"With solemn, historic pageantry, the Most Rev. William A. Scully, bishop of Albany, yesterday dedicated the new St. Mary's Church."
It was Sunday, March 24, 1957, in Oneonta as about 1,000 gathered for the celebration of the new church on Walnut Street, making front-page news in Monday's Oneonta Star.
"Escorted by the Holy Name Society as guard of honor, and led by a large group of clergy, the solemn procession was formed in St. Mary's School, proceeding across Walnut Street to the new church.
"The procession was led by Joseph P. Molinari, bearing the Crucifix flanked by two acolytes bearing lighted candles. Altar boys, clergy and chanters preceded the bishop between his two assistants, followed by his miter-bearer, crosier bearer and other aides."
Before anyone else except this procession could enter the building, the exterior and interior walls of the church were sprinkled with holy water, among other rituals of dedication.
The doors were then opened to those waiting outside, in what was described as a chilly but sunny March morning. The first Mass was then celebrated in the new church, replacing a much smaller Catholic Church found at the corner of Main and Grand streets.
The pastor, the Rt. Rev. Arthur A. Cunningham, in a brief talk expressed his thanks to the many who had aided in the building of the new church.
"There has been," he declared, "a remarkable growth of this parish in the last 73 years. The old church was inadequate and crowded. A church is built that we may adore God." From what had begun with one service Sunday, five had been needed in recent years.
Bishop Scully then pointed out it had been about 75 years since the cornerstone of the old St. Mary's church was laid.
The bishop had been in Oneonta nearly a year earlier, when the cornerstone of the new church had been laid Sunday, June 24, 1956. Bishop Scully placed the first trowel of mortar on the stone, which was then moved into position by contractor Neil R. Nielsen, who erected the structure.
The stone contained various documents and other mementoes. More than $250,000 had been pledged to defray the costs of the construction of the new edifice.
The March 1957 dedication ended with a solemn recessional, with the bishop giving his blessing to the people kneeling as he passed while leaving the church.
Acolytes were Joseph Zacharias and James McGuinness, and the holy water bearer was Richard Bartoloti.
Later that afternoon the first baptism was performed in the new church by the Rev. John Caldara. The baby was named William John Keable, the son of Mr. and Mrs. William Keable of Gardner Place, Oneonta.
St. Mary's is said to be a duplicate of design of a church in Boston. The architects were Gander, Gander & Gander of Albany, the general contractor was Neil R. Nielsen of Oneonta, the electrical work by Utter Electric Co. and the plumbing was by American Plumbing of Schenectady. The interior was planned and executed by Louis Lualdi of Boston.
The first major renovations were made to the church during 2011. The parish now enjoys ample natural light at the altar from a new cupola as well as a warm, dry ceiling resulting from the roof replacement and increased insulation. New lighting by the sidewalks and a new handicapped accessible front entrance plaza were also added.
This weekend: There was a college for a day at the Oneonta D&H Railroad depot in 1912.
City Historian Mark Simonson's column appears twice weekly. On Saturdays, his column focuses on the area during the Depression and before. His Monday columns address local history after the Depression. If you have feedback or ideas about the column, write to him at The Daily Star, or email him at simmark@stny.rr.com. His website is www.oneontahistorian.com. His columns can be found at www.thedailystar.com/marksimonson.
Mark Simonson
St. Mary's Church of Oneonta dedicated 55 years ago
- Mark Simonson
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Sunday movies in Oneonta finally shown in 1934
You know an issue is divisive when a vote to resolve it is quite close. In Oneonta during the early 1930s there were probably plenty of discussions or arguments at the family dinner table or sermons from the pulpits on Sunday mornings, regarding whether or should be able to see a movie in Oneonta on Sunday.
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Politics, fitness and landmarks dominated local news in May 1968
Area residents mulled over the idea of Gov. Nelson Rockefeller as their next President of the United States. New fitness opportunities emerged for all ages. One area landmark was saved while another was razed. It was only a part of our life and times in May 1968.
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Local people sought income in many ways in 1933
In the economy that was the Great Depression, there were times people would do what it took to try to earn some money.
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Local windstorm in 1983 caused tense moments
I realize I've got the wrong month in mind when I say "May came in like a lion." However, that's what happened in 1983 as a number of twisters moved through our region, leaving plenty of damage behind in their trails. Add some melting snow and heavy rain, and scenes of cleanups were widespread 30 years ago this month.
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Disaster, expansions put people to work in May 1913
- Monday, April 29, 2013
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Job opportunities abounded in area 45 years ago
If you were looking for a job in April 1968 in our area, or perhaps looking to change your employment situation in the near future, opportunities were pointing in your favor.
- Saturday, April 27, 2013
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Oneonta greeted an aviation giant in 1928
An early aviation superstar came to Oneonta in 1928.
- Monday, April 22, 2013
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Area saw its own armed standoffs 30 years ago
This past Friday, we watched how the Boston area went into a lockdown during a tense search for the last suspect in the Boston Marathon bombings. Had I still been living and working in that area, as I was in the early 1990s, I would have had a day off from work Friday, as police scoured the city of Waltham.
- Saturday, April 20, 2013
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U.S.S. Maine explosion, war drew much local sentiment
For most people in our area in early 1898, a growing conflict between two distant nations probably didn't get much attention, other than some glances at the newspaper. When a young Oneonta man was one of many injured or killed in an explosion of a battleship he was aboard, the local attention increased markedly to what was soon to become the Spanish-American War.
- Monday, April 15, 2013
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Oneonta river walking path came from a surveyor's daydream
Leon Kalmus of Oneonta spent a lot of time surveying land near the Susquehanna River in the early 1970s around the time Interstate 88 was being planned and built in this area. What he saw along the shores of the river, he called “pristine,� and soon had an idea for some kind of walking or hiking pathway along the shores of the river in the town of Oneonta.
- Saturday, April 13, 2013
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Decline of Prohibition led to return of beer in April 1933
“I think this would be a good time for a beer,� remarked President Franklin D. Roosevelt, when he signed the Cullen-Harrison Act on March 22, 1933. This marked the beginning of the end for Prohibition that year.
- Monday, April 8, 2013
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Dietz Street shifted from residential to commercial through the years
By taking a walk along Dietz Street today, heading north to Walnut Street, one can see a lot of businesses and the recently refurbished parking lot on the east side of the street. It would take some imagination to see this street lined with houses and a church, but prior to the late 1940s, that’s what was there.
- Saturday, April 6, 2013
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Oneontans voted for a 'dry' city in 1918
- Monday, April 1, 2013
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Future city historian kept family busy for Easter and April 1958
- Saturday, March 30, 2013
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Colliscroft became new Oneonta landmark in 1902
If the Oneonta building trade sector of the economy could have awarded a plaque to a most valuable individual customer of 1902, it would have nearly been a shoo-in. That was Edward H. Pardee, who was listed in the Oneonta Directory around that time as a farmer, on Southside.
- Wednesday, March 27, 2013
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Historic Cooperstown cottage got a new address in 1988
To unknowing tourists seeking information from the tourism information center at 31 Chestnut St. in Cooperstown, they would probably believe that the mid-19th century cottage had always been on that site. It blends in well with some of the grand old houses along that street, and the same tourists might think it has an interesting history behind it.
- Saturday, March 23, 2013
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Free mail delivery began in Oneonta 125 years ago
- Monday, March 18, 2013
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Oneonta enacted first building code 60 years ago
There will be no parade, fireworks display or commemorative coins minted for the occasion.
- Saturday, March 16, 2013
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Area isolated during historic March 1888 snowstorm
Earlier in the week, we recalled the "Blizzard of 1993," which was one containing historic snowfall that fell on our region on Saturday, March 13. It was the largest recorded in a single local snowfall in the 20th century, and ever since another storm dating back 105 years. The latter snowfall was worse than the 1993 storm, falling overnight into Tuesday, March 13, 1888. It was commonly referred to as the "Blizzard of 1888."
- Monday, March 11, 2013
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Blizzard of 1993 was a local memory maker
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