Vol. V, No. 1 Connecticut Irish-American Historical Society January-February 1993 St. Patrick's parish celebrated in 1942 Just 50 years ago -<>n Jan. 25, ( 1942 - one of the earliest Irish .. Catholic parishes in New Haven ­ St. Patrick's - celebrated its 90th anniversary with a special rededica­ tion ceremony and publication of a booklet commemorating the event. The Mass for the rededication was celebrated by priests formerly assigned to the parish including Fa­ ther John J. Kelley, Father Joseph A. Rice, Father James G. Lengen, Father Joseph D. Casey, Father John F. Kenney, Father Joseph A. Degnan and Father John B. Logan, O.P. The story of St. Patrick's began in 1851, when the influx of Irish immigrants into New Haven caused Father Edward J. O'Brien, pastor of St. Mary's Church, to purchase land at Wallace Street and Grand Avenue with an eye to establishing a second Catholic parish in the city. Shortly ----- -~ ... - - thereafter Bishop Bernard O'Reilly approved the project and designated St. Patrick', Church and rectory, New HavlHJ, 1852-1966 Father John Sheridan to supervise construction of the' new church. to be named, appropriately, St. Pat­ The final construction work was convent were constructed. In Janu­ rick's. not completed until mid 1853 and ary 1875. fire destroyed the roof of The cornerstone of the church the dedication of St. Patrick's the church and severely damaged its was laid on Aug. 31. 1851, but Church occurred on Oct. 9. 1853 interior. During reconstruction. the Father Matthew Hart replaced Fa­ ~ith Archbishop 8edini. papal dele­ front wall of the church caved in and ther Sheridan before construction gate to Brazil officiating and with the church was almost totally re­ was completed and it was Father Bishop Fitzpatrick of Boston, Bishop built. Hart who offered the first Mass in Timon of Buffalo and Bishop O'Reilly The long-time pastor did not live St. Patrick's.on Dec. 19, 1852. of Hartford in the sanctuary with a to see the completion of the renova­ The first baptism was that of· number of priests from throughout tion. dying at St. Vincent's Hospital Catherine.~allaher, daughter of Tho­ Connecticut. in New York City on July 9. 1876. mas and Rose Gallaher on Dec. 21, Bishop Fitzpatrick preached the He was buried in front of his beloved 1852. The first marriage took place dediCation sermon. while Bishop church and his likeness was carved on Dec. 26 that year when Patrick O'Reilly preached at vespers in the on the front wall'of the building. Noonan and Mary Ahern exchanged afternoon and Bishop Timon He was succeeded by Monsignor their vows before Father Hart with preached at evening services. James Lynch, vicar general of the Edmund Gamel and Johanna Father Hart remained as pastor for diocese, who died in Decem- Henessey as best man and maid of 24 years. During his pastorate. a honor. .rectory, two school buildings and a (Please turn to Page 2 Page 3 O'Neill - O'Sullivan families had roots stretching back to County Waterford Editor's note: Thanks to the stayed behind until passage fare generosity of members and could be sent to them ... their interest in preserving the Mary O'Neill married Michael stories of their ancestors, the McNamara on Nov. 19, 1890. She Connecticut Irish-American probably met him in a manufactur- Historical Society has begun ing plant in Canton, Conn .... Can- to receive for its library a num- ton's principal industries were ber of family histories. We m~nufacturing of edge tools, re~ularlypublish in The Shana- knives, axes, plows, wrought iron chle excerpts from these his- and brass. Michael was an axe tories both to disseminste the grinder, my mother said. valuable historical information Harry J. McNamara, their first contained in them and to en- child, was born in Canton on July cour8(Je others to get down on 3, 1892 ... The family moved to paper whatever they know New Haven about 1896 and their sbout the history of their own second child, Mary Teresa was families. The excerpts below born on Feb. 3, 1897. A third Cd. sre from s fsmily historyof the child, Margaret Veronica was born Bridgeport liveryman O'Neill, O'Sullivan and Me- at 43 Bradley St. in New Haven on Namsrs fsmilies resesrched Dec. 11, 1898 ... Michael Mc- knew when to quit snd written by Mrs. Germaine Namara died on Sept. 18, 1899 at M. Grady of Spsrta, N.J. 43 Bradley St. from tuberculosis, Owen Keenan was a man who could see leaving Mary widowed with three the handwriting on the wall. For 25 years Mary O'Neill McNamara Fitzger­ small children, ages eight months, Keenan was. Bridgeport's foremost live~ three and seven ... al~, t~e fourth child of Or. Timothy stable proprietor. But in 1918, he ac­ o Neill and Margaret.Cunningham, Mary O'Neill established a cepted the inevitable and converted his was born July 26, 1865, at Glen­ boarding house to support her stable at 160 Fairfield Avenue into an auto­ beg. Ballyduff, County Waterford family at 43 Bradley St., and at mobile service station. ... When she was five years of age 129 and 119 Olive St. in New .The event was so noteworthy that the her father died at the young age of Haven ... Bridgeport Herald sent a reporter to inter­ 44 on Sept. 23, 1870 ... Her All of Mary's family lived with view the liveryman. mother was widowed with five her at one time or another. Teresa "It used to be cabs and carriages," children, ages eight months to and her daughter, Marie Keenan told the reporter. "When you eight years ... Her mother remar· McGowan, lived with her for sev­ wanted to take your best girl out on a ried Henry O'Sullivan three years eral years; Teresa worked as a Sunday afternoon, you wanted a good later ... seamstress; Anthony was single stepper and a neat rig. You liked it and she Mary was brought up with her and lived at the boarding house liked it. It was pretty good for the livery brothers and sisters at Glenbeg, and Joseph, who was married to business, too. But very few fellows would Ballyduff, on the River Blackwater Ann Murphy, had two daughters dare mention a horse and carriage now for and attended the local schools Rita and Josephine, who visited a. Sunday afternoon drive. unless he owns which they went to by pony cart. often. Daniel lDonal) came down ~I~ own ~orse. If any vehicle is to be hired, It must have been lovely there with from Boston after his sister was It. IS a taXicab or a touring car. The automo­ the wide fields leading down to the widowed in 1899 and met his bIle has demonstrated its attractiveness river and the orchards and gardens wife, Elizabeth Maroney from Mil­ and its usefulness. People want it. The to play in. The family stayed at town Malbay, Clare. Her sister, automobile is even replacing the horse­ Glenbeg farming about 200 acres Susan, also lived there and both dr~wn hacks and hearses at funerals. It is and raising their children ... were employed as seamstresses. qUicker and more fashionable, no matter About 1883, the family decided Daniel is listed in the city directory what use you have for it. So what chance to emigrate to America where of 1900 as an insurance canvasser has the horse these days?" Hftnry's parents,Cornelius and who boarded at 43 Bradley St., In i~s Jan. 13, 1918, issue, the newspa­ Catherine O'Sullivan and family and in the 1905 directory as a clerk per. pnnted Keenan's comments alonQ. with had previously settled in North­ at Union Depot ... an Interesting sketch of the Irish liveryman. ampton, Mass. The older children (Please tum to Page 4) Page 4 1 Briefly noted 0 Neills - 0 I Sullivans came from Waterford WELCOME· - Welcome to our new members: Sherry D. Tennyson, (Continued from Page 3) Don and Joan Cavett, 8eth Ann Stewart, P. Ann White-Jelen, Thomas Harry McNamara, Mary's son, was an F. Geirin. James l. and Martha C. Shea. Edward A. Petrela, Catherine electrician by trade, served in the Mer­ E. Aldridge, Patricia A. Moran. chant Marine and was in World War I in the Army. He remained single and died BOOKS AVAILABLE - Copies of our book "The Wearin' 0' the Green: on Oct. 15, 1965 while a patient at the 150 Years of St. Patrick's Day in New Haven" can be ordered through West Haven Veterans Hospital ... Mary our mailing address below at $10 a copy plus $1 .50 handling charge. Teresa married William l. Hadden, a The book was published last year to commemorate the 150th anniver­ judge and lawyer who became lieuten­ sary of the first St. Patrick's Day observance in New Haven in 1842. It ant-governor in 1943-45 and attomey is a 234-page paperback with 40 drawings and photographs of St. general in 1945. They had three chil­ Patrick's Day observances in New Haven over the years. dren. Margaret married John K. Cash­ man, a fine salesman, and they had five LETTERS NEEDED - Each year, our society sets up Irish Heritage Month children Mary (Molly) died in Febru- displays at area public libraries during March. This year we are looking ary 1982 .. for letters sent from relatives back home in Ireland to Irish immigrants Mary McNamara remarried Edward who had settled in New Haven. We do not need to actually display the Fitzgerald in 1916. He also boarded with originals of the letters in the libraries.