St. Michael's Church Standish-Catholic
Clinton County, New York, 1888 - as summarized
from various sources
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St. Michael's Church- Standish
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St. Michael's Rectory
Rectory and Hall torn down. Church completely renovated.
It was in 1888 that we began to build our Church
with only twenty five dollars and seventy cents on hand. Due to the spirit
of faith and the generosity of the Parishioners, the Church costing $1687.12
was erected. It was furnished with everything: statues, lamps, etc., etc.
The Pastor himself, Father Michael Charbonneau, donated the Statue of St.
Michael, and probably at lot of his salary. Despite the bad weather
and the expense of employees, the Parishioners collected between November,
1889, and December 1890, the large sum of $1294.87. In the year 1890 they
had paid nearly all their debt, only $678.73 was left to pay. The Pastor
and the Parishioners are to be thanked and congratulated for the outstanding
work they did.
Since the building of the Church, great spiritual
blessings were showered on the Parish. Mass was attended regularly and over
200 persons made their Easter Duties.
In 1890 a bell, weighing 52 pounds was blessed.
A Way of the Cross was erected by the Pastor, who also donated it.
On the 28th of December, 1890, the Rector thanked
all the people for their wonderful cooperation. It was with great emotion
on the part of both Pastor and Parishioners that they learned that Father
Charbonneau was leaving to go to another Parish. He was confident, however,
that his successor would continue the great work which he had begun. The new
Rector was Father Desjardins. Father extended a special "Thank You" to the
John Viens family for the great hospitality they had given to Father Charbonneau.
Soon Father Desgardins took ill and Father Charbonneau
returned again to Standish. No baptismal entries were made by Fr. Desgardins.
In 1890, Monsignor Walsh, the Vicar General of the Diocese of Ogdensburg,
came in the name of the Bishop
to bless the new Church of St. Michael's, Standish. Since the month of March
the priest and the parishioners had waited to have their bell blessed. On
the 2nd of August Monsignor Walsh blessed the bell, the name given was Michael,
Marie, Joseph. There was also an inscription written on both sides. The first
one was: "All you who labor, come to me and I will refresh you."
On the other side "give glory to God; I stop the thunder and lightning storms;
I call those who are alive to come to church; I am sorrowful for those who
die. In the hearts of the wicked ones, I awaken remorse and to the good I
give joy and courage." The bell chimed harmoniously for the first time.
On the 28th of December there was great consolation
in the hearts of both priest and parishioners, in learning that out of a
debt of $1973.60, only $678.73 was debt to be paid. Father Charbonneau left
Standish October 19, 1892, and had the consolation of saying "I leave no debt."
Father Cinqmars took over till January 1902. A letter from the Bishop of
Ogdensburg Henry Gabriels on the 18th of April 1902 named Father Leon Cochard
Rector of Lyon Mountain, with the mission of Standish
and Rector of St. Louis Church at Sciota. The death of Father Cinqmars at
Port Neuf, Quebec, on the 7th of April 1903 was sad news to all the Parishioners.
He had served the diocese with great zeal and courage almost until his last
day.
The Bishop came regularly to visit the parish and
was always well satisfied. He left with great consolation of heart. He usually
confirmed about a hundred children and sometimes one or two adults.
There were about 30 or 40 First Communicants every year. All the children
took the temperance promise for 10 years. They were received in the scapular
of Mount Carmel.
The Forty Hours' Devotion was kept with great piety
and devotion. Most of the members belonged to some Society such as the League
of the Sacred Heart, Union of St. Joseph, or of some other society in the
Church. The women usually preferred the Rosary Society.
Father Charbonneau wrote in his parish records,"After
God and my parents, I love my parishioners most of all." His whole life
was an expression of that love. The character of such a priest succeeded
in stopping the rivalry of the Irish and French.
Such a rigorous life was hard on the North Country priests.
Bishop Wadhams was bishop of Ogdensburgh from 1872-1891.
How hard it must have been for Bishop Wadhams to travel from Ogdensburgh to
Standish, Lyon Mountain and Redford when roads were practically non-existent.
And this he did for many years even in winter.
Continued on Page 2 of St. Michael's-Standish
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St. Michael'sTrustees
(left to right) Earl Wells, Rev. Howard McCasland-Pastor, Arthur
LaFountain
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St. Michael's Board Members- (left to right)
Mrs. Edna Whman, Mr. Arthur LaFountain-Trustee, Mrs. Elaine Osher,
Rev. Howard McCasland-Pastor, Miss Helen Bourey
Diana Alexander (below)
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Sources:
Adirondack Museum photos, Blue Mountain Lake, NY;
History of Clinton County, New York;
Go to Page 1 of The History of Lyon
Mountain.
Go to Page 3 of The History of Lyon
Mountain.
Go to Mining History for The History
of Mining in the North Country.
Go to Page 5 of The History of Lyon
Mountain.(for article on Lyon Mt. and Mineville)
Go to Page 2 of St. Michael's-Standish,
Page 24 of Mining for Souls.
Back to Page 1 of St. Bernard's
Go to Page 1 of Mining for Souls.(cover
page)
Rod Bigelow
Box 13 Chazy Lake
Dannemora, N.Y. 12929
rodbigelow@netzero.net 
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