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Norman Rockwell's America

History of North Adams.



The cost of the present edifice was about $33,000. A bell weighing 5125 pounds, and costing over $3000, hangs in the tower of the church, the gift of Samuel J. Whitton of Coleraine, but afterwards of Perkinsville, Vt.


EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

St. John’s Episcopal church, located on Summur street, was organized by William Tatlock, Stephen H. Tyng. Jr., the students of Williams College and others, in 1856, the Rev. Benjamin F. De Costa being, the first rector. In 1857 a church building, was erected of wood, which was succeeded in 1869 by the present stone structure, which will seat about 350 persons, and is valued, including grounds, at $26,000. The building was a gift to the society from Mrs. Hiram Sibley, of Rochester, N. Y. The society now has 150 communicants, with Henry I. Bodley as rector. The Sunday school has 191 scholars and 15 officers and teachers.


UNION CHURCH.

The Blackinton Union church, located at Blackinton, was organized by Rev. John Alden in 1843, with twenty members. The church building, erected in 1871, will seat 300 persons, and is valued, including grounds, at $12,500. There are now about 150 members, the pulpit being supplied by the pastors of the Baptist, Congregationa1 and Methodist churches. The church building was erected by Sanford Blackinton and donated to the village.


ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.

In 1825 several Irish families had settled here, but they had no organized religious services until 1848. In that year Rev. Father Edward Cavanaugh, the, pastor in Pittsfield, established a mission and said mass once in three months in some of the Irish houses. The first mass was celebrated in the house of Michael Ryan, in the “Union.” The Roman Catholics then numbered about twenty families. Father Patrick Cuddihy succeeded Father Cavanaugh as pastor in Pittsfield, and attended the mission in North Adams. The first church was built on Centre street, about this time. Father Edward H. Purcell succeeded Father Cuddilly in 1860, and Father Charles Lynch was appointed his assistant in the same year. In less than two years the Roman Catholic population had so increased that Father Lynch was appointed pastor here, with missions in South Adams, Williamstown and at the east end of the Hoosac Tunnel. From November, 1862, until 1883, Father Lynch labored assiduously for the flock entrusted to his care. He bought a lot of land on Eagle street and began the present church edifice in 1864. The corner-stone was laid in the summer of 1867, and the church was completed and dedicated in July, 1869. At the east end of the tunnel and at the central shaft halls were procured and mass celebrated once each month.

A few years afterward, as Father Lynch saw the debt of the church diminishing, he placed in the tower of it a large bell and a set of chimes. In this he was liberally assisted by the manufacturers and citizens of the town. After many years of hard and assiduous labor Father Lynch was stricken with paralysis on the 28th of May, 1883. He was 53 years old at the time of his death. He had been a priest twenty-six years, all but five of which were spent in this town. He was succeeded by Father Charles E. Burke.

The English speaking Roman Catholics in town now number about 3,500 people.


FRENCH ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.

The French Canadian congregation was established in 1870, by the Rt. Rev. P. T. O’Reilly, Bishop of Springfield, who kindly granted the permission asked by the numerous French families in town of having a pastor of their own nationality. Up to that time the French had worshipped with the Irish Catholics of St. Francis’ church. The first pastor of the French church was Rev. Fr. Crevier of the diocese of Montreal. He took charge of the congregation in January, 1871. At that time there were 200 French families in North Adams, and also about 100 in South Adams. Father Crevier found himself at the head of a large congregation and mission. In 1871, there being no French church, the people rented the old Irish chapel on Centre street. After four years this chapel was abandoned for the basement of the new church, which the congregation had commenced building in a sightly location on East Main street. The first service attended in this basement was on December 25th 1874. Owing to the lack of funds at this time work was suspended on the building, the congregation continuing to worship in the basement. They worked hard and untiringly to reduce a debt of $24,000 on the property, and in 1885 had diminished it to $8,000. Their hopes of completing the church edifice now began to assume shape, for in the summer of this year the walls and spire were raised, and the church will be completed in the spring or summer of 1886, leaving the church about $20,000 in debt.





Edited and adapted from the original by Laurel O’Donnell
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