USA > Rhode Island > Providence County > History of Providence County, Rhode Island > Part 11
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"For a while the pastorate was vacant, though class meetings were kept up. Near the close of 1840 Reverend W. H. Woodbury became the preacher, and was succeeded after a time by Reverend R. M. Hat- field. This gentleman found the church few in number, the edifice dilapidated and affairs discouraging; but the talents wherewith God had endowed him found ample scope here, and his toils were blessed. Larger numbers waited on his ministry, a new house of worship was reared, and more and more souls were added to the church. There is scarce room, however, to mention more than the names of his succes- sors. Reverends Mr. Gavitt, Jonathan Cady, Isaac Bonney, H. Bay- lies, Mr. Gifford and William Cone were pastors during the next ten or dozen years. Reverend Mr. Bonney had so patriarchal an air that the community at large called him 'Father Bonney,' and the church records eulogize Mr. Cone as a very successful laborer.
" In 1852 and 1853 Reverend Henry H. Smith was pastor, and then Reverend James Dean, as local preacher, and Reverend William Cone, as preacher at large, officiated. Following them was Reverend James Mather, and then, in 1857, Reverend Mr. Lovejoy; and, in the following two years, Reverend S. F. Upham. During Mr. Upham's pastorate the house of worship was enlarged at an expense of $7,000. In 1860 Reverend S. Dean officiated, and was followed the next year by Reverend A. Mckeown. During the years 1862 and 1863 Rever- end John D. King was the pastor, and gave place for the next two years to Reverend D. H. Ela. Reverend J. D. Butler succeeded, and held the pastorate for two years. To him succeeded Reverend M. J. Talbot, and during his ministry steps were taken for organizing a distinct parish at Central Falls."
Doctor Talbot having received the appointment of presiding elder of New Bedford district, gave place to Reverend E. D. Hall. During his ministry a new church was organized in the more western part
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of the town, and a meeting house was finally reared near the Mineral Springs Cemetery. That church is called the Thomson Methodist church, in honor of Bishop Thomson. At the close of Mr. Hall's second year he took charge of both the Embury church at Central Falls and the Thomson church. In 1871 Reverend S. L. Gracey took the charge of the parent church on High street. In 1873 he was suc- ceeded by Reverend J. W. Willett, and in 1876 came Reverend Mr. Jones. The present pastor of the First Methodist Episcopal church is the Reverend A. W. Kingsley. Since the removal of Mr. Hall from Pawtucket the Thomson church has been supplied by Reverend J. C. Gowan, Robert Clark and others, and now by Rever- end John W. Willett.
The Society of the New Jerusalem church begins its records with the following account, under date of April 8th, 1840: "Samuel Lord and family moved from Providence to Pawtucket. On the following Sabbath, April 12th, Messrs. Charles Pratt, Samuel and James Lord, and families, united in worship, and met at the house of James Lord. Mr. Pratt read the sermon, and they resolved thus to continue."
Years rolled away before the little band increased sufficiently in numbers and ability to undertake to rear a house of worship. In 1854, however, a legal meeting was called, by warrant of Apollos Cushman, Esq., to organize the first society of the New Jerusalem church in Pawtucket. This meeting was held on April 22d, and organized a society of fifteen members. At that meeting they appointed a com- mittee of one-Clark Sherman-to build a house of worship. It was reared as soon as practicable, and dedicated October 5th of that year. The dedicatory services were performed by Reverend Thomas P. Rodman. Regular services have been held since that time, but no regular pastor was had till October 5th, 1865. Reverend E. C. Mit- chell came and he stayed only one year. In the absence of a formal preacher a reader is appointed to read the services and sermons. Reverend Warren Goddard, Jr., is pastor at this time. The temple is on Elm street.
No formal organization of the denomination of Friends existed in Pawtucket till a comparatively recent date. In the latter half of the last century Job Scott, who resided not far from where the toll-gate more recently stood on the Providence turnpike, was an eminent preacher. Beside him, there were in Pawtucket Daniel Anthony, Oziel Wilkinson, Benjamin Arnold, and Timothy Greene, who were all men of influence, and staunch Friends. There was at the time when they were on the stage what was called the Providence Monthly Meeting. The name probably dated from a time when Providence was undi- vided, for its sessions seemed to have been held alternately at Provi- dence and Smithfield. And beside the persons already named, Moses Brown, William Almy, and Thomas Arnold, whose names have already appeared in this sketch, and Joseph Harris, of Smithfield, were members of this meeting.
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But the friends hold meetings more often than monthly. On first days and in the middle of the week they gather for worship; and the Friends resident in this neighborhood, from a century ago and up- ward down to about 40 years since, were wont to go to Providence or Smithfield. To understand the polity of the Friends it may be proper to mention that the Rhode Island Yearly Meeting embraces all the Friends of New England. Beside this large body, however, there are local gatherings and organizations. There are quarterly meetings, monthly meetings, and the weekly and semi-weekly gatherings. The two last are specially for worship ; the others are both for worship and for business.
The house of worship on Jenks street was erected about five years before the late war. The street is now known as East avenue. The society now meet at the meeting house on North Main, on Sundays and Thursdays at 11 A.M.
The Roman Catholic community, which forms so large and impor- tant a part of the population, has existed in Pawtucket since the year 1827. Before this date there may have been a few Catholics in the town, as there were in Providence even as early as 1813, when it is known the celebrated Doctor Chevereaux, as well as his companion, Doctor Matignon, visited the latter city and celebrated mass for its Catholic inhabitants. If any of the same faith resided then in Paw- tucket, they received spiritual ministrations from those missionaries. In the year 1828 the Right Reverend Doctor Fenwick, bishop of Boston, in whose diocese Rhode Island was then included, appointed the Reverend Father Woodley as the first resident priest in this state, to minister to the Catholics of Pawtucket and Providence. Whilst at- tending to this mission he resided at the old home beyond the toll- gate, known as the Carpenter house.
In the same year, Bishop Fenwick visited Pawtucket, and called upon David Wilkinson, Esq., to acknowledge that gentleman's gen- erous donation to the Catholics,-a lot of land, 125 feet square, on which to build a church. The church, a very small building, was erected the following year, and mass was celebrated in it for the first time by Father Woodley. This was the second Catholic church erected in Rhode Island. That in Newport was the first, being fitted out for worship one year earlier. In this charge Father Woodley was succeeded by Father Corry in 1830; and he again was replaced by Father Conelly in 1833, who attended Providence and Pawtucket till the year 1835. Reverend Fathers Lee and McNamee took his place up to the year 1844, when the Right Reverend Doctor Tyler was consecrated bishop of the new diocese of Hartford, comprising the states of Rhode Island and Connecticut.
Reverend James Fitton was then deputed to Pawtucket, where he remained for one year. His place was filled in 1847 by the Reverend Joseph McNamee, who took up his residence in Pawtucket and de-
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voted his whole attention to that town, where the Catholics had con- siderably increased in numbers. For six years Father McNamee labored with zeal and devotedness for the spiritual good of the Catho- lic emigrants, who, in his time, came in great numbers to find a home and employment in the various branches of industry then established in Pawtucket. He died on the 28th of March, 1853. His successor was the Reverend P. G. Delany.
At this date Valley Falls, Attleboro and Ashton had Catholic congregations, all of whom, together with Pawtucket, were under the pastoral charge of Father Delany. He commenced his mission with a wide field of labor before him. By his exertions the Catholics ac- quired valuable tracts of land, where the future churches and schools were to be built. For his congregation in Attleboro he projected a new church, and made extensive preparations for its erection, when, in 1856, at his request, another priest was placed in charge of that place. Soon after Valley Falls needed a new church for the increas- ing Catholic population of that town, who were then obliged to at- tend religious exercises at St. Mary's, Pawtucket.
With the cooperation of those pious, generous Catholics who sub- scribed, Father Delany had the pleasure of seeing that beautiful church, St. Patrick's, completed in 1860. In the summer of that year it was dedicated by Right Reverend Doctor McFarland, assisted by Doctor Conroy, of Albany, and several other clergymen. With very little debt remaining, it was then resigned into the hands of a new pastor.
Pawtucket could now receive the undivided attention of Father Delany. Here, by the side of the old St. Mary's lot, he purchased from the proceeds of a fair all the land extending from the old church as far as the convent. The persons from whom the land was bought were: Job Bennett, Mrs. Collins, of Albany, and Thomas D. Forsyth, of Lowell, Mass.
The old church was enlarged now for the second time, to accommo- date the large congregation that thronged to it, and, after various im- provements made in the church and the cemetery annexed to it, the next care of the pastor was to build a school where the children of his flock might have the benefit of an education from the Sisters of Mercy, for whom he had applied to Bishop McFarland. The school and convent were completed in a short time according to the plans of the pastor, and under his immediate supervision. Six Sisters of Mercy were established in the new convent, in which they immediately opened a select academy for day pupils. Together with the parish schools in which the children are taught free by the Sisters, this insti- tution is a great benefit in the midst of the Catholic population of Pawtucket.
Every year saw some new building erected or some improvement made around St. Mary's through the exertions of Father Delany and
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the generosity of his flock. The old residence of the pastor was somewhat enlarged, until after a few years it became advisable to re- place it by a new and more commodious home. This was finally erected on a new lot of land in the rear of the church, purchased from Mr. J. Taylor, of Pine street. At this time the pastor was aided in his ministrations by two assistant clergymen, who resided with him until the year 1872, when Central Falls was given in charge of Rever- end J. Smyth. As a resident pastor of that place he erected the new Church of the Sacred Heart.
December 10th, 1879, Father Delany was succeeded by Reverend William Halligan, present pastor of St. Mary's. Father Halligan soon began preparations looking to the erection of the new church, the corporate name being the Church of the Immaculate Conception. Ground was broken for the new house on Wednesday, April 22d, 1885. The ceremonies were brief. Reverend Father Halligan blessed the ground in due form, and then the first shovel of earth was thrown out by Mr. John Devlin, of Elm street. The new church was erected at a cost of $100,000.
It is located on Pine street, in the rear of the old church on Grace street, and is 148 feet long from out to out and 673 feet wide. It is built of Danvers pressed brick, trimmed with granite; the height from the ground to the apex is 80 feet, and the tower is 184 feet from the ground to the top of the cross, with a minaret at the clear story 96 feet high, and another at the angle of the church 64 feet high.
The corner stone of the new building was laid Sunday, August 23d, 1885, with appropriate ceremonies, Right Reverend Bishop Hendricken officiating. The church was dedicated May 8th, 1887, Right Reverend Bishop Harkness officiating. The church has a mem- bership of 1,200 families.
Sacred Heart of Jesus was established by Reverend J. C. Smith, in 1872. The corner stone was laid in June, 1873, by Right Reverend T. F. Hendricken, the sermon for the occasion being preached by Doctor Edward McGlyn. February 5th, 1875, Reverend M. Fitzgerald, the present pastor, succeeded to the work.
Father M. Fitzgerald, born in Ireland, county Limerick, September 11th, 1845, is the son of John and Abigail (Meagher) Fitzgerald. He came to this country with his parents at the age of seven years. His youth was spent in New Haven, Conn. In 1859 he went to Maryland and there attended St. Charles' College, thence to Baltimore to St. Mary's Seminary, at which place he completed his studies. July 19th, 1868, he was ordained in Providence by Bishop McFarland. From that time until February 5th, 1875-with the exception of three months when he had temporary charge of the Church of Immaculate Conception-he was assistant priest at the cathedral. He was then appointed to the Church of the Sacred Heart, and he has been largely instrumental in building it up to its present standing. Reverend
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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
John A. Hurley is now assistant clergyman. In connection with the church there is a splendid school which opened September 14th, 1890, with an attendance of 454. It is in charge of the Sisters of St. Joseph. There is also a large temperance society and several sodalities connected.
St. Joseph's parish was formerly a part of the old church of St. Mary's. The latter church in Father Delany's time grew to be so large the settlers on the east side of the river decided to erect another, and accordingly St. Joseph's was set off, the new parish embracing territory from Cottage street to East Providence line, comprising in all about 2,800 souls. The corner stone of the new church was laid in September, 1873. The lot was purchased of the French heirs. On January 26th, 1874, Reverend H. F. Kinnerney, of Sandwich, Cape Cod, was called to the pastorate, and he began at once by most vigorous processes liquidating an already accumulated debt of $52,000. On the first Sunday of February at his first service, formal notices were given of the separation of the parishes by the new pastor, the jurisdiction of St. Mary's formerly including Pawtucket, Central Falls, Valley Falls, Lonsdale and one or two places in Massachusetts. Ser- vices were held first in the town hall on School street. The oppres- sive debt, coupled with the stringent money matters of that year, together with a laity made up principally of poor people, necessitated skillful financial engineering to bridge difficulties, but the pastor was equal to the emergency, and through his able and persistent efforts money flowed in copiously, and by April 1st mass was celebrated for the first time in the basement of the new church, the church having been formally opened on Thursday preceding that event. The sermon for this occasion was delivered by the Reverend P. A. McKenna, of Marlboro, Massachusetts. Father Delany, the retiring pastor, also spoke on that occasion. Father Kinnerney continued his labors with great success, collecting money and paying off the indebtedness of the church, raising the first year $27,000. In 1875 the parochial residence was erected at a cost of $7,000. During this same year a church fair was held, attended by all the societies, civic and military, of the state,
on which occasion $10,000 was raised, the Hon. George F. Wilson, of Providence, contributing $3,000 of that amount. The piety and liberality of the church have become proverbial. In addition outside help was solicited and obtained. The pastor is one of the ablest speakers of the state, and as president of the Rhode Island Temper- ance Union spoke in that capacity from every pulpit and platform in Rhode Island to full houses, and by 1878 the financial problem of the church was brought within a radius of a solution. Being a public spirited citizen, acknowledged by Protestants and Catholics alike for the deep interest taken in matters of public moment, Father Kinner- ney was at this time elected a member of the public school board, and served in that capacity three years.
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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
On the first Sunday in October, 1878, the new church was dedicated with great pomp and splendor. The dedicatory sermon was preached by the Reverend James Kent Stone, formerly of the Episcopalian church; the choir was led by Professor Jantz, accompanied by 100 voices. The collection on the occasion amounted to $1,500. In 1884 Father Kinnerney attended the Third Plenary Council of Baltimore as theologian to Bishop Hendricken. In 1885 the G. A. R. society of the state held memorial services in St. Joseph's church, the first time in the history of the Society where such services were held in a Catholic church. On this occasion the pastor delivered the oration, and there were present the Pawtucket and Providence Posts, the Ladies' Relief Corps, Lieutenant Governor Darling, Judge Tillinghast and many other distinguished gentlemen. Memorial orations on both Generals Grant and Garfield were delivered by Father Kinnerney also, at the instance of the G. A. R. society of the state, and the oration of the former published by them in pamphlet form. During all these years the church was preserving a steady growth, and in 1886 grounds were purchased, and during the year following the convent and school buildings were erected at a cost of $15,000. At this time the Old French house was bought and transformed into a home for the Sisters of Mercy. Sister Mary Gregory has been superioress since the establishment of the convent. The school has an attendance of 325 pupils. Indeed, St. Joseph's has been so flourishing under Father Kinnerney's pastorate, that since his coming to the place, and aside from the fact that the mission districts of Dodgeville, Hebronville and Rumford have been detached from his parish, he still has a member- ship of 3,000 souls, and, exclusive of the support of himself, his church has raised in his time about $300,000.
A successful Sabbath school, for a number of years under the superintendence of Captain Francis Conlan, is carried on in the church, and a goodly number of societies are also in a flourishing condition. The aged John Devlin, the oldest Catholic in the state, is a member of this church.
The assistant pastors of the church have been: Fathers Meenan, Gleeson, Tennian and the Reverend Charles Burn. There is no curate at the present time.
Charles McNulta and John T. McGuire have been large contribu- tors to the society. The music of this church is of the highest order. A fine organ of W. K. Adams' make, of 30 stops, costing $3,000, is used to accompany one of the best choirs in the state. The church, in fact, is noted for its musical talent, its splendid choir, for the piety and the regularity of the attendance of its communicants, and for having one of the ablest and most eloquent pastors in the New Eng- land states.
A Library Association has existed in Pawtucket for a number of years. It was started through an impulse given it by a debating
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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
club in 1852. In January of that year a charter was obtained from the general assembly, and the corporation was organized in the next month. The funds of the corporation were quite meagre, and were mainly derived from the sale of about 200 shares to nearly as many different persons. The committee to purchase books had at their dis- posal about a thousand dollars, with which they bought the library of the Masonic Lodge and the books of a library association at Central Falls. The latter organization, indeed, was merged in the new asso- ciation.
A few friends also contributed books. Doctor George Taft gave 100 volumes, and the association began its operations with about 1,200 volumes. A cabinet of minerals was also supplied by volun- tary bestowal of several members. In subsequent years Doctor C. Blodgett, Messrs. D. D. Sweet, Daniel Wilkinson and Jesse S. Tour- tellot, and Hons. Thomas Davis, Charles Sumner and others, aided the library by liberal gifts of books. For years the institution con- tinued to grow; in 1860 its number of volumes was about 3,000, but the steady increase of the population in Pawtucket rendered its con- stituency comparatively small. More recently, the fewness of its members, and the expense necessarily attendant on the room, pre- vented much increase in the library, and for a few years the interest has waned. The experience of other towns also seemed to show that, for a library to be a general helper, it must be public. Like the air men breathe, it must be free.
Considerations like these prepared the shareholders to proffer their library for the general weal, provided the town would accept it and make it a public library. After the consolidation, such a proffer found more favor. The town accepted the charge, and opened the library on liberal terms to all her citizens.
For twenty years or more the library was kept in Read's block. For five years it had commodious rooms in the Spencer block, free of charge. Since that time it has been on North Union street, in Shel- don's Building, which was erected in 1888. The room used for the library is 60 by 90 feet. This is one of the very few libraries in the United States where all persons have free access to the alcoves in the selection of their own books. During the last quarterly report of the librarian it was found that only 40 per cent. of the books taken away were fiction. The officers first chosen by the original association were: Thomas K. King, president; Jesse S. Thornton, vice-president; Claudius B. Farnsworth, secretary; James O. Starkweather, treasurer; Jesse S. Tourtellot, Sylvanus Clapp, Cyrus Benson, Jr., John H. Wil- lard, Alexander Meggett, trustees. The trustees of the Free Public Library consist of the president of the town council, the chairman of the school committee and the superintendent of the public schools, ex-officio, and of six citizens at large, to be chosen by the town council. The present officers are: William F. Sayles, president; William R.
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Sayles, secretary; Almon K. Goodwin, Reverend Benjamin Eastwood, Fred. Sherman, William F. Sayles, William R. Sayles, Robert Cush- man, George H. Fuller, Darius L. Goff, A. D. Nickerson, trustees. Mrs. Minerva A. Sanders is librarian.
The first post office in Pawtucket was kept by Otis Tiffany, which was during the earlier years of the present century. He was a brother of Ebenezer Tiffany, who was here in 1801 or 1802. His office was in the house in which he lived, formerly owned and occupied by Mr. Slater, and now used by Mr. Freeman for a book store. Mr. Tiffany was succeeded about the year 1831 or 1832 by the Reverend David Benedict, a Baptist minister. Mr. Benedict was an irrepressible office holder, and in spite of varied attempts to oust him from the position, he kept the place for a long time. It was afterward learned that the reverend had a warm personal friend in the post office department at Washington, who seems to have been a fixture there because of his intrinsic worth, and through his influence Mr. Benedict was enabled to retain his office. By influence brought to bear in favor of Freder- ick A. Sumner, a gentleman of ability and great respectability, he was supplanted for the time being, but after three or four years he again came into the office.
Thomas Le Favour was the next postmaster, and is still living in Pawtucket. Following him came Joseph T. Sissons, Charles A. Leon- ard, Charles E. Chickering, Edwin Perrin, who held the office about 20 years, and on May 25th, 1887, Isaac R. Wilkinson, the present post- master. The office under Mr. Tiffany's administration distributed two mails a day. There are now 30 mails a day and eight letter car- riers, who make four trips daily. Mr. Wilkinson came to Pawtucket in 1854. He was clerk for a time for Smith Grant, and subsequently eleven years for H. L. Fairbrother & Co.
The act of the Rhode Island general assembly, incorporating the fire "District of Pawtucket," in North Providence, was passed on February 17th, 1801. The first meeting of the district in compliance with their charter, was held on the first Monday in April, 1801, at the inn of Otis Tiffany, and the following officers were chosen : Moder- ator, Stephen Jenks; clerk, Jerahmeel Jenks; collector, Benjamin Arnold ; treasurer, Otis Tiffany; assessors, James Mason, Samuel Slater, Jerahmeel Jenks ; presidents of Fire Wards, Nathaniel Croade, Oziel Wilkinson, Stephen Jenks. The first fire engine purchased by the district was built by Abraham, Isaac and David Wilkinson, and delivered April 25th, 1803. The price paid them was $353.50. This engine continued to be used by Engine Company No. 1 until Decem- ber, 1844. At that time a new engine was purchased for the company, of Joel Bates, of Philadelphia.
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