BUILDING ST. MARY'S CHURCH

The next great event to take place in the history of St. Mary’s was the laying of the corner stone of the new church and we follow with articles from the Daily Advertiser:

LAYING OF A CORNER STONE

The corner stone of the new St. Mary’s Catholic Church in the fifth ward, Rev. J. McManus, pastor, will be laid tomorrow morning at ten o’clock with appropriate ceremonies. Rt. Rev. Steven Vincent Ryan, Bishop of Buffalo, will be present and officiate. The Bishop of Rochester has also been notified to be present. St. Mary’s is situated on the corner of Fulton and Franklin Streets and is to be a structure that will be of considerable credit to that part of the city. When finished, it will cost in the neighborhood of $25,000. The event of the laying of the corner stone should call out to attend upon the ceremonies a large number of people. That portion of the city of Elmira has claims on the whole city which in such matters should not be ignored.

The different Catholic societies of the city are to meet at the corner of Main and Water Streets tomorrow morning at nine o’clock to attend upon the ceremonies.

Bishop Ryan will administer the rite of confirmation at the church at three o’clock in the afternoon tomorrow. (Daily Advertiser – Oct. 4, 1873).

CORNER STONE LAYING

Yesterday morning the corner stone of the new Catholic church in the fifth ward, Rev. J. McManus, pastor, was laid with appropriate ceremonies. There was a large number of people present. The Emmett Band playing some very fine music led the two Catholic societies, St. Peter & Paul’s Benevolent and the Father Matthew Temperance, to the church. Rt. Rev. S.V. Ryan, Bishop of Buffalo, performed the ceremonies, assisted by Rev. Father Cunningham of St. Peter & Paul’s. Rev. Father Bloomer of St. Patrick’s of this city, Rev. P. Kinsella of Wellsville and Rev. J. McManus, pastor of St., Mary’s. The usual papers, coins, and momentoes [sic] were place din the box and the ceremonies were of an impressive character. The pastor of the church has reason to be congratulated for the advance made thus far and to work hopefully in the future for the welfare of his church and his people. (Daily Advertiser, Oct. 6, 1873.)

Shortly after the cornerstone laying, there was a Fair at the old Military Hall, and we quote form the Elmira Daily Advertiser under the date of October 16th, 1873.

ST. MARY’S CHURCH FAIR

The fair of St. Mary’s Church at Military Hall is progressing with spirit and profit. There was a very large attendance there last evening and the receipts were such as must have been pleasing to the people of the church and their energetic and highly esteemed pastor, Rev. J. McManus. The fair is to last through the week and as the days advance there will be attractions added that cannot fail to increase the attendance until it becomes a throng and as well the amounts to be put into the church treasury. There are many articles of value in usefulness on sale and the usual amount of pretty women going about with small books desiring that you try your fortune for this, that or the other articles displayed on the tables. Every one seems to be enjoying himself and when that is the case, it must certainly be followed by an increase to the income to the fair. Father McManus and those with him interest him in the undertaking, for no fears of the ultimate result that will attend upon their well directed efforts.

ST. MARY’S CHURCH FAIR

The success of the fair of St. Mary’s Church at Military Hall is as pronounced as ever. Notwithstanding the threatening storm that came up about the usual hour that people start out for the evening, the attendance at the hall last night was as flattering as ever. Two more days and evenings remain and the friends of the church and the people still have an opportunity of doing much for the cause that recommends itself to their favorable consideration. (Daily Advertiser, Oct. 17, 1873).

In October or November of 1873, the partly completed walls of the church fell in, but we have been unable to find any article describing this calamity. It is referred to in a similar disaster which happened on Thursday, December 4, 1873. We again quote from the Elmira Daily Advertiser. Friday, December 5, 1873.

ST. MARY’S CHURCH

THE NEW BUILDING FLUNG DOWN BY A GALE OF WIND, THREE WORKMEN INJURED; ON PROBABLY FATALLY, LOSS $8,000.

A second ad similar calamity as the one four weeks ago overtook the new building of St. Mary’s Church in the fifth ward yesterday. Between one and two o’clock, a steady gale of wind, which had been blowing during the morning, increased to such intensity that it suddenly demolished the walls of the building flinging them over in an eastward direction. About the premises were twelve or fifteen men employed, three carpenters, four masons and the rest of them laborers or tenders. The side walls were up. The masons were at work about the tower and Arthur Birchell and William Tushingham putting on the end wall bricking up toward the roof. The carpenters were engaged in staying the roof timbers, which were already in place and better boarded over to receive the slate by fastening ropes to the rafters and beams and staying them among the floor timbers below.
One carpenter, Martin Flanigan, was among the roof timbers and the other two below. He and the masons described that for a moment the walls of the building seemed to sway forward and then the wall fell with a tremendous crash, the roof timbers laying on top of the ruins. The two carpenters inside got warning and started out of the building just in time to save their lives while their companion aloft came down with a crash and through some strength of providence escaped instantaneous death by the timbers around him and received only internal injuries which were not serious. The masons, Birchell and Tushingham, were not so fortunate. Their descent was amid the tumbled brick work. The former had a leg broken and the latter has received such internal injuries including compression of the brain that it was greatly feared he would not survive the night. Flanigan and Tushingham were removed to the Surgical Institute where their injuries were skillfully treated, and Birchell was taken to his home in the Buttonwoods where his limb was adjusted and dressed by Dr. A.H. Flood. All the rest of the men about the building escaped, only slight scratches being received in one or two instances. The east wall in its descent was flung against the side of the parsonage bursting in and destroying the library and sliding the wall building about two feet from its foundation. The resident priest was away. Father McManus was absent from this city at Lockport attending the death of a fellow priest who was killed a few days ago, but a sister and servant in the house were prostrated with fright but suffered no injuries. The church edifice was 60 x 112 on the ground with additions besides. About four weeks ago a similar calamity happened too. Only the walls were not so far along and the roof timbers were in place but not covered. The mason contractor was Patrick Murray. The contractor for carpenters work was M. McGovern, old and experienced builders. The loss is estimated at $8,000.00. Rebuilding will probably be entered upon but whether now or in the spring is not known until Father McManus returns.

All in all its [sic] was wonderful that so few were injured. It was a fearful accident. The congregation at St. Mary’s will have general sympathy under the strokes of repeated calamity but their energies and faith will overcome misfortunes and they will yet see a church of their people at last rising permanently out of these prostrated calamities.

The generosity of the many friends of St. Mary’s was immediately expressed after these misfortunes, when Bishop Ryan and many of the neighboring parishes including Watkins, Hornellesville, Corning, Waverly and St. Peter and St. Paul’s in Elmira took up collections and presented the pastor of St. Mary’s with a total of $800.00 to help defray the expenses of the damage done. A very touching note is struck in the account in the Daily Advertiser under the date of December 27, 1873 where it is noted.

“In spite of the events which cast a gloom over this church by the disasters which have overtaken their attempts to erect a new church, the congregation is firmly united and hopeful for the future. Father McManus therefore directed the Christmas Services in a very touching and impressive way.”

A still further misfortune dogged the construction of the church, and we quote from an article in the Elmira Daily Gazette dated January 12, 1875.

“Mr. J.K. Gillespie, a slater employed by the Elmira Slate Co., while at work on the new Catholic Church in Southport made a misstep and fell from the ridge to the ground, striking on a picket fence and a pile of lumber. His right arm was broken and a little finger of his left hand dislocated – besides this he received an ugly gash on his head and chin and several bruises about his body. He is however more comfortable than could be expected and it is hoped he has received no internal injuries. His escape from instant death is truly wonderful. The distance he slid along the room being about 30 feet and from there a direct fall to the ground of about 30 more.”

The next article of interest was a picnic that was held the following summer.


ST. MARY’S CHURCH PICNIC


Father McManus, assisted by the members of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, is arranging for a grand picnic to take place the third and fifth of July. Preparations are being made on a large scale and a happy time is anticipated. A parade of the church and school, with the line probably augmented by the various benevolent societies of that church, will occur on the fifth. The picnic is to be held at Hoffman’s Grove, where an interesting programme will be carried out. The proceeds of the enterprise which may be realized at the grove or elsewhere are to be applied toward the finishing of St. Mary’s Church.

The church is so well advanced toward completion that it is expected the work of frescoing it will be commenced by to-day. It is hoped that the receipts of the picnic will go far toward paying for the completion of the church.

This brings us up to what we can all imagine must have been a red letter day in the history of St. Mary’s Parish – its dedication – which took place on August 15, 1875 and we quote from the Elmira Daily Advertiser of August 13, 1875:

DEDICATION OF ST. MARY’S

On Sunday next the magnificent church structure in the 5th ward recently erected by Father McManus will be dedicated by the Right Reverend Bishop Ryan of Buffalo, assisted possibly by Bishop Lynch of Charleston, and a large number of clergymen from this and other dioceses.

The service will begin at 10:00 I the morning when Pontifical High Mass will be celebrated by Bishop Ryan and dedicatory ceremonies commenced. In the afternoon a large number of children whom Father McManus has had in careful training for weeks will receive the sacrament of Confirmation from the Bishop.

Extensive arrangements have been made to have the attendance at the ceremonies as large as possible. The Catholic Societies of Watkins, Waverly and Horseheads have been invited to attend and each have promised to be present in large numbers. Fortunately for the Watkins Societies, the Northern Central Railroad has an excursion train running that morning which leaves Watkins at 8:30 and arrives in Elmira at 9:15. This will afford a splendid opportunity to get to Elmira for attending the dedication for all who live between this city and Watkins as the train will stop at every station. The Horseheads Society of that place will take the cars. The Waverly Society will arrive on the Erie train which is due here at 9:15 a.m.

A delegation of presidents of the several Catholic organizations and the St. Mary’s (T.A.& B.) Society of this city escorted by the Emmett Band will go to the depot to meet the Societies from abroad on their arrival.

As is customary on occasions of this kind, the Catholic Societies of Elmira together with societies who come from other places, will attend the dedication in a body and be present at the ceremony. The Societies are asked to form on 3rd Street near the depot with the right resting on Main Street at 9:00 a.m. Please observe the following order of procession:

Grand Marshall Cook
St. Mary’s T.A.&B. – Watkins
Catholic Temperance Society – Waverly
St. Mary’s T.A.& B. – Horseheads
St. Peter & Paul’s Benevolent Society
Father Mathew Temperance Society, CYMB & TA
St. Patrick’s T.A. & B.
St. Mary’s T.A. & B.
Catholic Knights of Temperance.
Assistant Grand Marshalls. John Murphy
Michael Reidy
Edward Hennessey
Patrick Sullivan
Timothy O’Leary


Lines of march have been laid out as follows: Form on 3rd St. and at 9:30 move down Main and across Main St. Bridge to Franklin St. to St. Mary’s Church where they will remain during the ceremony. As soon as the services are over, the lines will reform on Fulton St. and move down Fulton St. to Hudson, down Hudson St. to Main, along Main and across the bridge to Water, thus down Water to the halls of the respective organizations. All of the societies are requested to be at their places of meeting as early as 8:15 a.m. in order to be on 3rd St. promptly at 9:00 a.m.

ST. MARY’S CHURCH ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE DEDICATION TOMORROW


As announced, St. Mary’s Church will be dedicated tomorrow by Bishop Ryan of Buffalo, assisted by many clergymen from this and other dioceses. The ceremony will be of the imposing character usual on such occasions and will commence at 10:00 in the forenoon. No admission will be charged at the door and all money to be taken up in the church will be given in the generosity and liberality of all who may attend. It is hoped that the people will appreciate, as they should, the noble work Father McManus has accomplished in the erection of the church and that they will show their appreciation by liberal contributions.

The sermon at the conclusion of the dedicatory ceremonies, it is expected, will be delivered by Bishop Ryan and a pleasant and forceful effort is assured.

No one need remain away in expecting not to be able to find seats as the church is exceedingly spacious and has a seating capacity of about one thousand. Besides this excellent accommodation, there are other temporary seats at each meeting which can readily be brought into requisition, (Daily Advertiser, Aug. 14, 1875).