Putnam patriot., 1916-12-08
ST. MARY'S PARISH

prior 10 TINS tudl ltAtI ifoHouSu, III
lS4S, French Canadian with large
family of childen, migrated TO pomfret
Factory Other Canadian families
followed with troops OF children and
after the opening of the three great
factories in lSis foreign operatives
were very generally employed. Up to
this immigration in pomfret Factory
and Rhodesville masters and workmen
were alike mainly from old Puritan
families to whom the very name Cath.
Ollie was the embodiment of false doc
terine and usurped authority.
But with the coming OF the foreign
ers things We're changed. Reverend
Michael Mecahe was sent by the
Catholic bishop of Providence TO look
after these wandering sheep and to
hold religious services. Holy Mass
was celebrated In Quinebaus Hail and
ar acre of land purchased for religi.
Gus purposes. Putnam parish, as
then construed, embraced also Prom.
fret, Woodstock and Thompson. Rev.
William e. Duffy. Pasooag. II. l. was
placed in charge as missionary In
1858. and in the following year laid
the foundation of the FIRST Catholic
house of worship in Northeastern Con
neeticut 1t was a small wooden strue-
ture. costing when completed Il little
over two thousand dollars, hut was
considered quite an achievement for
this migratory and scattered popula
ton, most of the Canadians at ilrst
staying TO earn a little money and
then returning to Canada.
Little progress however was made
until the advent of Rev. Eugene j.
vygen in 1865, newly ordained minis.
ter from Belgium. eonseerated to mis-
sionary work In the United States sent
10 administer the sderamenis 10 the
Catholics OF Putnam, he was greatly
moved by the spiritual restitution OF
the people Without resident priest,
schools or burial ground. 4 was no
marvel that the parish failed TO pro
press and the church OF God suffered
The keen eyed young missionary saw
al q rlance the great capabilities of
the field Some hall dozen large cot
ton manufactures IN Putnam and
Thompson were bringing in hundreds
Of Catholic families Putnam village
save promise OF becoming an import.
ant business center, and was the nat
ural church home Of the increasing
Catholic population With much ear.
nestness FIR, Vygen laid the need and
opportunity before the bishop OF tho
diocese, and was allowed 20 enter upon
the Putnam pastofate.
The result far more than realized
his most sanguine expectations. Civ
ing his whole time and energies 20 the
work, within two years he had secured
the laying out and conservation of a
convenient Catholic cemetery. pur-
chased other land and erected pas
toral residence, and fused the scat
tered elements into a united and reyer-
ent congregation. Before proceeding
to erect a worthy church edifice he re-
turned to Europe and gathered aid
from many friends. and then entered
upon his great work with redoubled
energy and enthusiasm. The wooden
structure was soon replaced by sub
stantial brick structure with trim
mings OF light gray granite. The In
terror was very line. fitted up with
much care and taste. The altar was
gem of art. adorned with angels
wrought In Munich. Of the highest or.
der OF art. Ideally and beauty. Above
and back OF the altar were three stain
ed glass windows. The semkdOme
oyer-arching the altar was divided into
five panels. colored In deep blue and
studded with gold stars; In each was
the representation OF an adoring angel.
each carrying an emblem OF the pas
sion of our Lord. The first carried
the crown OF thorns: the second the
cross: the third the palm of victory;
the fourth the chalice: the fifth carry
ing wheat; significant OF the Euchar-
.st Pulpit and organ were In keep
ing. This beautiful structure. capa-
lie Of seating fifteen hundred people.
was formally consecrated as st.
Mary's church by Right Reverend
Bishop Mcfarland. November gath,
1870. and for nearly five years had
served the purpose OF its construction.
receiving thousands OF joyful worship
pers. when. almost In a moment, II
was reduced TO ashes. SO rapid was
the fire that not one of It's valued trea-
sures was rescued library, altar. or
gan. chalice were All consumed The
building with he contents was valued
al Ss5 900 With bis accustomed en-
ergy and his undaunfte spirit in the
face Of the Obstacles Tr. yyren at once
commenced the erection Of a chapel,
celebrating mass meanwhile ir Quine-
bamg Hall November LIST. 1876. 81.
Ioseph's Hall was dedicated by Right
Reverend Bishop GaIberry nsafand
tasteful building In the rear Qf the
blackened ruins. furnishing stkp for
eight hundred people The erection
of Catholic church edifices In nearby
towns somewhat diminished the num-
Der Of the congregation Al Putnam. 50
that this hall continued II accom- Jay
= ; !, :
80 M I Il Il .