Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-10-07

60 N'PiINtu. Dy tnelf honest COnNl c-
ions. of the privileges and benefits of
public worship. The undertaking is
one that would improve the French
section Of our village. and we heartily
commend the movers Cor their efforts -
After i was decided To erect Il
'atHpAc Church. I'll" generosity Of The
li'iestdnt members of the commune y
Was displayed. 1t WAS duly ap-
lftclat'-d. and at SUBSEQUENT occasions
was il likewise Displayed, and CRATE
lu!IN received. Nor, tnun once did INC
pastor Of the Catholic Church publish
IN the Watcrvillc Mail his card of
thanks in behalf Of his people for the
generous aid furnished. This liberal
disposition and grateful appreciation
at and from the beginning has con-
tflhutrd not a little 10 the marked good
VIII which has over characterized the
relations IF the Catholics; and Pro-
t"Sttnt.': the French and Americans OF
this community
The effort to secure funds for the
new chapel WAS successful. 1t WA,
crested ON Grove street. i modest
structure. bat on" stIited to its purpose.
pn" of those who WAS Interested in it
t-lt is seating c;tnat.itv was some
thing Xix 300. TIKI; Of course. ex-
c"rdrd the needs of the congregation of
tslat time. but the leaders Of TIE
church sew that there would b. :,
con slant ing.l"aS, of the Catholic
population of tie lnc4lity botn hy
births ana by immigrlt;on. Hut tllc>-
could not srr. ana indeed did not
dream al. the Wonderful growth Of the
r.. ach community which soon came t..
~. With the erection If t!ln Lock-
wood Mills. ana TN, D...:nninu Of nthcr
Lars Industries. There came an uDrx-
rcclrd Increase. and IL" C:t:l0,i,
hI'rch iii Nut..rNill" ii.;l an ASSN. a
growth uf numbers ANA urosuc,jty
For Il In" ti:nr. h"W,.vrr. til. little
'':2a@r! which had seen - much ardent
:i"Nrj:'n. continued to - ,iUtv ~ a
hDuf" ri Won snip and ir!' certainty Tho
last &c cad" OF its IL. W;j& Totally in
3l"Iuat" tur Tic needs ~ Tho
c"rgre @lti"M. ii h,c.lnr absolutely
NC '-.s,.y 10 hr.lI = larger structure
in - i'l;: "r T. h:.v2 t,y.p siii:;l!..,.
ch".' =. IN" former decision was
N''rE wisely reached. and the laf;,..
# Elm and East Winter streets WAS
erected. Tho old wooden cilauc! was
SOLD and moved 10 Il lot near To tn.
congregational Church where it did
duty for many years. in altered fc,.,
as ii dwelling house. IL 1867. IA little
church upon the Plains. was under the
car" of visiting priests. Father
Nicplyn was the first resident paStor
ana was succeeded ny Father L'Iiivcr
and he in turn BY Father Picard.
'''he year 1879 begins a new ora in
til" history of the Catholic Church in
our midst. In thai Wear there. came to
the passionate the R,v. ID. J. E"Idc. 1t
was soon evident to him that a larger
and more costly hpuS" in Il better
loo; ton was urgently needed. ana ac-
col !ingly, ne and his brethren set to
Wo.k Ut once. vigorously ana earnestly.
to .'"curc the needed church. In n
December number of the Watcrvilln
Mail for ISL Father Haldc had II cara
of thanks Ia the American friends Of
tn" Catholic cnurc!, for the patronage
It : fair for tn" purpose Of til" raising
~ funds. In The Summer Of 1872. M
Catholics; broke ground for tl.rir new
ii','''' VT th' toiii'f - run ana
iH''i Ht'''S. ne "lH sanger mousse.
h''i!t bN H'N. SNlNanlS COBB. tn" first
h'|"f|aiSt minister of Wat"rvillr,
WdI moved to near the south line IF
thc lot ANA drawn back about six feet
IN "rd'f that the church might be in
inc with tn" mouse. II was Il Gothic
structure. 80 by 40 feet. with e feet
20 +, and a SIR" 12t feet in height. It
seated about sac persons on tn" main
'i""r. Another Catholic fair. patrpui:-
Tho nanIr given to tn" church was that
winch it still bears. the Francis de