USA > Rhode Island > Providence County > Woonsocket > St. Charles', old and new > Part 1
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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01214 4884
GENEALOGY 974.502 W88RY
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ST. CHARLES' OLD AND NEW
The Spirit of the Chimes OF ST. CHARLES.
WAPLES
CHRISTMAS
1928
COPYRIGHT C. DEAGAN, INC. CHICAGO
A CHRISTMAS MESSAGE
-FROM THE-
PRIESTS OF SAINT CHARLES
GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST.
With the pealing forth of the memorial chimes this Christmastide, there is evoked in the hearts of all true members of St. Charles a feeling of more than ordinary gratitude and gladness. They ring out the completion of a hundred years of Catholic living in our community. From a little handful, we have become a mighty people; from a little room in a village dwelling, with scarcely an object of devotion to inspire fervor, we have become a series of splendid edifices, all equipped and adorned for the majesty of divine worship. Glory to God in the Highest for all these wondrous mercies unto us.
PEACE ON EARTH TO MEN OF GOOD WILL.
After giving thanks to God we should, we feel, give thanks to the generations past and present who, by their devotion to the things of faith, and their zeal for the house of God, have made possible all the glories that we now behold. In remembrance, we carry them this day before the altar, and uniting their needs to our own, we petition the Lord for grace and mercy. We feel certain that no one, no matter how great may have been his sacrifices to help in our recent large undertakings, feels at this season, the slightest regret; but that on the contrary, as he looks about and sees the beauty and inspiration of all around him, his heart swells with justifiable pride in the consciousness that he has had a part in it. We bespeak of all, in the year about to open, a con- tinuance of this same cooperation and good will, giving assurance, on our part, that no effort will be spared to foster and develop all phases of priestly work committed to our care.
LET US PUT ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
· Uniting in common tasks, let us all go forward to still greater advances in the cause of Him, whose coming, this day, brought peace and salvation to the lives of men. He is the "Light of the World. " We shall not be able to rejoice in that Light. unless we come forth from the shadows of the works of darkness. Let us then put off the works of darkness and put on the Lord Jesus Christ.
A CHRISTMAS BLESSING.
May the sweet countenance of the Infant Saviour shine upon us; may His saving grace surround us; may his protecting Providence overshadow us; and may His richest blessings fill the hearts of all of us, not for this day only, nor for this life's day, but for everlasting unto everlasting. Amen.
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"The Spirit of the Chimes at Christmastide"
CHRISTMAS! How we all thrill at the thought of it! And how the richly laden memory of each suc- ceeding Christmastide adds to our treasure-house of tender emotions.
Inseparably linked with the Christmas atmosphere are the joy- ous notes of sweet toned Chimes. Pealing forth from some neighboring church tower they impressively emphasize the Christmas spirit.
Silent Night, Holy Night; Adeste Fideles; Hark! the Herald Angels Sing -how compelling, how power- ful, yet how sweetly musical these familiar hymns sound when carried through the crisp, joyladen Christmas air by Golden-Voiced Chimes! What an inspiring voice for the spirit of Christendom - what an eloquent expression of a world's rejoicing.
Each Christmas sees an ever in- creasing number of Churches enjoy- ing the benefits derived through the use of Deagan Tower Chimes.
Linked with the Chimes of St. Charles is the memory of him whose generosity gave them to us. May his soul, and the souls of all our countless benefactors, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
St. Charles' =Old and New
Being a brief record of the origin and development of Catholic life in Woonsocket in so far as that life affected and was affected by the origin and development of St. Charles' Parish
DOMINVS REGIT ME
COAT OF ARMS OF
The Right Referend William A. Hickey, D. D. Bishop of Providence Guest of Honor AT THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION IN ST. CHARLES' CHURCH WOONSOCKET, R. I.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 2nd, 1928
.. Foreword ..
THIS year, 1928, is an extraordinary one in the annals of St. Charles' Parish. It marks the one hundredth anniversary of the first beginning of Catholic life amongst us, as well as the culmination of a series of renovations which, for more than thirty years, have been going on within the church. It is only fitting, therefore, that it should not be allowed to pass by without something out of the ordinary to distinguish it. And so, in addition to the usual solemn services, honored by our Bishop's presence which will take place, it has been decided to put forth this little commem- orative volume. One will not expect to find in it anything of a large or general interest, but only the little and simple things that appeal to us as parishioners.
Thus, it is made up of four brief chapters,-first a condensed story (taken largely from Major Smyth's volume) of the parish's growth; second, a short account of the gradual development of the church building itself ; third, a grateful acknowledgment of the generosity that has made our material progress possible; and finally, a list of all those who, when the call was made, went from this parish to help in our country's need. This last feature has been introduced because it was felt that, although the war is a thing of past history, still there ought to be some- where a record that would be accessible and abiding.
And so the little book, somewhat belated because of unavoidable delays, goes forth. That it may become a treasured possession of the families of St. Charles, and serve in some small measure to advance the holy purposes, for which the parish stands, is the earnest wish and prayer of those who have put it together.
INTERIOR SEEN FROM ENTRANCE
The Story of St. Charles' Parish
T. CHARLES' PARISH is the mother parish of northern Rhode Island. The territory which at the outset, it comprised, is now ministered to by no less than a dozen parishes; the single Priest that concerned himself with the care of the sparse and scattered flock has now been succeeded by upwards of fifty; while the handful of children that painfully made their way over country roads to religious instructions have been multipled to thousands that crowd school and college.
It is an interesting an inspiring thing to go back to those rude begin- nings and observe the manner in which, like the gospel mustard seed, their growth and development went on. And that will be the object of the following brief record.
In those far-away days, a hundred years ago, when Catholicism first began to express itself outwardly in this community, the population of the territory that now embraces Woonsocket and its suburbs, was either scattered on farms that stretched their checker-board patches here and there throughout the entire district, or was clustered at different points into several tiny villages. Of these villages, the two most important were Union Village and Woonsocket Falls.
The reason for the settlement at the former place was that at that point the great road that ran from Boston to Connecticut crossed the road that ran from Providence to Worcester. And in those days, long before any of our present wonderful modes of locomotion were known, when all traveling was done by foot, or horseback, or stage coach, cross roads were as welcome as oases in the desert-places for people to meet and break the tediousness of hard journeying by exchange of courtesies and friend- liness. Thus taverns arose-places wherein refreshment and entertain- ment were offered for man and beast.
At Union Village, as far back as 1690, inns of this kind were estab- lished; and in course of years their number and importance increased until, in the time of which we speak, quite a large tavern colony had grown up in the locality. These old inns, save for small remnants that still form
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parts of more modern structures, have all along since disappeared; but in their day they played an important part in the civil and social life of the locality.
Woonsocket Falls' appeal was of an entirely different nature. Here, waterpower was the attraction; and from the very beginning the river banks saw the erection of little mills of all kinds-the forerunners of those mighty structures that now meet the eye on every side.
In the progress of events, as one can readily understand, the center of industry far outstripped the center of tavern life; but in the period of which we speak Union Village was well to the front, and numbered among its population some of the outstanding personages of the whole district. Among these individuals was one Walter Allen. This gentleman is of peculiar importance in the story of Catholicity in these parts because it was he who, brunting the bigotry of the people of the time-a bigotry whose remnants like the remnants of the old taverns are still observable in some of the descendants of the period-dared, Protestant though he was, to open his door to a Catholic priest, and allow him to offer up in his home the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
It is a pleasant occupation to go back in spirit to this first Holy Mass, and to contemplate the scene,-the old-fashioned parlor, the improvised altar, the travel-worn Missionary, the immigrant congregation. And one can almost feel one's self the emotions that welled up in the hearts of that little group of worshippers, as they knelt there, fingering their rosaries, and felt their souls being satisfied, as a thirsty man is satisfied, when, after long yearning and parched lips, he dips his mouth at length into a spring of cool water.
The house in which this important happening took place,-a two- storied colonial structure still stands on Great Road, just back from the highway, partly concealed by a number of fine trees that rise, here and there, on the wide greensward. It is now known as the Osborne House, from the name of the ladies who long occupied it-granddaughters of Mr. Allen-whose child, Elizabeth had married their father, John Osborne. For us Catholics this house should have something of the character of a shrine.
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ST. CHARLES' - OLD AND NEW
The actors in that scene have all long since passed away. The cele- brant was the Rev. Robert D. Woodley, D.D., a young Priest who only a short time before had been sent by Bishop Fenwick of Boston to look after the spiritual needs of the people of this district. Father Woodley's Parish included not only the whole State of Rhode Island, but the adjacent parts of Connecticut and Massachusetts as well. Traveling from place to place, wherever the Catholic population was numerous enough to require his services and defray the expenses of his journey, he had come to Woon- socket in response to the appeal of one Michael Reddy, who acted for a little group of Catholics living in the section. Just how many Catholics were hereabouts we do not know. But we may be certain that every one who could possibly be there, was present at that Mass; and the number was only ten. And these ten were all men. They were Michael Reddy, Patrick Mullen, John McGuire, James Holland, Hugh McCaffrey, Oliver Burke, Thomas Ide, Hugh O'Brien, Edward McCabe and James Connolly. From this we may gather that there were very few if any women in all this district at that time, which, in a way is not to be greatly wondered at, as practically all of the Catholics of those days were of the immigrant class (Irish) and conditions were not such as to attract women.
How often the Priest came to Woonsocket in the years immediately following that first visit, we do not know. There are no records to tell us. But we may say with reasonable certainty that it was not often. The demands on the time of the Missionaries, with such a large territory to minister to, were too great to permit them to come often to a locality where the Catholics were so few and where their increase was so slight. How slight, indeed, that increase really was may be gathered from the fact that in 1834, when the first Catholic Census was taken, just six years after the date of the first Mass, there were but 30 members of the Church here, an average increase of less than four a year.
However, although there are no written records to tell us of what really went on in the religious life of that little group, we are not for that reason left entirely ignorant. The events of subsequent years throw a ray of light into the darkness. We see, for instance, how keenly they felt the loss of religious consolations and priestly ministrations; we admire the loyalty with which they adhered to all the teachings and practices of their Church; we marvel at the bond that existed amongst them, keeping
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them together, an isolated group, in the midst of a disdainful population; and we know the joy that animated them when, now and then, in the course of long intervals, a Priest would come along to shrive them, or give them Holy Mass, and break unto them the Bread of Life.
The year 1834, the year for which we have the census, is of special importance in the story of that time. This importance attaches to the fact that in that year there came as Missionary who for 12 years in suc- cession continued to administer in the locality and who, by his zeal and untiring energy and priestly nobility, left a more than ordinary impres- sion on the religious character of the people,-the Reverend James Fitton.
Father Fitton was not the immediate successor of Fr. Woodley. There had been several others before he came; for Fr. Woodley's period of ad- ministration had ceased in 1831, at which time he joined the Jesuit Fathers, and went to live in Georgetown. Of the Priests who ministered here from 1831 to 1834 little more is exactly known than their names. They had their residence in Pawtucket or Providence, and came here at rare intervals. There were, as far as the records show, four of them: Fathers Ryan, Connolly, Finley and Ives.
Father Fitton received his parish appointment from the Rt. Rev. Benedict J. Fenwick, Bishop of the Boston Diocese, which at that time included all New England. The "parish" extended from Cape Cod to New York; and wherever a few Catholics could be gathered together he was found in the midst of them.
The smallness of the Catholic population must not, however, be taken to indicate that the territory in question was a howling wilderness. Cities and towns were rapidly developing, and industries were springing up like magic along the banks of every stream. In Woonsocket the cotton mills had begun their career, and a population of several thousand made it a thriving center. But it was a non-Catholic population,-and non-Catholic that was by nature almost anti-Catholic. For the members of the Catholic fold were not only few in number, but they were made up entirely of immigrants, and Irish immigrants at that,-poor, with no social standing, despised,-that had been led to settle here on account of the Blackstone Canal, which was begun in 1825 and finished in 1826, and on which they had worked as "hewers of stones and drawers of water." Only excep-
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ST. CHARLES' - OLD AND NEW
tionally, here and there, was a non-Catholic to be found who would deal with his Catholic neighbor in a spirit of tolerance and good will.
Father Fitton's first visit was made, as I have said, in 1834. His initial act was to gather about him the whole Catholic population, thirty souls, and offer up the Holy Sacrifice. Of course there was no church, and on account of the bigotry that existed, no public hall was open to him; so Mass was said as it had been always said, in the house of one of the immigrants.
Previous to Father Fitton's time, the visit of the Priest to Woon- socket was irregular,-at such odd times as circumstances made it possible. But with his advent a change took place. The town became an established Missionary Station, and to it Father Fitton came at regular intervals, that grew shorter and shorter, until they became weekly. Up to 1841 Mass was always said in private houses, but that year Mr. Ruel Smith opened up to the Catholics the hall of the Woonsocket Hotel, of which he was proprietor. This Mass in the hotel indicated several things. It showed, for example, that the Catholics had begun to be regarded as a real element in the community; it showed that their numbers had largely increased; and it showed that the day would not be far off when they would have a church of their own.
In the beginning, as we have said, the Irish immigrants were led to settle here as a consequence of the building of the Blackstone Canal. Subsequently, however, the growth was due almost entirely to the mills; and there are few of the old families of the locality who cannot look back to some member or other who worked at mule or loom. As these mills developed, and they developed like magic, -- a small, wooden one making way for a stone one, and that in turn being enlarged or destroyed to give place to a still larger one-more and more immigrants came (for all were immigrants in those days) it being a practice among the new arrivals to write such glowing letters back "home" as to induce relatives or fellow "townies" to hasten over.
We do not know the exact population in the early 40s; but we have every reason to believe that it could not have been much less than a thou- sand,-that is, in the whole region,-including Waterford and Blackstone. But knowing, as we do, the ambition that Catholics have everywhere to
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ST. CHARLES' - OLD AND NEW
have a Church of their own, we can easily appreciate the zeal with which the "collectors" gathered funds. When the amount gathered reached the sum of thirteen hundred dollars, the lot on which the present Church stands was purchased, and the building of a wooden edifice begun. This structure 40 by 60 feet, was completed in 1844, and in December of that . year the first Mass in a Catholic Church in Woonsocket was said.
For two years after the erection of the first church, Fr. Fitton con- tinued to administer as a Missionary Priest to the needs of the Catholics of Woonsocket. On his departure in 1846 for Newport, where he continued his priestly activities, he was succeeded by the Rev. Charles O'Reilly, who is to be set down as the first resident pastor of the Parish. There was no rectory, so he had quarters fitted up in the basement of the church; and there, accepting with the true apostolic spirit the inconveniences and pri- vation of the place, he took up his residence.
Father O'Rielly remained in charge of the Parish six years, from 1846 to 1852, at which latter date he was transferred to Blackstone. His most important works, apart from the administering to the spiritual needs of his flock, were the establishing of a cemetery and the enlargement of the church. The cemetery is the one now known as St. Paul's, at the end of North Main Street. Although purchased by Fr. O'Reilly while he was still pastor at St. Charles, it is the property of the Blackstone church, because its title was transferred to the latter parish at the time that he took charge there. Father O'Reilly's second work, the enlargement of the church, was a matter of real necessity. Almost from the very beginning it was seen that the little original structure was inadequate to the needs; and the ever increasing Catholic population demanded imperatively that something be done. So in 1848 the addition was made. We call it an addition, but really it was double the size of the original building, being 80 x 120 feet.
It is a matter for genuine regret that no drawing or photograph of this old church exists to let us know just what kind of a building it was in which our forefathers worshipped. However, from descriptions given of it by people who attended it and are still living, we know that it differed but little from the type of church of the period of which some are still to be seen,-with its cruciform design, its barn roof, its short transcept galleries (where Sunday School was conducted) and its long flight of
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steps on the outside. One thing especially it had that the worshippers admired,-a great red curtain that covered the entire wall behind the altar and filled the whole edifice with a pentecostal atmosphere.
Father O'Reilly's successor, the Rev. Hugh Carmody, D.D., remained but two years, from 1852 to 1854. But it had an important development, because during it was erected the first parish rectory.
Of the two immediate successors to. Father Carmody, hardly anything more needs to be recorded than their names as pastors; for the first, Rev. Thomas F. Hendrigan (the future first Bishop of Providence) stayed but a week; and the second, Rev. John Brady, left after a residence of but a few months, though it was during the latter's incumbency that the parish enjoyed its first Priestly assistant, the Rev. Peter Egan, who but come and went, like a bird of passage. With the advent of Fr. Carmody's third successor, however, a new era was inaugurated,-a pastorate which for length and accomplishment may be said to be monumental in the diocese.
The Priest who presided over the destinies of the parish during this era was the Rev. Michael McCabe who, coming here in 1855, fresh from his ordination in Baltimore, remained, except for a period of three years, when he took charge of St. Patrick's Church in Providence, until his death in 1893-almost forty years.
Now it is a matter of observance that there is hardly a parish any- where in the eastern sections of this country that has not had, in the progress of its development, some Pastor who may be called its creator, that is, one whose extraordinary vigor and strength of character fixed upon it a definite and distinctive individuality. In St. Charles that Pastor was Father McCabe. Coming here at a time when everything, civil and religious, was in what may be called a raw and inchoate state, he took up, with a zeal and energy for which the great Irish Priests of the period were conspicuous (Fr. McCabe was Irish), the affairs that came within his jurisdiction, and little by little he moulded and fashioned them into a condition that served as a model for others to emulate.
At the time of Fr. McCabe's coming, in 1855, the parish numbered something like 1600 souls, almost all Irish immigrants,-for that was before the French Canadian influx had begun,-scattered over a territory that now houses a Catholic population of forty thousand. From the very
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outset he saw the inadequacy of the structure that served for religious worship, and dreamed of a day when he would have a Church worthy in every detail of the august mysteries that it would enshrine, as well as of the loving faith and devotion of the splendid congregation that it would serve. But other things had to come first; and these he proceeded at once to bring to pass. Thus, within the short space of ten years following his coming here, he cleared the parish of a debt that he found of $2233, built a vestry at a cost of $600, purchased the land on which the present rectory stands, moved the old rectory to the new site, enlarging it and improving it in the process; built, on Daniel Street, a school, one of the very first Catholic schools to be erected in the diocese, at a cost of $3100,- secured land for a cemetery at East Blackstone,-and accumulated, toward the erection of a new church, $10,300. In accomplishing these big things he revealed not merely an executive and business ability far above the ordinary, but a rare zeal and priestliness; for all the while that he was advancing the material structure of the parish, he was developing to a remarkable degree the spiritual resources of his flock, and winning the good will and admiration of citizens generally.
For a brief spell, from 1866 to 1869, Father McCabe served as pastor of St. Patrick's Church, Providence. During the interim his place at St. Charles was filled, first by the Rev. Francis J. Lenihan, who remained for about a year and a half, and then, for about the same length of time, by the Rev. Bernard O'Reilly, D.D. Under Father Lenihan two happen- ings of noteworthy significance occurred: first, the church that had been projected by Father McCabe was actually started, and on June 16, 1867, its corner-stone laid by the Rt. Rev. P. F. McFarland, D.D., Bishop of the Diocese. The other, the appointment, in 1866, of a priest, the Rev. Law- rence Walsh, to take special charge of the French speaking people of the parish. This matter of the growing French population continued to be looked after by different priests attached to St. Charles-Revs. James A. Princen, Francis Belanger, and Antoine D. Bernard, until 1873, when the Precious Blood parish was established with the last named, Fr. Bernard, as its first pastor.
Shortly after the corner-stone laying Father Lenihan, whose health had never been very robust, fell seriously ill. A hurried trip to Florida was made to see what a change of climate would do, for he was only 33
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