St. Michael's Church Standish-Catholic
Page 2
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Rev. Victor Van Den Hende
Between June 1900 and 1932, the usual zeal and
devotedness, the hard spiritual and material work continued and each time
the Bishop was very happy and consoled by the courage of his priests, Father
Cochard, Father Van den Hende, Father Primean, Father Lefort, Father Rock
and Father W. J. LaRocque. Each spent some time in Standish but Father A.
M. Viau spent the most time at St. Michael's; he was there for 19 years.
St. Michael's was a Mission of Lyon Mountain until
Sept.1902 when Bishop Gabriels appointed Rev. Victor Van Den Hende as first
residing Pastor. Rev. "Victor" built a rectory and a parish hall. He remained
at Standish until 1907. Father "Victor" organized a choir and everyone
was overjoyed on Christmas Eve when at 11:00 o'clock, a beautiful organ was
rolled into the Church. It charmed the hearts of all. Father's Housekeeper
was organist until he was transferred. Mrs. Joseph Bourey then had charge
of the choir and has been organist ever since.
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Rev. Wilfred Vinet-1907
A new Cemetery was blessed by Bishop Gabriels
in 1905. Several Priests came for a short time after Father "Victor". Father
Vinet stayed 4 months in 1907 and Father Leonard finished the year. Rev.
Victor Primeau was at Standish in 1908 but at the end of the year was called
back to Chicago.
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Rev. W.J. La Rocque- 1910
In 1909 Standish again became a Mission attended by
Father Victor of Chazy, N. Y. In Sept. Fr. Lefort took care of the Mission.
In December, Rev. W. J. LaRocque was appointed first as an assistant but
soon as a Pastor and Standish was again a Parish. Father LaRocque in a few
years paid a debt of $5000.00 and was then appointed to a larger Parish.
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Rev. A.M. Viau - 1913-1932
In Dec.1913, Rev. A. M. Viau was sent to Standish.
Three years later, in 1916, he opened a parochial school in the Church Hall
which was converted into classrooms-with a stage and kitchen. The Most Rev.
Bishop Conroy, just one month after the opening of the school, came to St.
Michael's and blessed the new school. He encouraged the Priest and Parishioners
in their work. The total number of families was about 40. The total receipts
for the year were less than $1000.00, yet, the school, named The School of
the Blessed Virgin, was maintained for about 8 years. Sixty children
were taught in the elementary grade subjects along with catechism and the
Bible. It was closed because of financial difficulties.
In 1932 Rev. Joseph Doyle was appointed Pastor
and remained until 1937. St. Michael's then became a mission of Lyon Mt.
and has remained so today.
On June 1, 1972 Father Howard McCasland became
pastor of Lyon Mt. and the Mission of St. Michael's. The Most Rev. Stanislaus
J. Brzana, tenth Bishop of the Diocese of Ogdensburg, decided to keep St.
Michael's Mission open. Since then, under the zealous guidance of Fr.
McCasland, the church roof has been replaced with a double roof; a 200 amp.
electrical
entrance was installed; the cellar was partially excavated and new supports
put in; new storm windows and doors were added; a new carpet has been placed
in the sanctuary, sacristy, and down the main aisle of the church; the confessionals
have been updated; the exterior and interior of the church painted including
the pews. Much work has been done inside as well as outside. Thanks must be
given to the free labor of Trustee Earl Wells. In the past three yrs. all
this work has approximated the $7,000.00 mark. Even the cemetery has
been given special care. Cushioned kneelers remain to be installed.
Negotiations with the Diamond International Co.,
who have bought all the surrounding property owned by the Republic Steel Co.,
are underway to exchange certain strips of property especially on the Northwestern
side of the present Church property that will enable the Parish to cut all
the trees on that side and thus give the people in Town a chance to look
at their Church from their windows.
by Mrs. Joseph Bourey
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Unidentified from Standish
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 3 of St. Michael's-Standish,
Page 25 of Mining for Souls.
Back to Page 1 of St. Michael'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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