The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-09-26

cal doctor was rented in order that mass might be celebrated there. When the doctor learned the pur- pose for which the hall was to be used, he declared that the rent
 must be paid in advance before the doors of his hall would be opened to Irish Catholics. First Church Increasing in numbers steadily, the Irish determined to have a church of their own. From the To- cal Episcopalians, they bought a
 church building and set out to move 1t to the corner of East Main
 and Dublin streets. The contrac- tor, however could get the church
 building only part way up the in- cline Of East Main street. The spot was opposite what is known as the old Immaculate Conception church. and the site ,itsek was later to be that. of historic St. Patrick's hall, now only a. memory. The land on East Main street was purchased and Catholics at last had place
 of their own to worship.
 In 1847, Rev. Michael O'Neile came to Waterbury as its first resi- dent Catholic priest. In 1851, when the sacrament of confirmation was administered for the first time, there were more than 200 in the class.
 1n 1851. property on East Main street across from the church in ruo cad and the Irish Catholics of Water- bury had visions of a beautiful, permanent church in which they could worship. In 1857, while Rev. T. F. Hendricken was pastor, the | cornerstone of the Church of the Immaculate Conception was laid. It was the first church in the Uni ted, States given to the protection of the Immaculate Conception, the name being given three years aft- CT the dogma of the Immaculate Conception had been handed down. The church, completed, was dedi-
 cated late in 1857, and it was one of the city's landmarks until the erection of the present church of
 the Immaculate Conception in the last decade.
 Progress <, In rapid succession. after the opening of the church, came the erection of parish house, the purchase of cemetery property and other advances. The Irish, mean time, were increasing here and they were making themselves felt more and more in the life of the
 community.
 As the Irish Catholics grew in number, their priests and leaders
 were Keeping step with deyelcpr ments, and it was their foresight | that made possible the beautiful Catholic churches, schools, rec tories, convent, hospital and halls of which the city can boast today. Through the 18th century, and even beyond, in some cases, the Irish made their progress in Water
 bury against opposition of many i kinds. Prejudice and bigotry were all too often in evidence, and though most Waterburians of the time were liberal in their atti- | tudes, there were more than a few
 others who did all they could, to hamper the march ahead of the SC ..s and daughters of Erin. On one ocasion. a Catholic priest was fined in court because he had en- tered a 1ion-Catholic's home to give the last rites to the home owners
 wife, who was a Catholic. The /, Irish were not considered when some types of employment were given out; they often had to endure sarcasm and ridicule, but through 1t all they patiently went ahead. It
 was not 50 long ago that many | Waterburians yet living can re- | member when . local store was
 advertising for help 1t stated: "No Irish need apply"
 ] But those days are gone, and the | Irish now lind themselves on an