Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-02-24
THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH IN
BaATTLEBORO.

Its History and what IL Has Accomplish
ed, as Told In The Sacred Heart RE-
view.
The Sacred Heart Review publishes as a
supplement with its issue of Feb. Is his
tory of the Roman Catholic church in
Southeastern Vermont, preceded by short
er history Of Catholicism in the state. The
article is illustrated by half.tone ingravings
showing ST. Michears church and rec
tory, and the church edlfices and other
buildings in Bellows Falls, Woodstock,
Windsor, White River Juntion, Lud-
low and Springfield, and portraits of seve-
raj of the pastors.
The following appears under the head
ing 1.-The Church in Brattleboro:"
The nucleus of the Brattleboro settle
ment was Fort Dummer, occupied in 172G,
and located on what has since been known
as the Brooks farm. The original proprie-
tors, coming from Massachusetts, in 1853,
conformed to the tenents of Congregation
alism, and, as body, were of English
descent, though we find that Peter Pow
ers and John Griffin were among the
pioneers.
The first inhabitant of Catholic ante
cedents was, as far as is known, a Clancy,
who came in 1913; the first practical Cath
Ole, however, was man named Garvey,
who died here in 1917 or 1S4S. The CON
struction of the Vermont and Massachu-
sets railroad, in 1S47, brought the first
notable Catholic immigration.
Mass was celebrated for the first time in
Brattleboro in the early autumn of 1S4S,
by Rev. Joseph Coolidge Shaw, of Boston,
under a tree on the Wood farm in presence
of 80 or 70 worshippers. Father Shaw
had come to take the water cure; and
during his stay mass was said two or three
times. He took up only one collection,
the object of which was to enable a poor
woman to bring her husband and children
from Ireland. The following is an entry
in Bishop Fitzpatrick diary "1S4S, Sept.
10, Saturday. Rev. Mr. Shaw, who has
been for several weeks at Brattleboro,
Vermont, returns to the CITY,"
We are told that Father DAILY, the mis-
sionary, said mass about the same time, in
the woods at Broad brook, two miles from
town.
Fathers DAILY and O'Callaghan visited
Brattleboro at irregular intervals between
lS4S and 1888, officiating sometimes in
hall of the old Revere House, at other
times in the Alexander dwelling on Canal
street, I'd occasionally in a small prick
building on Green street. Soon after the
organization of the Burlington diocese,
Rev. Iephyrin Druon, whose services hal
been loaned by Bishop Rape of Cleve.
land, began to visit Brattleboro regularly.
coming at first from Burlington, and sub
sequently from Bennington or Rutland.
In 1854, there being then about 80 Catho-
lie families in town, he purchased an old
paint shop and fitted is up as a chapel.
Rev. Charles O'Reily, now of West Rut-
land, came as first resident pastor in 1855.
His mission territory included all Wind
ham county, besides extending as far
north as Ludlow and as far northeast as
St. Johnsbury. The first recorded baptism
for Brattleboro was that of Thomas Mo
ran, son of Carrot Moran and Mary Cav
anagh, his wife, the date thereof being
Nov. 4, 1915. A few children had been
baptized by Father DAILY, however, years
before. The first recorded II arriage in
the parish was that of John Sheady and
Catherine Cunningham, which took place
May /, 1856.
The present church lot was acquired in
1868 by Stephen o. Hara, who transferred
the title to Bishop DeGoesbriand. This
indirect method of purchase was necessi-
tated by the exigences of the time In
deed, when the project of building the
church was made public, some of the other
wise sensible citizens of Brattleboro re-
fused to sell material for its construction.
Father o. Reilly was enabled to hold ser
vices in st. Michaers church before his
departure, though he did not complete the
edifce; and the work was continued by
his successor, Rev. Joseph Halpin, who
came in 1869, and who died here in 1872.
Father Halpin bought house for rectory
uses, Father O'Reilly having lodged out
during his whole pastorate, chiefly with
Mr. Carey. Father Halpn was succeeded
by Rev.L \. st. Onge, who remained year
and nine months, and who was followed
in the pastorate here by Rev. Henry Lane
Father Lanes administration was sig
nalized by the completion of the church,
the building of parochial school, the in
PRODUCTION of community of Sisters of
st. Joseph as teachers, the purchase of an
other house for rectory uses, and the con-
version of the old parochial residence into
convent. He remained seven years, and
was succeeded in May, 1881, by the present
pastor, Rev. Patrick Cunningham.
Father Cunningham was born in Coun-
ty Armagh, Ireland, about 90 years ago,
prepared 1Cr college at Stlll0rdan, near
Dublin, and went thence to All Hallows,
where he made his course in philosophy.
He pursued his theological studies at st.
Sulpice, Paris, where he was ordained for
the diocese of Burlington in December
1864. After a short period of duty in Bur
lington, he was assistant at West Rutland,
whence he was promoted, after year, to
the pastorate of Middlebury, with care of
Nergennes, Shoreham and Bristol. Dur
ing his 10 years residence in Middlebury
he built little church in Bristol, as well
as handsome brick Gothic church, capa-
BILE of seating $50 persons, in Vergennes
Six years after coming to Brattleboro
Father Cunningham enlarged and remod-
eled st. Michael's church, adding 40 feet
TO the rear of the edice and building a
spire, under the direction of Architect
Guernsey of Montpelier. He also built
three new affairs, furnished the church with
new pews, frescoed the interior, and put
Ii splendid stained-glass windows, eight of
which had been designed and executed in
Munich, Bavaria, the other eight coming
from Roremond, Holland,
In 1889 he erected the present parochial