The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-05-19
Organized in 1908 Society Lends Annual Support
 in Raising Funds
MRS. SARAH HAYES
 FIRST PRESIDENT
Operettas Presented Years Ago; Two Rooms in New
 Wing Donated

St. Mary's Hospital Aid Society, afIiliated with the hospital for over thirty years, has had an impor- tant part in the progress of the hospital organization. It was start cd March 9, 1908, and during the years in one way and another has been q strong support. Starting as q going society the Catholic women of the city organized and She society is operating in much She same way as 1t did during It's drst years. The procedure as to meetings, official personnel, mem- oership, and so on, is continued along similar lines. When the Hospital Aid finished It's first off, eial canvass there were 754 mem- bers. At the close of the present membership drive, ending this month, the membership figures arc expected to total 1000 women.
 Looking back over a 8 year hls- tory the Aid society has operated with success. holding each year so- Cial and other events, the pro- ceeds from which are turned over to Mother Mary Sacred Heart, pres- ent superintendent. and before she took office to Mother Xavier first superintendent. In 1908 the of- ficers elected were: President, Mrs. Sarah Hayes; presidents, Mrs, T. J. McLarney, Mrs. o. C., Rus sell, and Miss Susan O'NeIll record- ing secretary, Miss Anna c. Finley: financial secretary, Mrs. Bernard Fitzpatrick, and treasurer. Rev. James F. O'Brien. Incidentally, the first president, Mrs. Sarah flaw thorne Hayes. q former prominent Cathoic resident of Waterbury, passed away just last month in New York City, te which city she had moved over twenty years ago Of the other first officers also de- ceased arc Miss Susan o'Ncill. q lawyer, and of q prominent family: Miss Anna c. Finley, and Rev James L. OBrien, formerly assist ant ct the Immaculate Concep- ton church and one of the citys best known clcrgymen during his time of residence here.
 Directorate Increased
 The personnel of directors has increased with the years and where- as there were from two to four representing fourteen parishes there are now many added to that num- Der for sixteen parishes. The slate of officers today includes the same number as the original one. Tn the carly years of the society Father OBrlen remained treasurer until the fall Of 1914 when he was trans-' ferred from the Church of the fm- maculate Conception to Stonington, His service to the Aid society was of great value for the six years that he acted as treasurer. From this time on the office of treasurer has been filled by q woman.
 Following Father OBrien's re- tirement Rev. Eugene P. Cryne, then assistant at the Immaculate Conception church, was appointed chaplain at the suggestion of Rev. Luke FitzSimonS and held that duty for many years, He was succeeded after many years of faithful serV- ice by Rev. J. T. Connor who was subsequently succeeded by Rev Lawrence F. Skelly, the present chaplain.
 Diverse Activities
 During the years the many ac- tivitieS conducted by St. Mary's Hospital Aid Society have included card parties, rummage sales held twice a year, various entertainments, including the presentation of seV- eral outstanding dramatic produc- tions, and other events. One of the most important events held an- nually by the aid society Is It's an- nual Donation Day, so called On this day foodstulls and domestlcs as well as money donations are sent 60 the hospital Also coop erating for this event are many non- Catholics who assist In the many affairs conducted during the year.
 At least six dramatic productions have been presented since the so- ciety was inaugurated. These in- clude the three operettas "The Mlkado," "Said Pasha,' and "The Mascot" and also "OTooles Busy Day" in 1918, and "McKennas Filtration" In 1884. The operettas