drafted; but his congregation made up the sum of $300 to release him and furnish a substitute. He left Dover Plains in 1864.
The next priest to take charge of the parish was the Rev. John Arsenigo. He lived at Purdy's Station, but used to come up Saturday nights, and Sundays, after Mass, David Maher would drive him one Sunday to say Mass in the Union Church at Hartsville, near Mill- brook, and the next Sunday to Amenia to say Mass in Gilroy's house. Fr. Arsenigo gave the beautiful oil painting of St. Charles Borromeo that hangs over the altar at Dover Plains. Worn out by the strain endured by the care and laborious work of the distant missions, Fr. Arsenigo was obliged to resign in 1866. Soon after, in 1866, Rev.
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Fr. Tandy was sent from New York to Amenia, becoming resident pastor of that town. Dover Plains, Pawling, Millerton, Millbrook and Beekman were connected as out missions from that point. Fr. Tandy secured the present site of the church at Pawling from Mr. A. Arnold. He built the Catholic Church in 1869. In 1872 the church was totally destroyed by fire, and it was practically proven that the fire was of incendiary origin. Not to be dismayed, however, by the severe tests of poverty and the machinations of men, he set to work and erected another and handsomer church edifice. The indebt- edness assumed amounted to $7,500. Fr. Tandy, suffering greatly from the strain of mind and body, was replaced in 1872 by the Rev. Father Healy, who for the first time became the resident pastor of the newly established parish of St. John the Evangelist in Pawling, with Dover Plains and Beekman as outlying missions. In 1872 the country was in bad shape financially, owing to the noted failure of Jay Cooke & Co. Hard times were the result of the panic. People everywhere suffered by the stringency of money. Along with others, Fr. Healy was found unable to meet the demands made upon him. Defeated in a lawsuit over the boundary of church grounds at Dover Plains, overwhelmed with the new church at Pawling, burdened by great debt, and unable to meet payments, Fr. Healy resigned. At this change of affairs the parish of Pawling again became a mission church and reverted to the care of Fr. Tandy, the pastor of Amenia, who shortly applied to his superiors for an assistant to help him in his labors. His request was granted. The Rev. Michael J. Mc- Swiggan was appointed pastor of Pawling, Dover Plains and Sylvan Lake in 1877. Under the good management of Fr. McSwiggan's rectorship, the Rev. Joseph A. Maher, the first and only boy from the parish of Dover Plains who ever embraced the priesthood, came home from Rome. Father Maher received his early education at Fordham University, graduating in the class of 1876. Taking a post- graduate course he received the degree of A. M. in 1877. He spent four years in Rome, where he was ordained priest at the Church of St. John Lateran, by His Eminence, Cardinal Monaco La Valetta, on June 3, 1882. Fr. Maher died September 14, 1886, and is buried in the Maher plot at Dover Plains. Succeeding Fr. McSwiggan came Fr. William Murphy and Fr. McMullen in 1883. In 1884 the Rev. Daniel J. McCormick took charge of the parish of Dover and Paw-
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ling. With no rectory or residence he was obliged to board at the Dutcher house (the Doctor Gammage School), Pawling. Fr. Mc- Cormick bought the present rectory at Pawling for $7,200 in 1886, from the estate of Alexander Allen. He also bought the new ceme- tery at Dover Plains, in 1888, paying $900 for it. Fr. McCormick was a good business man, and during his pastorate the parish and surrounding missions prospered greatly to the satisfaction of all. The next pastor was the Rev. Edward Sweeney, appointed by His Grace Archbishop Corrigan in 1889. Father Sweeney stayed about two years and made many improvements. He paid off a floating debt of $300, and built St. John's Lyceum (the parish hall) at Pawling. Fr. Donlin succeeded Fr. Sweeney in 1891. Fr. Donlin did good work in the parish. He beautified the churches at Pawling and Dover Plains by placing stained glass memorial windows in them. After remaining as rector for ten years he was succeeded by the Rev. Eugene Shine, in 1901, who was the former pastor of Sylvan Lake, N. Y. Fr. Shine, in the first six years of his pastorate, paid off the entire parish debt.
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION PARISH, AMENIA.1 In the year 1847 there were several Catholic families living in Amenia, and a number of Catholic men were employed in the iron ore beds of Sharon Station in Amenia. The first priest tradition makes mention of as minister- ing to the Catholics of this section is Fr. Kelly, of Connecticut. As often as this zealous priest visited Sharon, Catholics gathered from far and near to hear Mass and have their children baptized. On rare occasions, such as Christmas and Easter, the people attended Mass at St. Peter's, Poughkeepsie, their parish church. Fr. Riordan, pastor of St. Peter's, learning that a number of Catholics had settled in Amenia visited this distant portion of his vineyard, and was the first priest to celebrate Mass in Amenia. The Holy Sacrifice was offered in the house of Thomas McEnroe, at the Ore Bed, about 1852. Fr. Riordan visited Amenia semi-annually until the appointment in 1859 of Rev. Charles Slevin as pastor of Dover Plains and its out- lying missions, including Amenia, Millerton, Millbrook, etc. Fr. Slevin celebrated Mass in the house of Daniel Gilroy. In 1864 Fr. Slevin was transferred to Yonkers, and his church at Dover, with its missions, became attached to Croton Falls. Rev. John Arsenigo,
1. Contributed by the Rev. Francis E. Lavelle, Amenia, N. Y.
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pastor of Croton Falls, succeeded Fr. Slevin, and at his direction the first Cathoilc Church in Amenia was built in 1866-'67, and also the Catholic Church at Millerton in 1867. The Rev. Patrick W. Tandy succeeded Fr. Arsenigo, and was the first resident priest of the Amenia parish. He assumed charge October 15, 1868. The churches in Amenia and Millerton begun by Fr. Arsenigo were finished by Fr. Tandy. He also purchased ground for a Catholic cemetery in Amenia. Fr. Tandy was succeeded by Rev. Daniel J. Corkery, in June, 1880. In September, 1881, Fr. Corkery established a Catholic school with sixty pupils in attendance. On July 29, 1886, while Fr. Corkery was pastor, the Amenia church was destroyed by lightning, and on June 12, 1887, the corner stone of a new church was laid by Archbishop Corrigan. The sermon on the occasion was preached by Rev. Charles Corley.
Fr. Corkery was succeeded by Rev. Anthony Molloy, 1888-1894. Rev. James McEntyre, 1894-1899. Rev. Dennis F. Coyle, 1899-1907. The present rector is Rev. Francis E. Lavelle, who assumed charge April 28, 1907. The parish has a population of six hundred.
CATHOLIC MISSION, MILLERTON. It may be said that the founder of the Catholic Mission in Millerton was the good priest, Fr. Riordan, of the First Catholic Church, Poughkeepsie, and who was some fifty years ago pastor of all Dutchess County. In 1859 Archbishop Hughes appointed Fr. Charles Slevin pastor of the Dover Plains par- ish, of which Millerton was one of the outlying missions. During Slevin's pastorate this society prospered greatly, and when in 1864 he was retired on account of ill health, the office of that pastorate was filled by Rev. Fr. Arsenigo, of Croton Falls parish. The strain of attending to so many outlying stations proved too great, and he was compelled to resign. He was succeeded by Rev. Father Tandy, resi- dent pastor of Amenia.
When Fr. Arsenigo first visited Millerton the people of that mission held services in private houses. Under his ministration the people took heart, and a church edifice was begun. It was left for Fr. Tandy to continue the work of building, and about 1866 the house was com- pleted. Fr. E. F. Lavelle succeeded Fr. Tandy, and with the care of the spiritual interest of his parishioners was the burden of the church debt of $2,000. To meet the interest of this indebtedness was really a severe tax on the congregation of the struggling Millerton mission.
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This was the more apparent as the membership had been diminished by the closing of neighboring mines and furnaces.
It was left to the pastorate of Rev. Fr. Coyle, the present incum- bent, to be signalized by the removal of this source of anxiety to the Millerton parish. Fr. Coyle one day remarked to some of his parish- ioners that if a sum could be paid towards liquidating the mortgage, it would prove very pleasing. "Why not make it $1,000," suggested Martin Griffin, "wouldn't that be better still?" The result of the interview was that Mr. Griffin was authorized to raise what amount he could, in his own way, which he proceeded to do in a very unique fashion. He set down and penned polite notes to the county officials, stating the needs of the mission, and that any sum they might give would be very thankfully received. From County Treasurer Hauben- nestel, Surrogate Hoysradt, and County Judge Phillips he received substantial cheques by return mail, as well as another from Assembly- man Smith. Doctors Wilbur and Cotter, of Pine Plains, responded handsomely. Robert Chanler sent in a handsome remembrance, as did John Campbell, of Lagrange, Illinois. John M. Garvin, of Rock River, Alabama, sent a prompt answer, enclosing cheque for $50.00. These gifts were mostly from non-residents of Millerton with whom Mr. Griffin had an acquaintance; but they were interested in the prosperity of the town, and were pleased at the opportunity to help the struggling mission. This was about the year 1905. At this time an entertainment was given for the church's benefit. The net proceeds of the collection and the entertainment amounted to over $1,300.00, which Mr. Griffin had the pleasure of presenting to the mission as the result of his proposition to raise $1,000.00 for the pur- pose. It is needless to add that he was warmly congratulated for the splendid result of his efforts by Fr. Coyle, who declared that he had looked upon Mr. Griffin's proposition to raise $1,000.00 as vision- ary. The next year the church debt was lifted, and the mission now has a house free from encumbrance, with grounds and cemetery en- closed in a neat iron fence.
PARISH OF SAINT DENIS, Sylvan Lake, Town of Beekman.1 The Church of St. Denis was built in June, 1859-just fifty years ago. It was then a mission of Wappingers Falls. Fr. Powers was the rector.
1. Contributed by the Rev. William Patrick Eagen.
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In 1874 it was made a parish. Rev. P. J. Healy was the first rec- tor. He was succeeded by Rev. M. J. McSwiggan, who had two assistants, Revs. W. H. Murphy and Charles McMullen, because of the missions at Pawling and Dover, then under Sylvan Lake. Fr. McMullen succeeded Fr. McSwiggan as rector. In 1891 Rev. E. J. Byrnes took charge and was succeeded by Rev. John McAvoy in 1903. In July, 1905, the present rector, Rev. William Patrick Eagen, took charge.
The parish originally embraced all the territory east of Wapping- ers Falls to the Connecticut line, and meeting the parishes of Mattea- wan on the south, and Amenia on the north, some six hundred square miles of territory. At present it has four hundred square miles, and three churches, viz: Sylvan Lake, Hopewell Junction, and Clove, as well as stations at Moore's Mills and Poughquag.
There are about three hundred souls, Hopewell Junction having seventy-five of that number.
ST. MARY'S CHURCH, Wappingers Falls. Previous to 1850 there was no resident pastor at Wappingers Falls. In that year the Rev. Fr. Brophy assumed control of this parish, and held services in the old frame building which stood near the entrance to the old cemetery. He was succeeded in 1853 by Rev. Dennis Sheahan, who remained pas- tor until his death in 1875. Fr. Sheahan enlarged, at various times, the original church edifice. He was succeeded by Rev. Charles M. O'Keefe, who remained until January, 1885. He built the new church, the corner stone of which was laid September 27, 1877, by Cardinal McCloskey, this being the first ceremony of the kind performed by him since he was created Cardinal, three years previous. The sermon was preached by his private secretary, the Rev. J. M. Farley. After the Cardinal touched the stone, it was laid in place. The clergymen present were Rev. Dr. E. F. McSweeney and Rev. P. F. McSweeney, of Poughkeepsie; Rev. M. Fitzsimmons, of Rhinebeck; Rev. James Doherty, of Kingston ; Rev. A. J. Canary, of Matteawan; Rev. Fr. Coghlin, of Brooklyn; Rev. Fr. Hogan, of St. Paul's Cathedral, New York, and the Rev. A. Lings, of Yonkers. The church edifice is built of stone, and is of English Gothic style, with a seating capacity of about one thousand. It cost about $30,000. The bell was blessed by Vicar-General Quinn, November 30, 1879.
Rev. Cornelius B. Mahony assumed control of the parish in 1885.
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Under his pastorate the school building was erected, the convent pur- chased, and grounds comprising twelve acres on the banks of Wap- pingers Lake secured for a new cemetery.
The Rev. Charles F. Reid succeeded Fr. Mahony in January, 1903. The following year he erected a convent for the Sisters of Charity, who are instructors in the parochial school. Fr. Reid has effected many improvements in the church edifice and other buildings belong- ing to the parish.
Among the various societies of the parish may be mentioned the Holy Name Society, for all men; St. Aloysius' Society, for boys; the Sodality of the Blessed Virgin, for single young ladies ; the Society of the Holy Angels, which was organized about 1882, and is under the charge of the Sisters; and the Lyceum Society for young men.
ST. JOSEPH'S PARISH, RHINEBECK. This parish includes St. Joseph's Church at Rhinecliff and the Church of the Good Shepherd in Rhine- beck village.
Previous to 1862 the Catholics in this neighborhood attended ser- vice at Rondout. In that year the Rev. Michael Scully came to the village to organize a parish. It was at first decided to build a church in the village and a lot was purchased at the corner of Livingston and Mulberry streets, but the parishioners at Rhinecliff were strong in numbers and objected to the village location. This lot was then sold and a church edifice erected at Rhinecliff in 1864, on land deeded to Fr. Scully by George Rogers of Tivoli. Upon the death of Fr. Scully in 1872, the Rev. James Fitzsimmons was appointed rector. During his pastorate of seventeen years the church made substantial progress. He built the rectory and organized other churches in the parish which then extended as far north as the Columbia County line. Subsequent rectors were Revs. William O'Neil, Terrence Kelly, M. J. Murray, James B. Curry, James S. Finton, James D. Lennon and M. F. Aylward, the present rector.
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