New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-05-21
OLD CHURCH'S NEW SITE.
Assumption Parish Not To Be
AbandOned-4 Pioneer.

Forced - ABANDON rs present site at York and
Jay SITS. the Roman Catholic Church of tha A
sumption, the third oldest Of its denomination ON
Long Island. has already obtained property for F..
new building, which, will be begun es 400, a
money enough has been raised for that nurnose
This property runs through from Cranberrvst 70
Middagh-st-' about half way between Henry and
Hicks SITS The church will be directly in the can
tire Of the plot. facing Cranberry-st and the rear
Of Plymouth Church. which runs through from,
Orange-st.
The present parish Of the ASSUMPTION lies along
tie waterfront largely built up now with factories
Il Is bounded by Orange-st.. Sands-st BridRe-st
and the East Rive. Because this constitutes one
Of the poorer sections Of Tho borough the Rev DIR
Nll-laIn u donaldson. rector OF the Church of the
Assumption faces difficult task in raiging the
money LOT a new church lie has gone about il
resolutely however. and the fund is growing slow
~ II is probable that after the nresent church
has been RACED for the purposes of the Manhattan
hIloss Il may be some time before the new build
Ing Is IetCy ior occupancy. DR.. Donaldson wants
20 build church that will be in keeping with the
present standards Of church architecture and with
the nelghborhood in which it is to be situated
de is looking forward 10 building stone or brick
structure 10 cost at least $4,000
The Brooklyn span Of the Manhattan Bridge will
PASS right over the block in which the present
church Is located. Although as vet no condenona
ton commissioners have been appointed for that
part Of The bridge route. it is known that within
two years the church will have to be torn down II
- e-L 't-AsSA4Olltu DTlck Stru cture such
frequently seen in country districts still The
school which is on the next block at Pearl and
York SIS. VIII not be disturbed by the bridge
which VIII come right alongside of it. Although
Dr. Donaldson would like to have the school near
the church the former Will be moved for the
present.
When it is was seen that the Church Of the As
sumption would have 10 give way for the bridge
the 17lsnop seriously considered for i long time
whether or not it would be advisable to abolish the
parish and add its parishioners to neighborng mar
isAes. But Dr. Donaldson persuaded him that the
church had history which should not be given
up. and that the poor people Of that neighborhood
were entitled 10 a church Of their own AS no site
offered itself east Of FUlton-st Father Donald
finally decided to go over on the Heights to
the extreme western side of tbs parish. The
Bishop has consented 10 extend the limits Of the
PARISH in that direction by putting the boundary
Pierrepont-st-. instead Of Orange-st The addi-
uonal territory will De taken from the parish Of
81. Charles Borromeo
The site taken by Father Donaldson cost S5T. 800
which is considered unusually cheap for the eight
parcels involved. Tho clot consists of the three
and four story houses No. 60 10 81 Niddagh-st,
& frontage Of S feet ana similar dwelling houses
10. . TO q Cranberry-st, a frontage Of VI feet
The plot has depth of 200 feet, and win afford an
admirable site for good architectural treatment
The rectory viii be in the rear of the church.
fronting IN Niddagr St
The history Of the Church of the Assumption
ION I-I on q lanes the Irst Cathonc parish
appointed by Archbishop Hughes. Of New-York
The conditions under which he labored
difficult that il is related that Father Bacon had
10 dress the altar himself and cut the patterns
Tor the csssOcks Of the altar boys. Hard work
established the parish a firm basis by the time
succeeded by the Rev. William Keegan, who be-
came YCaT-generaI Of the diocese under Bishop
L1IEhIu, and remained in charge of the parish
until his death, in 1890. The succeeding .ectors
were the Rev Joseph fitzpatrick, in charge OF
s. Amhrose's. the Rev NJ. J. Malone. Dead
lukes, at MILESTONE and the Rev. James J. Nc
luSEer- Wien the latter died in 1913, he was sue
CoHced by the Rev. Dr. Donaldson, the present rec
toT. l)r. Donaldson was born in Kingston, n. Y IN
-,. was educated at ST Franciss College, ia Brook
Ign. and studied theology in Genoa, Italy. In 1891
IL vas ordained 10 the priesthood by the Archbishop
e Cuba. He became assistant at ST. Edwards
Hook Point. Prior to his appointment at the
church Of the Assumption he in charge Of the
mission at Kings Park, Long Island. including sta
Igls an SnuthtoWn, Setauket and Wading River.
During the two years that Dr. Donaldson has
been IN charge OF the parish he has been wonder
Of his good work that Bishop Mcdonnell decided
not 10 abolish the parish He is assisted by the
Rev. John Tinney and Father James l. Langan.
I1e Pensioners number 5000, and the Sunday
school has an attendance of 1000 The parochial
scnoo. which established by Father Keegan,
building in this part OF the country. has 600 pupils
During its long history the Church OF the Assunp-
ton hss brought up many men who active
II the affairs Of Brooklyn. Among them may be
mentioned Father Hickey of st. Francis XavieT's
Church; ex-Assistant Corporation Counsel Carr
Luke D. Stapleton and former Deputy Commits
sloner Of Corrections James J. Kirwfn.