USA > Rhode Island > Rhode Island : three centuries of democracy, Vol. III > Part 34
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Meantime, a property was secured at No. 42 Cole Avenue which served as a parochial residence
until a house was secured on Slater Avenue, and a few months later, with the approval of the Bishop, the first house was removed to its pres- ent location at No. 67 Cole Avenue and the lot upon which it had stood was sold to meet the ex- pense of removal and the building of a new foundation. The second building was remodelled into a well-equipped fourteen-room rectory which is in use at the present time. Plans are prepared to extend the rectory to suit the present needs of the parish. Early in the history of the Sunday school the Sisters of Mercy were placed in charge and they continued to direct it until the fall of 1928, when the Sisters of the Congregation of Notre Dame came to the parish for the purpose of opening a Catholic school. In May, 1928, a house was procured for them on Lloyd Avenue and the work of remodelling this and adding an artistic chapel was completed in September, 1929. During the week of September II, 1929, the school was opened in temporary quarters, with four grades and a kindergarten class, taught by the Sisters of Notre Dame, and in the course of the next few weeks more spacious quarters were provided.
On October 17, 1929, the school on Slater Ave- nue, owned by the city of Providence, was sold at public auction and purchased by the corpora- tion of the Church of St. Sebastian. It had served as a public school until the June preceding and was ready for occupancy at the opening of the fall term. During the week following its purchase some few necessary alterations and repairs were made and the first classes were held in it in less than two weeks from the date of its purchase. On the occasion of the administration of the Sacra- ment of Confirmation in the parish, November 21, 1929, the Rt. Rev. Bishop Hickey blessed the build- ing and in the sermon which followed the cere- mony, warmly congratulated the parish of St. Sebastian on their latest acquisition and stressed the need of the Catholic school for the proper development of Catholic life. Since its opening, the number of pupils has gradually increased and by the beginning of the next school year it is anticipated that the ideal of the church, in the matter of Catholic education, will be realized in St. Sebastian's, viz: Catholic school accommoda- tions for every Catholic child in the district and every Catholic child in this school.
Thus in the brief space of fifteen years the parish which began its life "without a bit of land or a blade of grass" has, through the zeal, ability and devotion of Father Craig, the generosity and
James q. Craig
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consecration of his people, and the encouragement of the Right Rev. William A. Hickey, D. D., Bishop of Providence, become one of the finest parishes of the diocese, with church, rectory, con- vent, and school, all well-equipped and making provision for all the present needs of the parish life. St. Sebastian's parish numbers about 1,100 souls, and the oak pews of the main body of its church provide seating for five hundred and thirty persons, while the lower auditorium seats about three hundred people. Into the record of the achievement of St. Sebastian's has been written indelibly the name of Father Craig, organizer, in- spiring leader, and beloved pastor.
Rev. James A. Craig was born in Providence, Rhode Island, and received his early training in La Salle Academy in this city. Later, he con- tinued his studies in Manhattan College, New York City, from which he received his degree of Bachelor of Arts. When his course there was completed he began his theological training in St. John's Seminary, at Brighton, Massachusetts. He was ordained a priest by the Rt. Rev. Matthew Harkins in SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral, Prov- idence, September 24, 1896. After his ordination he took a post-graduate course in Washington Uni- versity, at Washington, District of Columbia, and was then appointed as assistant in the Church of the Sacred Heart at Pawtucket. There he served ably, and after a time he was transferred to St. Mary's at Pawtucket, as an assistant. In 1915, when the new parish of St. Sebastian's was formed from portions of St. Joseph's and Holy Name parishes in Providence, he was made a pastor and placed in charge of the task of organization and building which is involved in the creation of a new parish. Since that time his full energy and his distinguished ability have been devoted to the de- velopment of that parish, which has greatly grown and prospered under his wise leadership. The devotion of Father Craig has inspired his people with a zeal and energy which has successfully achieved much, and by successive purchases of land Father Craig has made provision for future growth and increased usefulness. The community at large, as well as the people of the parish of St. Sebastian, hold in high esteem the able pas- tor who brought the parish into existence.
REV. L. A. MALECKI-From 1917 to the present writing (1930), Rev. L. A. Malecki has been serving as pastor of St. Joseph's Church of Central Falls, Rhode Island.
St. Joseph's parish was established in 1906 for the Polish Catholics of Central Falls and vicinity. The first pastor, Rev. Francis Keuger, organized the parish and for eleven years gave his time and energy to the task of building up the interests of church and parish. By 1915 the time seemed ripe for the erection of the present fine new church, which was completed in 1916. The following year the present pastor, Rev. L. A. Malecki, took charge, and during the thirteen years of his pastorate he has accomplished much for St. Joseph's.
Rev. L. A. Malecki was born in Franklin, Penn- sylvania, and received his early education there, and then entered a seminary in Detroit, Michigan, for his theological training. After taking his theo- logical degrees he was ordained in the cathedral in Detroit, in 1910, and assigned to St. Stanislaus' Church in Fall River, Massachusetts, as pastor. While serving there he purchased a house as a home for the Sisters who taught in the school, and worked effectively to forward the interests of his parish, which numbered six hundred souls. At the end of four years of successful work he was trans- ferred to the Church of Our Lady of Czenstoch- owa, in Quidnick, and there he built a rectory and made extensive repairs in the remainder of the church property. That parish had a membership of about one thousand people, and among them Father Malecki was held in high esteem. For four years he continued his labors for the parish of Our Lady of Czenstochowa and at the end of that pastorate, in 1917, he came to his present charge as pastor of St. Joseph's Church of Central Falls.
At the present time (1930) St. Joseph's parish numbers four thousand and has a Sunday school with an enrollment of six hundred pupils. It is steadily growing. There is a parochial school which takes care of five hundred children, who are taught by thirteen Bernardine Sisters. The eleven class-rooms of the school are well lighted and well equipped, and the school ranks high in the quality of its work. Father Malecki built the present rectory in 1924, a fourteen-room dwelling, well planned and fitted with modern conveniences. He has also painted the church since taking charge and has added a fine tower to the building, greatly improving its appearance. The main body of the church provides seating for six hundred persons, the basement seats five hundred, and the choir loft, which is equipped with a fine-toned organ, makes provision for one hundred singers. The high arched ceiling rises above an interior which is harmonious and beautiful. An exquisitely hand-carved marble central altar dominates the scene, as is fitting, and
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the usual two smaller altars, one on each side, are of the best material and workmanship. Eight large stained glass windows, four on each side, soft and mellow the abundant light which they admit, and one hundred and fifty electric lights, grouped in three chandeliers, fifty lights to each, flood the church with soft light in the evening. The twelve stations of the cross, placed around the sides of the room, are beautiful and impressive, and the entire interior is harmonious and artistic, creating an atmosphere of peace and reverence. The church, which is approached from the street by a flight of twenty-one steps, stands upon an embankment and from its elevated position the massive 75-foot tower built by Father Malecki can be seen for miles outside the city. All the property is kept in excellent repair and the grounds are well cared for. The parish societies are active and prosperous, and include a Holy Name Society for men, Holy Rosary Society for the women, a Chil- dren of Mary Society, a Guardian Angel Society, a vigorous chapter of the Order of St. Francis, and several others. When Father Malecki took charge of the parish he had one assistant, but growth has been so rapid and the activities of church and parish have multiplied so fast under Father Malecki's able leadership that a second assistant became necessary and he now (1930) has two assistants.
Father Malecki is well known in Central Falls as an earnest and sincere Christian gentleman, of nobility and talent. He has won the full coopera- tion of his people and is accomplishing a splendid work for St. Joseph's parish.
REV. W. O. DEMERS-From September, 1926, to the present writing (1930) Rev. W. O. Demers has been the able pastor of St. Patrick's Church of Harrisville, Rhode Island.
The history of St. Patrick's parish goes back to the early 1850's, when the few Catholics living in Pascoag and Harrisville attended the nearest church, which was in Woonsocket, or waited for the occasional visits of missionary priests from Providence. In the development of country towns which occurred during the first decade of the nineteenth century, 1850-60, Pascoag, which meant the entire surrounding district, was one of the first places to receive a pastor. On March 15, 1851, Bishop O'Reilly appointed the Rev. Chris- topher Moore, a young priest just two months
ordained, pastor of the district. In 1852 Rev. P. J. Lenihan was made pastor. He decided to build a church at Pascoag and engaged the services of the noted architect, Keely, to draw the plans. In July, 1853, the bishop preached to the people con- cerning the purchase of a plot of ground as the site for the proposed church. In September, 1853, however, Father Lenihan was succeeded by Father Bernard Tully, who abandoned the plan of build- ing in Pascoag, made Harrisville the headquarters of the mission, and began the erection of St. Patrick's Church. The next pastor, Rev. John Duffy, completed the church, which was dedicated by Bishop McFarland on his first Episcopal visi- tation, October II, 1858, and at that time was valued at $3,500. The estimated Catholic popula- tion of the district at that time was one thousand and St. Patrick's then had two missions, one at Albion, where there were twenty-five Catholic families and where mass was said every second week, and one at Slatersville, where there were fifteen Catholic families and where mass was said every third month. During the more than ten years of Father Duffy's pastorate (1856-67) he carried the work forward most successfully and so increased the size of the congregation that it became necessary to enlarge the church. In 1867 Rev. James O'Reilly was made pastor, and he was followed by Rev. William Bric, who took charge in 1869 and remained until 1873. During that pas- torate the parish grew and prospered and the church was cleared of debt. Rev. John Keegan was made pastor of St. Patrick's in 1873 and served ably until 1878, when he was transferred to Provi- dence and was succeeded at St. Patrick's by Rev. John Maguire. During Father Maguire's pastorate, in 1880, the church at Pascoag was made a sep- arate parish, but in 1886, during the next pastorate, that of Rev. Michael Cook, who served from 1884 to 1890, Pascoag was reunited to Harrisville. Rev. Michael Cassidy came next, 1890-92, and he was succeeded by Rev. Henry Conboy. He served until 1899, and during his pastorate, in 1893, Pas- coag was again made a separate parish. In 1899 Rev. John Tully was made pastor. He served until 1902, when he was succeeded by the Rev. Thomas E. Ryan. For twenty-four years Father Ryan labored at St. Patrick's and during that time he accomplished a splendid work there. He built the present twelve-room rectory, put the entire church property in excellent condition, and greatly strengthened the spiritual life of the par- ish. He was succeeded by the present pastor, Rev.
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W. O. Demers, who took charge September 26, 1926.
Rev. W. O. Demers was born in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, and received his early and prepara- tory education in the parochial and public schools of his birthplace. When his course in Pawtucket High School was completed he entered St. Laurent College, near Montreal, Canada, and when his collegiate course was finished he began his theo- logical training at Louvaine, Belgium, where he was ordained July 10, 1910. After his ordination he returned to this country and was assigned to St. Ann's Church at Cranston, Rhode Island, where he remained for a period of five years, 1910 to 1915. In 1915 he was transferred to Pascoag. There he continued his able ministry until Septem- ber, 1926, when he came to his present charge as pastor of St. Patrick's Church in Harrisville. Since coming to Harrisville Father Demers has fully demonstrated his ability and his devotion to his work. Every department of the parish activities has been quickened and strengthened, improve- ments have been made to the church buildings and grounds, and pastor and people have worked in sympathetic harmony. The various church socie- ties, including a Holy Name Society, a Children of Mary Society, and a St. Ann's Society, are vigor- ous, and there is every prospect of an increasingly bright future before the parish of St. Patrick. The church edifice seats about four hundred people, and the parish has two missions, one at Glendale and another at Chopache. St. Patrick's numbers 1,300 souls, and is steadily growing. Father Demers is assisted in his work here by his brother, Rev. V. W. Demers, who was ordained in Little Rock, Arkansas, June 8, 1924, and who was an assistant in Cranston before locating here.
ANTHONY V. PETTINE-For upward of twenty years Anthony V. Pettine, of Providence, has maintained a progressively prominent position in the legal ranks of the city and is known and esteemed as one of the leading members of his profession in Rhode Island. Mr. Pettine is known for the sincerity and care with which he conducts his activities. He has at no time sought public acclaim, nor any political office, yet at times when there has been need of his services in matters beyond his private practice he has come valiantly to the front and acquitted himself with credit to his citizenship.
He was born in Isernia, Italy, March 8, 1880, R. I .- 12
a son of Michael Pettine, a shoemaker and native of Italy, and Josephine (Tartaglioni) Pettine, de- ceased. Educated in the public schools of Provi- dence, he afterwards read law in the offices of Gorman, Egan and Gorman and was admitted to the bar November 6, 1907, whereupon he estab- lished himself in practice in Providence and has been so engaged continuously since. He is at present a member of the firm of Pettine, Godfrey and Cambio, with offices at No. 58 Weybosset Street. He is a director in the Lincoln Trust Com- pany, the Crown Piece Dye Works, and the M. A. Gammino Construction Company. During the participation of the United States in the World War he served as a member of the Legal Advisory Board and as a "four-minute" speaker.
EDWARD RUSSELL CUTLER-In the financial world of Rhode Island, Edward Russell Cutler has made notable advancement. He has worked up through the various grades to his pres- ent position of assistant manager of the Warren branch bank of the Industrial Trust Company of Providence. He is highly stationed in the Ma- sonic fraternity, having proceeded into the Scot- tish Rite Consistory, and served as an officer of the subordinate bodies. For a quarter of a cen- tury he was a member of the Warren School Committee, and served as tax collector of that town for a number of years. He is also a prom- inent churchman-official of the Baptist denom- ination.
Mr. Cutler's family background is one of the most desirable. His father, Hon. Charles Russell Cutler, born in Schenectady, New York, followed the sea as a captain of a merchantman in early life. Later he engaged in business as a textile manufacturer. He rose to leadership in political circles in Rhode Island, and was elected to the office of Lieutenant-Governor of the State, in which he served most acceptably for his single term. He was also one of the foremost members of the Masonic fraternity in this jurisdiction, having held the office of Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Masons of the State of Rhode Island. Lieutenant-Governor Cutler married Lydia Leonard Gushee, a native of the town of Warren, and now deceased. Of their son, Edward Russell, see further.
Edward Russell Cutler, son of Hon. Charles Russell and Lydia Leonard (Gushee) Cutler, was born in Warren, May 31, 1873. He passed
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through the grades and into the high school, where he completed his academic education. Direct from school he entered upon his career as a financier. In 1893 he was made a member of the staff of the National Hope Bank of Warren. The following year he accepted an invitation of the Merchants National Bank of Providence and remained a member of its force until 1900.
In the latter year, Mr. Cutler returned to his native town of Warren, having been elected to the offices of cashier of the National Hope Bank and treasurer of the Warren Trust Company. When these banks were absorbed, in 1904, by the Industrial Trust Company of Providence, his services were retaincd in the capacity of teller at the Warren branch. Since 1914 he has held the position of assistant manager of that branch.
In politics always Republican, Mr. Cutler is a seasoned public official of Warren, having served on the school committee from 1889 to 1914, and during that long period he was instrumental in making many improvements in the school system, its physical properties, curricula and faculties. The town will always be in his debt for his serv- ices rendered on that board. His quarter-century membership of the school administration em- braced the years, May, 1900, to 1905, in which he served as town tax collector also, his efficiency having much to do with the successful financing of the municipal budget.
In fraternal affairs, Mr. Cutler is a Past Master of Washington Lodge, No. 3, Free and Accepted Masons; a Past High Priest of Temple Chapter, No. 3, Royal Arch Masons; a Past Thrice Illus- trious Master of Webb Council, No. 3, Royal and Select Masters; a member of St. John Com- mandery, No. I, Knights Templar; and of all the bodies of the Scottish Rite, inclusive of the Con- sistory. For fifteen years he has served the War- ren Baptist Church as treasurer and is a strong pillar of the society's spiritual and business activities.
Mr. Cutler married, in 1908, Marion B. Buck- ingham, born in West Barrington, and they are the parents of four children: I. Louise C., married Byron A. Waterman, of Warren. 2. Charles Rus- sell. 3. Edward G. 4. John W.
CALEB B. PARKER-The late Caleb B. Parker, of Providence and West Greenwich, who had served in the offices of United States marshal, deputy sheriff and chief of police, was a descend-
ant of two of the oldest families in America-the Parkers and the Tillinghasts-tracing back to the earliest Colonial times. He was a citizen of high reputation, a champion of the law and its orderly processes, and a cooperative spirit in the various spheres of civic advance in the communities in which he resided.
George Parker, the American ancestor and founder of the family, was born in England in 16II, and came to America in 1634 at the age of twenty-three years in the ship "Elizabeth and Ann." He resided in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, and in 1638 was admitted as a freeman at Aquid- neck. He died in that same year.
George Parker, the first of the name in direct line, married Catherine Cole. They resided in West Greenwich.
John Parker, son of George and Catherine (Cole) Parker, was born June 8, 1731. He was a captain in the Revolutionary War, and the owner of a large tract of land in West Greenwich. He was also a judge, having received his commission under King George III. He married Hannah Jordan.
Stephen Parker, son of John and Hannah (Jor- dan) Parker, was born in West Greenwich. He was a farmer and a man of prominence in the community. He married Lydia Ladd, in 1798.
Calvin M. Parker, son of Stephen and Lydia (Ladd) Parker, was a prosperous landowner and farmer of West Greenwich, where he was a highly respected citizen and a devout member of the Baptist Church. Possessing an excellent voice, he was leader of the church choir. Quiet and un- ostentatious in manner, he had many friends, and he was extremely fond of children. Calvin M. Parker married Phebe Tillinghast, daughter of John and Mary (Sweet) Tillinghast, and a de- scendant of Rev. Pardon Tillinghast, the Amer- ican progenitor of the family of that name. This Pardon Tillinghast was born in Sussex, England, in 1622, and is said to have been a soldier in Cromwell's army. He came to America in 1645 and was one of the original proprietors of the Providence Purchase, where he was a leading merchant; also served as as assemblyman, town councilman and town treasurer. For forty years he was a minister in the Baptist Church, and one of the early preachers of the Baptist Church founded by Roger Williams. The present First Baptist Church of Providence was built with money received from the sale of the first meeting house in Rhode Island, which was built at Pardon
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Tillinghast's own expense, in 1700, and of which he was the first minister. He preached without salary. He built the first wharf in the city of Providence, and did many other things to advance the commercial and political life, as well as the religious tone, of the community. From him has descended a long and vigorous line, in which are to be found outstanding men and women, who have inherited the best traditions of the race.
Caleb B. Parker, son of Calvin M. and Phebe (Tillinghast) Parker, was born on the old Parker homestead in West Greenwich, November 12, 1851. He attended the public schools of the district until he was seventeen years of age, meanwhile working on his father's farm. Having learned the trade of a mason, he later became the superin- tendent of the Thomas J. Hill farms, continuing in that capacity until 1880. In the latter year he removed to Pawtucket, where he joined the police force. He was promoted to sergeant and later was made chief of police of the night detachment.
From service as superintendent of the factory of L. B. Darling in Pawtucket, he went to Hel- ena, Montana, where he was commissioned a United States marshal. In 1890 he returned to this State and accepted the position of superin- tendent of the Sayles farms and stockyards at Lincoln, Rhode Island, and Thompson, Connecti- cut. He held at the same time also the offices of chief of police and deputy sheriff in Lincoln. His fraternal relationship was with Ionic Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons. He was a staunch Republican of the old school, and a faithful mem- ber of the Baptist Church.
Caleb B. Parker married Caroline D. Wood, daughter of Jonathan N. and Caroline (Greene) Wood. Jonathan N. Wood was a son of Squire Greene and Amy C. (Nichols) Wood, and a grandson of Major Jonathan and Elizabeth (John- son) Nichols. Major Jonathan Nichols held his commission in the Revolutionary War. Caleb Wood, father of Squire Greene Wood, was a sol- dier also in the Revolution. Mr. Caleb B. Parker was a well-known sportsman of his day, enjoying the out-of-doors, and extremely fond of hunting and fishing. He was a brother of John T. Parker, United States customs inspector of Providence, and of Mary Brown Parker, who was the first to be appointed police matron of Providence. Chil- dren of Caleb B. and Caroline D. (Wood) Parker: I. Lula P. 2. Calvin Mason, attended Bryant & Stratton's Business College, studied two years at Tufts College, and graduated from Philadelphia
Dental College, 1902. He practiced first at Val- ley Falls, Rhode Island, and since has been in practice at Bristol, Connecticut, where he is prom- inent in his profession. He married Almine Louise Clark, daughter of John Clark, of Cumberland, Rhode Island, and they have a son, Sheldon Clark. 3. Caroline D., graduated from the Moses Brown School, 1908; married Ralph C. Patton, president of the Patton-MacGuyer Company, manufacturers of electrical brass findings and jew- elers' findings. They have a daughter, Caroline Lindsey Patton, a student at the Classical High School, Providence.
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