Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-06-03
WALLS ARE RISING
RAPIDLY ON new ST.
AUCUST|NE'S CHURCH
Rt. Rev. Bishop Walsh, Portland,
Will Preside at the Ceremony
of Blessing the Cornerstone
on Sunday, June 18-Build-
ing Will Be Ready for Occu-
pancy in the Fall.

People who have recently passed by
the new ST Augustine church, which
is in the process of construction be-
tween Washington street and North
ern avenue, have seen the great
amount Of work which has been done
since the work was resumed about the
first week of April. The foundation for
the building was started last June and
at the time the work was suspended
been put in. This spring the building of
the upper structure has been carried
on at a fast rate and the walls of the
church are now near their required
height with the exception of the front
Of the church.
The two buildings which occupied
the front part of the land of the church
have been sold to the Cushnoc Real
Estate Co. and the larger of these
buildings is being moved to a lot di-
rectly across on Washington street.
The smaller of these buildings, which
is now being used as parochal school,
will be moved away at the close of the
school year. The removal Of these
buildings from the lot will give an un-
interrupted view from the church and
the appearance of the corner will be
made more beautiful by the planting Of
trees.
The work on the front of the church
which has been retarded by the prox-
unity Of the large wooden building
will ,7oyv ba r,-io6 on oarpact Tho
basement Of the church building will
be 10 feet in height and will be used
as A Darochial hall for entertainments
and other occasions. In the basement
thee will be q heating plant for both
the new church and the present church
building, which will be turned over
entirely to a parochial school. The
basement floor will be of concrete. The
entire building will be practically fire.
proof.
The main floor is supported by large
concrete columns. At the rear of the
sanctum and altar are two vestries.
The main floor will be made of tiles.
The roof Of copper and slate will be
put on in July and will be supported
BY steel columns and trusses. The
church building will be about $50 feet
long by Co feet wide The lighting will
be by electricity. 1t is expected that
the church Will be ready for occupancy
in the fall.
The blessing of the cornerstone Of
the church will be held at F.. NJ. Sun
day. June IS. Rt. Rev. Bishop Walsh
of Portland will preside at the cere-
mony and will bless the stone. The GER
emony will be public and all are cor
daily invited. Bishop Walsh will be in
the city in the forenoon of that day and
dren of St. Marys church.
The new church building, the build
ing which is used now as a church and
the rectory give a frontage of about
500 feet on Washington street. The
present church building, which will be
turned over to the classes of the St.
Augustine Parochial school. will be
large enough to accommodate 800 chill
dren. A number of the classes of the
school are being held and have been
held for some time in the lower part
of the present church edifice.
The parochiar school has an average
Of 900 children who are taught by the
Sisters of the Presentation. In speak
ing of this recently, Rev. FIR. Decary
said that by the parochial school there
was a saving for the city of Augusta
of about SIS 900 a year The children
are taught in both the French and the
English languages and they are
taught more English than French.
AS Rev. FIR. Decary stated it "the chill
dren are made good citizens, to under
stand their duty as American citizens
and good Christians"
Rev FIR. Decarey stated that he was
pleased to see that the citizens Of Au-
susta are taking such an interest in
the new church and he desired to ex
press his heartfelt thanks. And he also
said he hoped that in the near future
the electric lighting system on Water
street would be extended up the hill
to the church and that the electric cars
would pass by the door of the church to
accommodate about 1000 people on the