St. Bernards Church- Catholic

Page 3
Exhibit No.6
New Rose window, new side entrance-
Two new approaches - 1938-1942 -
New perma-stone coverage of entire church building - 1950

     On March 10, 1901 St. Bernard's Wooden Church was destroyed by fire. It is told in Town that Alfred Pagean 1st, saved the Blessed Sacrament from the fire. The people courageously faced their misfortune and rebuilt, in a remarkedly short time, a fine edifice of brick. Father Cinq Mars who had arrived on the 9th of November 1892 was still pastor at the time of the building of the new church. The cornerstone of this new church was blessed June  30, 1901 and on the 31st of August 1902, Bishop Henry Gabriel blessed the new church. The new bell weighing 1011 lbs. was also blessed. (Exhibit No. 2).
Since that time, St. Bernard's Church has undergone renovations both interiorly and exteriorly. ( Exhibits Nos. 3, 4, 5, & 6).

Mrs. Patricia Chase.
PASTORS of ST. BERNARD'S, LYON MT.
        1874  -  Rev. Narcisse Z. Lorrain  -  1879
          Coming from Redford, N.Y. once each month at
          the beginning. First Mass offered on Nov.21, 1874
          at home of John Farrell.
                           (picture - page 57 of Diocese)
 
          1879  -  Rev.  Remigius  Decarie  -  1881
          In October 1880 the First Church of St. Bernard's
          was built at Lyon Mt.
 
          1881 -   Rev. J. H. Letourt     -  1882
          Rectory at Lyon Mt. was built
 
          1882 -  Rev. Francis La Chance  -  1884
          Paid   debt & furnished Church & Rectory.
 
         1884 -  Rev. Louis B.  Demers  -1886
 
         1886 -  Rev. Michael Charbonneau  -     1892
          On Oct. 3, 1886 Father Charbonneau instituted the
          Society of the Most Holy Rosary and erected on
          Oct.17, 1886 the Stations of the Cross at St. Ber-
          nard's Church, Lyon Mt.
 
         1892 -Rev.  Joseph  Proulx      -  1892
 
          1892 -Rev. Francis Cinq-Mars    -  1902
          On March 10, 1901 St. Bernard's Church burned.
          On June 30, 1901 new corner stone of St. Bernard's
          Church blessed and laid. On August 31, 1902
          Bishop Henry Gabriels blessed new Church of
          brick, new bell of 1011 lbs. and new cemetery property.
          Father Cinq-Mars died on April 7, 1902, 54 Yrs. old.
 
         1902 -   Rev.  Leon  Cochard    -  1903
 
         1903-    Rev. George Montreuil      -    1907
         All debts  of Parish paid in full.
 
          1907 -  Rev. Joseph A. Hervieux -  1915
 
          1915 -   Rev.  Ovid  Levesque   -  1938
          Died   at St. Bernard's Rectory
 
          1938 -   Rev.  Benjamin  Staie  -  1942
          Many improvements made: - Complete renovation
          of Sanctuary, sacristy, choir loft, new organ, new
          staircase, double set of stairs approaching Church,
          cleaning & painting of church interior, removal of brush from cemetery.
 
          1942  -  Rev. John M. Kennedy  -  1946
          Convent for Sisters was built and debt paid.
 
          1946  -  Rev.  Donald  Gallagher  -  1954
          Complete re-surfacing of Church Brick with perma-
          stone. Building of Vault with help of Mining Co.
          for all peoples Catholic and Non-Catholic of this
          community.
          In 1951 new shrubbery and trees planted in ceme-
          tery along with land improvement greatly enlarging
          cemetery burial grounds.
 
          1954 -   Rev.  Gerald  Kellogg  -  1961
          In 1957 the following improvements were made:
          in church a new rubber tile floor, new pews and
          cushioned kneelers, new Stations of the Cross and
          the painting of interior of church. In 1960, old
          barn in front of rectory was torn down to make
          room for 3 car garage and old garage on North
          end of Rectory was converted into a utility room.
         1961    Rev. Harold  Mc Cabe 1969
          Plans to build a catechetical center was launched.
          $32,000.00 collected over following years.  Plans
          halted because of closing of Mines.
         1969     Rev.      Albert  Giroux  1972
          Installed new cement floor in church cellar; placed
          a new rest room in sacristry of church; began work
          in cemetery of lining up stones and repairing foun-
          dations; began work to install double roofs on all
          buildings.
 
          1972  -  Rev. Howard McCasland  -  to present (1975)
          Excavated for new cellar under Rectory; completed
          double roof work at Lyon Mt. and Standish Church
          Buildings; in 1974 a complete rewiring of all Church
          Buildings at Lyon Mt. and Standish along with a
          200 Amp. entrance; in 1975 St. Bernard's Church
          was completely painted anew, the sanctuary extend-
          ed, rugs placed down aisles and in sanctuary; new
          inside doors installed especially in new side exit -
          made possible by lowering of confessionals and door
          entrance to level of floor.
 
Go to Page 4 of St. Bernard's, Page 5 of Mining for Souls.
Back to Page 1 of St. Bernard's
Go to Page 1 of Mining for Souls.(cover page)
Go to Page 1 of The History of Lyon Mountain.
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Rod Bigelow
Box 13  Chazy Lake
Dannemora, N.Y. 12929
rodbigelow@netzero.net
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