"The Catholic church on West Jackson street is no more. Workmen have torn it asunder to make room for the new modern brick edifice. It had served the congregation for 75 years and time has claimed its toll. While the new structure will be a big advance in modern arrangement and equipment, and a pride to those that worship there, a few kindly reminiscences of old friends now passed to their reward, who were at one time the earnest worshipers in the old church will not be amiss.
The church was organized in 1854 by Rev. Father O'Neill with these original members--Frank McSperritt and family, Joseph Riley and family, Terence and Patrick McGinnis, Peter Crawford, Patrick Laughlin, Francis Campbell and Michael McGann. Services were held at the home of Frank McSperritt, where Peter Sullivan recalled later Rev. O'Neill lead them for four years when Father Browning came and was instrumental in purchasing the lots on West Jackson street that now belong to the church. Rev. James F. Morgan succeeded him, staying here two years. Then Rev. Logan came and was followed by Rev. James Tuohy and so forth up to the present time, one succeeding the other until Rev. Ryan who has been here { ?} years and we have the new church built under his charge They remembered the above facts which are in the minds of the older residents in the area. Father Ryan of advanced age has resided in the existing house on the corner some 40 years ago before the present parsonage or parish school were built. Members dear and people who worshiped there and were all property owners in the west part of the city. Kindly old mothers who humored and fed the children who gathered to watch their children play of evenings in what is now Charles street between Carroll and Calhoun, but was then called Merrigan's Green.
Most of them were mothers of large families and a most aware one was widowed long before they died. There was Grandma Hoing who helped the sick. Mrs. Warren who pitied the puzzled child, Mrs. Dergan, Mrs. Brazzil, Mrs. Murphy, Mrs. Sullivan, Mrs. Donovan, Mrs. Royer, Mrs. Rouse, Mrs. Haggerty and over the creek the Krazzers, Marx and Callahans.
These were among the childhood friends all gone. The bell rang in the old church steeple last Sunday for the last time and the thought came of how many times it had called these and their children to worship and as one psyche were brought to the church for the burial service. Tolled so sadly in the children's ears reminding all that time here is but fleeting."
Macomb Daily Journal, 7 JUL 1925
The church was organized in 1854 by Rev. Father O'Neill with these original members--Frank McSperritt and family, Joseph Riley and family, Terence and Patrick McGinnis, Peter Crawford, Patrick Laughlin, Francis Campbell and Michael McGann. Services were held at the home of Frank McSperritt, where Peter Sullivan recalled later Rev. O'Neill lead them for four years when Father Browning came and was instrumental in purchasing the lots on West Jackson street that now belong to the church. Rev. James F. Morgan succeeded him, staying here two years. Then Rev. Logan came and was followed by Rev. James Tuohy and so forth up to the present time, one succeeding the other until Rev. Ryan who has been here { ?} years and we have the new church built under his charge They remembered the above facts which are in the minds of the older residents in the area. Father Ryan of advanced age has resided in the existing house on the corner some 40 years ago before the present parsonage or parish school were built. Members dear and people who worshiped there and were all property owners in the west part of the city. Kindly old mothers who humored and fed the children who gathered to watch their children play of evenings in what is now Charles street between Carroll and Calhoun, but was then called Merrigan's Green.
Most of them were mothers of large families and a most aware one was widowed long before they died. There was Grandma Hoing who helped the sick. Mrs. Warren who pitied the puzzled child, Mrs. Dergan, Mrs. Brazzil, Mrs. Murphy, Mrs. Sullivan, Mrs. Donovan, Mrs. Royer, Mrs. Rouse, Mrs. Haggerty and over the creek the Krazzers, Marx and Callahans.
These were among the childhood friends all gone. The bell rang in the old church steeple last Sunday for the last time and the thought came of how many times it had called these and their children to worship and as one psyche were brought to the church for the burial service. Tolled so sadly in the children's ears reminding all that time here is but fleeting."
Macomb Daily Journal, 7 JUL 1925
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