USA > Rhode Island > Rhode Island : three centuries of democracy, Vol. IV > Part 41
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Mr. and Mrs. Monahan and all their living chil- dren are members of and take an active part in the affairs of St. Joseph's Church.
Thomas F. Monahan married, in 1882, Cath- erine M. Farrell, who was born in Providence, and they are the parents of the following children: I. Winifred, married Dr. John H. Russell, a den- tist, and they have three children, John, Thomas, and Catherine. 2. Ellen L., has charge of the office and of her father's funeral parlors and efficiently attends to affairs there. 3. Thomas F., Jr., is his father's partner in business, 4. Catherine E., holds a responsible position as supervisor of schools in Providence. 5. Mary F., married Herman T. Hanley, deceased.
FRANK A. PECKHAM-Owner and operator of the only dry goods store in the village of Wickford, Rhode Island, Frank A. Peckham is a man of long business experience in several New England communities, although he has been a resident of Wickford now for many years. Mr. Peckham is a well-known figure in Rhode Island fraternal life, holding a prominent position in several fraternal orders.
Frank A. Peckham was born at Newport, Rhode Island, on December 1, 1860, a son of Joseph F. Peckham, who was born at Newport and was a house painter during his active life, and of Abbie (Popple) Peckham, also a native of Newport. Both parents are now deceased. Mr. Peckham was educated in the public schools of his birthplace and was later employed in dry goods stores of the district. In 1896 he went into business for himself at New Haven, Connecticut, and in 1898 moved to Wickford where he has since continued his dry goods enterprise. Not only is Mr. Peckham's store the only one of its kind in the village, but its standards are so high
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both in quality of product and service that there is hardly room for another. In addition to carry- ing on his own business, Mr. Peckham is a direc- tor of the Wickford Savings Bank.
Fraternal activities have always been of inter- est to Mr. Peckham and he is widely known throughout Rhode Island for his prominence in fraternal affairs. He is affiliated with Washing- ton Lodge, No. 5, of the Free and Accepted Ma- sons, being Past Master of his lodge. In the Masonic order he is also a member of Narragan- sett Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, a member of Narragansett Council of Royal and Select Mas- ters, Calvary Commandery of the Knights Tem- plar, and a member of all bodies of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, including Rhode Island Consistory. He is a member of Palestine Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and a Patron of Adah Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star. Mr. Peckham is also a member of Beacon Lodge, No. 38, of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is Past Noble Grand and now treasurer of the lodge, a member of Mian- tonomoh Encampment, and affiliated with Evelyn Lodge of the Daughters of Rebekah. He is a member of the Ancient Mystic Order of Samari- tans, a member of the Royal Arcanum, of Qui- duessett Grange No. 44, Patrons of Husbandry, and of the Rhode Island State and the National Grange. Mr. Peckham holds membership in other Rhode Island organizations, including the Churchmen's Club, the North Kingstown Chamber of Commerce, the Washington County Pomona, and the Narragansett Veteran Firemen's Associ- ation. In politics he is a consistent Republican, while with his family he worships in the Epis- copal faith, being Senior Warden of St. Paul's Church at Wickford.
On February 18, 1884, Frank A. Peckham mar- ried Sarah F. MacNamara, who was born at Providence, Rhode Island. They are the parents of the following children: 1. Frank M., who served with the American Expeditionary Forces in France during the period of the World War. 2. Gertrude R. 3. Harold D., who also enlisted in his country's cause and served with the United States Army Engineers in France. 4. Marion P.
REV. WILLIAM R. HOUGHTON, the pas- tor of the Church of the Sacred Heart, East Providence, Rhode Island, has been in charge here since June, 1924.
Sacred Heart parish had its beginnings when, in 1873, the city of Providence began to grade and improve that portion of its East Side known as Fox Point. At that time a large number of Catholic residents moved across the Seekonk to East Providence. They continued to attend St. Joseph's Church in Providence for a time, but by 1877 Mass was said for them in Watchemoket Hall in East Providence. The town of East Providence was then a mission of the Cathedral and the priests of the Cathedral stopped to say Mass there each Sunday on their way back from Bay View Seminary. Two years later, in 1879, East Providence was made a separate parish with Rev. James V. Brennan as the first pastor. In that first year of his pastorate, while he continued to say Mass in Watchemoket Hall and to reside at the Cathedral, Father Brennan purchased the land on which the present church and parochial buildings stand. But the parish was not yet able to build a place of worship, and in July, 1879, Bishop Hendricken administered Confirmation in Watchemoket Hall. Father Brennan laid the foundations of future growth and development for the parish and served until 1880, when he was succeeded by Rev. Farrel O'Reilly, who was ap- pointed February 5, 1880. Father O'Reilly set about the task of erecting a suitable place of wor- ship and a parochial residence and he carried for- ward the work so ably that on November 7, 1880, the new church was dedicated. For seven years longer Father O'Reilly continued to minister to the needs of Sacred Heart parish, and then, in November, 1887, he was transferred to St. The- resa's Church in Providence and was succeeded at East Providence by Rev. John Harty. The next year, in 1888, Rumford was taken from St. Joseph's parish in Pawtucket and annexed to the parish of the Sacred Heart in East Providence, thus enlarging both the resources and the field of usefulness of Sacred Heart parish. In 1890 St. Margaret's, a well-built little chapel, was erected in Rumford on land donated by the Rumford Chemical Works. In 1892 a summer chapel, St. Brendan's, was built in Riverside and a summer mission was established there. Father Harty served until January, 1897, when he went to Sacred Heart Church in Pawtucket, and Rev. John Haney became pastor of the East Provi- dence parish, with its two missions-St. Mar- garet's at Rumford, and St. Brendan's at River- side. Father Haney built a rectory in East Provi- dence in 1899 and energetically worked for the advancement of the interests of the parish until
Welille Real Otis.
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May, 1909, a period of ten years. The next pastor was Rev. Joseph Schevren, who served ably until 1913 and was succeeded by Rev. John H. Mc- Kenna. During Father McKenna's pastorate the first Catholic school in East Providence was opened, September, 1917, with eighty pupils en- rolled in the four primary grades. Father Mc- Kenna served until June, 1924, when he was suc- ceeded by the present pastor, Rev. William R. Houghton.
Rev. William R. Houghton was born in Law- rence, Massachusetts, September 16, 1875, and after attending the parochial schools in Provi- dence, continued his studies in LaSalle Academy, in Providence, Rhode Island. For his college training he entered Mount St. Mary College, in Emmitsburg, Maryland, and when his course there was finished went abroad and continued his studies in the Catholic University of Lille, France. He was ordained a priest in Cambria, France, December, 1920, and then returned to this coun- try, where he taught for a time in LaSalle Acad- emy. He was then assigned as curate at St. Mary's Church in Pawtucket, where he served until he was made a pastor and placed in charge of the Church of Our Lady of Mercy at East Greenwich, Rhode Island. There he proved his ability as an executive, as well as a religious guide and teacher, and he greatly improved the church property. In June, 1924, he came to his present charge as pastor of the Church of the Sacred Heart in East Providence, and here he has accomplished a fine work.
Father Houghton found a well-organized school of eight grades, for Father McKenna built a new parochial school, which was dedicated by Bishop Hickey, September 3, 1922, and opened September II of that year. The school has con- tinued to grow, and in 1926 Father Houghton opened a junior high school, which is taught by nine Sisters. When the new rectory was built the old one was moved to a site back of the church and it is now used as a convent, making a most comfortable home for the Sisters who teach in the school. Father Houghton has replaced the old windows with new pointed arch windows. In every department of the parish work he has brought vigor and efficiency and spiritually he is a trusted and wise leader of his people. The parish num- bers about three thousand souls and the usual par- ish and church societies are vigorous and pros- perous. There is a Holy Name Society, Children of Mary, both senior and junior; Holy Angels Sodality, a St. Aloysius Society, and a welfare
council of St. Vincent de Paul; also a unit of the National Catholic Welfare Council.
Father Houghton has the confidence and the entire cooperation of his parishioners, and is highly esteemed in the community in which his church is located.
MELVILLE NEAL OTIS, D. D. S .- For almost a quarter of a century Rhode Island's capital was the scene of the late Dr. Melville Neal Otis' successful professional activities as a dental sur- geon. Having carefully prepared himself for active practice in his chosen profession, Dr. Otis met with marked success in it from the very beginning and for many years enjoyed one of the largest and most important dental prac- tices in Providence. To a remarkable degree he was devoted to his profession, the highest prin- ciples of which he always practiced and upheld. His pleasing personality and his many other fine qualities of the mind and heart gained him a host of friends and also the confidence and liking of his patients. He was a popular member of sev- eral dental and social organizations, took an active part in religious work and represented the highest type of upright, useful, and public-spirited citizen.
Melville Neal Otis was born at New Britain, Connecticut, September 1, 1879, a son of Orrin M. and Alice N. Otis. Having received his early education in Providence, where he attended the public schools and also Mowry & Goff's Classical School, he became a student at Brown Univer- sity. There he was a member of Zeta Psi Fra- ternity. Having decided to follow a dental ca- reer, he entered the Dental School of Harvard University, from which he was graduated with the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgeon in 1904. Immediately following the completion of his tech- nical training, Dr. Otis became associated in the practice of dentistry with the late Dr. Walter S. Kenyon, of Providence. After Dr. Kenyon's death Dr. Otis opened an office of his own, con- tinuing to practice his profession alone until his death in 1926. Year by year his practice grew, this being the natural result of his unusual ability, his reliability, and his constant efforts to keep abreast of the latest developments and discoveries in dentistry. His interest in his profession was very great and he undoubtedly ranked as one of the leading dentists in Rhode Island. He was a member of the Rhode Island Dental Society,
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the Odontological Society, and the Harvard Odon- tological Society, as well as of the University Club of Providence and the Wannamoisett Coun- try Club. He was very fond of the company of his friends and delighted to entertain them in his home, to which latter and to his family he was attached with exceptional devotion. Though not a member of any particular church, he was a regular attendant and supporter of St. Martin's Episcopal Church of Providence, of which Mrs. Otis and the children of Dr. and Mrs. Otis are active members.
Dr. Otis married Edith Shepherd, a daughter of Edward H. Shepherd, who was connected with the Boston Store in Providence for half a cen- tury. Dr. and Mrs. Otis had three children: I. Virginia Shepherd, a graduate of the Lincoln School for Girls. 2. Rosamond, likewise a grad- uate of the Lincoln School for Girls and now a student at the Rhode Island School of Design. 3. Gordon Melville, a student at Moses Brown School.
Dr. Melville Neal Otis died at his home in Providence, on March 20, 1926. His untimely death at the early age of forty-six years natu- rally was a great shock, and represented an irreparable loss to his wife and children. It was also deeply regretted by his many friends, who lost in him a genial and loyal companion. To the dental profession his passing meant the disap- pearance of a man, who had always lived up to the highest professional standards and who had done much to advance the dental profession in Rhode Island. Dr. Otis is assured of a per- manent place in the hearts of his family and friends and in the annals of Rhode Island's den- tal history.
REV. WILLIAM A. DORAN-The pastor of the Church of the Blessed Sacrament, Providence, Rhode Island, is now the Rev. William A. Doran. The parish of the Blessed Sacrament is located in that part of Providence known as Mount Pleasant, and was organized by the Right Rev. Matthew Harkins, D. D., September 28, 1888, with Rev. William I. Simmons as its first pastor. As there was no church building, the first Mass was said in Odd Fellows Hall on Academy Avenue, Sunday, October 7, 1888. That same month the Padelford estate on Academy Avenue was purchased, and Father Simmons set about the task of supervis- ing and financing the erection of a suitable church
edifice. The noted architects, Heins & LaFarge, were engaged to draw the plans, and on June 23, 1889, the corner-stone was laid by Bishop Har- kins. Father Simmons received the full coopera- tion of his parishioners, and on Christmas Day, 1889, the first Mass was said in the completed basement. For several years after the completion of the basement, the church stood built up to the nave on three sides, with the fourth side only sheathed with beams and boards, but in 1897 the outside was finished and the beautiful tower erected, greatly enlarging the basement, in which Mass had been said for a decade. The church was dedicated June 5, 1904, by Bishop Harkins, after which Solemn Pontifical Mass was celebrated by the Very Rev. Fidelis Stone.
The Church of the Blessed Sacrament is one of the notable architectural works of Providence. Built of rough red brick, it is a careful adaptation of the Italian Romanesque style of the period preceding the twelfth century, and the utmost care has been exercised in adapting and harmoniz- ing the minutest details of its structure, both within and without. Unrelated elements have been care- fully excluded, and every detail, even to the candle- sticks on the altar, was especially designed by the architects. The plan is Basilican, with various modifications of the proportion of transept and chapels, and a serious effort has been made to give accurate expression to the spirit of the beautiful style of the early centuries in Italy, without slavishly imitating any single model, so that the completed church may fairly be classed as an orig- inal design of the present day. The facade, based upon the upper part of the famous Church of St. Francis of Assissi, is very beautiful. The west front is plain with a small round turret on either side. In the center are three-arched openings very richly molded and carved, supported upon clusters of red granite columns. In the wall, over the door- ways, is a rose window lighting the nave, and at the four corners of the rose are the symbols of the four Evangelists, the lion, the ox, the angel and the eagle, carved in red sandstone. At the spring- ing of the arches are two angels, one holding a globe to represent the world, and the other a book, to represent the record of the world, while on either side are nearly life-size statues of St. Peter and St. Paul. The scheme of ornamentation of the front is derived from the churches of Apulia, Italy, period of the Lombard occupation, and was ex- ecuted by Maximilian Schwarzott, of New York City. On the southside of the church, in the man- ner of the early Christian churches of Rome, is a
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graceful campanile one hundred and thirty-six feet high, divided into stories and finished at the top in two tiers of open arcades with polished red granite columns.
A broad flight of granite steps across the entire front, afford approach to the three arched en- trances, in which are massive doors covered with copper, panelled, and with relief ornament. The entrances open into an outer vestibule, from which three doorways lead to an inner vestibule, which is divided from the nave by an open colonnade of six marble pillars with richly carved capitals. On the left, or Gospel, side of the inner vestibule is the Baptistry, octagonal in form, domed, lined with marble and tile. The font is a massive block of Tennessee marble, of simple design, with a cover of wood.
The interior of the church concentrates the decoration towards the Sanctuary and High Altar, the Throne of the Blessed Sacrament, in harmony with the name of the church. The nave walls rest on round arches, supported by eight monolithic columns of red granite. The carving of the granite capitals of the columns are fine examples of the Byzantine style (about the sixth century) and no two of the eight columns are alike. The walls, to the heights of the springing of the nave arcades, are finished in marble, the aisle and transept walls in panels of Brocadilla, Serpentine, yellow Numi- dian, and Pavonazzo, and the four great piers sup- porting the transept arches in red Numidian. The base is black, with molding in Serpentine. Even the relief ornaments of the cornices, stringcourse and soffits of the arches most carefully adhere to the Byzantine style. The lower walls of the sanc- tuary are in pink Georgia marble, divided by bands of green, and above the marble wainscot is a frieze in green. In the gilded dome are six beautiful stained glass windows representing adoring angels, done by John LaFarge.
The High Altar and Baldacchino, gifts of the parish, are the focus of the entire scheme of the interior. Standing in the middle of the apse, they are of white marble, and the Baldacchino is sup- ported by four columns of Listavino marble with Yellow Verona bases. All the marble work of the church was done by Messrs. Tingley & Mahoney, of Providence. Stalls to accommodate a choir of fifty men and boys run round the walls of the apse and behind the altar is a richly toned organ made by the Austin Company. There are four side altars, one in each of the side chapels on either side of the sanctuary, and one in each of the transepts, beautiful specimens of fourteenth cen-
tury treatment. The sanctuary is reached by five steps of pink Georgia marble, with Serpentine risers, extending across the entire width of the nave. Both of the side chapels, also the two win- dows in the transepts, and the beautiful hand- wrought Sanctuary lamp, are memorials. The panelled ceiling is of cypress wood, designed after the early churches of the Venetian province, the pews are done in red birch, and the walls of the clerestory are tinted in terra-rosa, while cornices and moldings are in old ivory tone. The Stations of the Cross are the work of the Boston artist, Henry H. Ahl. The electric lighting of the church is most excellent, and the main chandelier, at the intersection of transept and nave, was designed by the architects. It represents an immense double cross, with a pendent crown, thirty feet in height and eleven in diameter, wrought in iron and hold- ing one hundred electric lights. On the band of the crown is the inscription in Latin: "I am the light of the world; he that followeth me, walketh not in darkness."
The Church of the Blessed Sacrament is one of which the parish may well be proud. The parish is also proud of its beloved pastor, Rev. William A. Doran, who is carrying forward the work there most ably and successfully.
Father Doran is a native of Fall River, Mas- sachusetts. He was educated there in the pa- rochial schools and was ordained in Providence, September 24, 1896, after which he was assigned to St. Thomas' Church as an assistant, remaining there until 1912, a period of fourteen years. The Church of the Blessed Sacrament to which he came in 1921, is his second charge. Here in 1925, he built an eighteen-room school, taught by the Sisters of the Order of the Faithful Companions of Jesus. He also built, in 1926, a convent, a three- story brick building, with accommodations for sixty Sisters, and has acquired eight parcels of land, aggregating some 34,000 square feet.
ISAAC H. CLARKE-A member of an old Rhode Island family, Mr. Clarke was born in this State and has always lived here. For the last four- teen years he has been one of the leading coal dealers of his section of Rhode Island and hie ranks as one of the most successful and most representa- tive business men of Jamestown. For many years he has taken a very active and effective interest in public affairs, having been a member of the Town Council, the House of Representatives, and
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the State Senate, as well as of several important local departments. Fraternal affairs, too, have al- ways greatly interested Mr. Clarke and he is a popular member of several fraternal organizations.
Isaac H. Clarke was born at Newport, April 4, 1875, a son of the late Isaac Clarke and Mary W. (Soule) Clarke. His father, now deceased, was a native of Newport and for many years was suc- cessfully engaged as an ice dealer. Mr. Clarke's mother is a native of Little Compton. Educated in the public schools of Newport and Jamestown, Mr. Clarke, after leaving school, learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed successfully for eighteen years. He then took the position of master me- chanic for the local branch of the United States Engineer, a position which he held with marked success for eight years. During this period he was engaged in fortification work on the coast defenses of Narragansett. In 1916 he entered the coal business in Jamestown, in which he has since continued under his own name. His place of busi- ness is located at the Ferry Wharf, Jamestown, and Mr. Clarke is the only coal dealer on Conani- cut Island. He was also a member of the board of directors and the general manager of the James- town & Newport Ferry Company. Mr. Clarke has always been interested in public affairs and has served for one year as a member of the James- town Town Council, for six years in the Rhode Island House of Representatives and for two years in the Rhode Island Senate. He is now a mem- ber of the Jamestown School Committee and for several years served as chief of the Jamestown Fire Department. During the World War he did effective work as a member of the local registra- tion board and also acted as the chairman of all Liberty Loan drives. For many years prominently active in Masonic affairs, he is a member of numer- ous Masonic bodies, including the following: St. John's Lodge, No. 1, Free and Accepted Masons ; Newport Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Washing- ton Commandery, No. 4, Knights Templar; De- Blois Council, Royal and Select Masters; and the Rhode Island Consistory, thirty-second degree, An- cient Accepted Scottish Rite. He is also a mem- ber of the Royal Arcanum and of the Conanicut Grange, Patrons of Husbandry, as well as of the Jamestown Men's Club. In politics he is a sup- porter of the Republican party, while his religious affiliations are with the Protestant Episcopal Church. His favorite form of recreation is fishing.
Mr. Clarke married, in 1895, Matilda W. St. Clair, a native of Newport. Mr. and Mrs. Clarke
have two children: I. Harry Howard, a veteran of the World War, during which he served in the United States Navy with the rank of ensign, being in the transport service. He is now a salesman for a lumber and building supply concern. 2. Alice Maud, who married Robert R. Rhoad, graduate of Lehigh University, and now residing in Phila- delphia, Pennsylvania.
EDWARD BROWN COY-Development of the seashore properties along the southern coast of Rhode Island, especially at Watch Hill and its vicinity, is largely due to the activities for approximately thirty years of the Frank W. Coy Real Estate Company, of Westerly, of which Edward Brown Coy has been the president since 1929, the year of his father's death, he having been the founder. The second Coy to engage in this business was trained in it for twenty years before being called upon to assume full control, since which year he has given ample illustration of the valuable instruction and experience he was given under the organizer of the house. It is the oldest real estate industry in Westerly operating con- tinuously for nearly thirty years and has acquired a large and valuable clientele in both its realty operations and its insurance business. It has al- ways been conducted on the highest principles and has earned a reputation for honorable dealing in every deal it has made. Mr. Coy is a very capable business man and has been honored by selection for a number of important offices by his col- leagues in other occupations.
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