The History of the Parish of Saint Joseph (page 2)

Washington, New Jersey

In the year 1871, the saintly Bishop Bayley, always ready to advance the cause of the Master, established a new parish in Warren County by grouping the missions at Washington, Oxford and Belvidere and placing the Rev. Patrick E. Smyth, the curate at Phillipsburg, in charge of this territory.  Father Smyth took up his residence at Washington as its first resident Catholic pastor and said the first parish Mass in the home of James Allen on March 19, 1871, with about thirty Catholics present.  This was a small, but encouraging beginning, for the people, appreciating the privilege of having their own pastor, went vigorously to work under the guidance of their enterprising and enthusiastic priest.  They secured the use of a barn, which they fitted up for a temporary chapel.  A small altar was erected and a number of benches constructed from rough boards, all having been done during the following week, so that on the second Sunday of his pastorate Father Smyth had a little chapel which served for worship for over a year.  Here Mass was celebrated three times each month.

            The local newspaper has the following historical note, as of May 6, 1871.  “Rev. Father Smyth of the Roman Catholic Church has been stationed at Washington and vicinity and will reside on Washington Avenue.  A temporary chapel has been arranged by James Allen, Esq., in a building near his house on the road to Port Colden.  This is a matter of great congratulations among the members of the Catholic Church and all our citizens will be glad.  At the services on Sunday last there were about 150 people.  In future Mass will be celebrated at Mr. Allen’s on Sunday at 8 A.M. and Catechism and the Rosary recited at 4 P.M.”

            As the foregoing news item indicates, Mr. James Allen was one of the outstanding and influential local laymen of his time.  His home, still standing, is the odl farm house on the south side of East Washington Ave., opposite the Washington Greenhouses.  Mr. Allen was a construction contractor for the Lackawanna Railroad and ran a farm as an adjunct to his business, primarily to quarter his many work horses and raise feed for them.  His tombstone in Hampton cemetery shows that he was born in Ireland in 1810 and died in Washington on February 3, 1880.  His memory is still revered by the old timers of the parish.  He was an efficient Sunday school teacher, as well as a capable altar boy, who although, a devoted Catholic, was loved and honored by his Protestant neighbors and fellow townsmen.

            So great was the enthusiasm of pastor and people that in the Fall of the same year the site of the present St. Joseph’s Church was purchased.  Then plans for a new church were made by John A. Keily, the famous Brooklyn architect.  These plans called for a $7,000.00 structure, but so great was the hope of these people that the building actually cost $10,000.00.  Even the Protestants showed their readiness to help on the good work, and we find a $100.00 donation from J.B. Cornish, A.W. Crevalling, J.W. Van Doren and Sheriff Sweeney respectively.

            As of September 8, 1871, we find the following comment in a local newspaper.  “Our Catholic Citizens ought to have a church.  They are fully entitled to a place for their religious assemblies and for the instruction of their children.  Nothing but good must ultimate from the existence of different religious sects… even another denomination still in Washington with its minister and its staff of workers would be, in our judgment, a positive good, which instead of diminishing the power of resources of the other churches, would but stimulate them to greater activity and to a lovelier purity.”

            The cornerstone for the new Church was laid on Sunday, May 5, 1872.  The Very Rev. Dr. Corrigan, Vicar General of the Diocese of Newark, officiated.  He was assisted by Fathers O’Reilly of Phillipsburg, O’Neil of Hampton, McCusker of Newton and Father Smyth, the pastor.  Dr. Corrigan gave a most eloquent address, explaining the purpose for which the new church was intended – “The adoration and worship of the Almighty God”.  Turning to where the altar was to be erected, he very lucidly explained the nature and holiness of the great act of worship of the New Law. . . “the Sacrifice of the Mass.”

            In the beautifully carved cornerstone, which was the gift of Mr. Lynn of Washington, was placed a tin box containing a copy of the Washington Star, The New York Tablet, some coins of the Republic, etc.

            The church and rectory site was purchased by Father Smyth from James O. Taylor and wife on September 23, 1871.  It is located on the southwest corner of Belvidere Avenue and W. Warren Street, with a frontage of 100 feet on Belvidere Avenue and a depth of 80 feet.  The consideration was $1,000.  Father Smyth paid $300 cash and gave a $700 mortgage for the balance.  This same plot of land was purchased by Mr. Taylor in 1864 for $400, so it appears he lost no money on his subsequent sale to the parish.  The $700 mortgage was satisfied within a year because on October 1, 1872, a larger mortgage for $2500 with interest at 7% was placed with the Mechanics and Laborer’s Savings Bank of Jersey City.  The mortgage ran for five years and was then replaced by a new mortgage for the same amount with the Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Co., but this time at 6%.  This mortgage in turn ran until 1888 when it was replaced by a new mortgage from the Mutual Life Insurance Co. with the amount increased to $3500 and interest at 6%.  The following year the amount was increased to $4500 and the interest cut to 5%.

For many years the prosperity of St. Joseph’s deteriorated along with the industrial conditions of the town.  The organ and piano business died out; with the building of the Lackawanna Cut-off, Washington was relegated to a branch line and railroading lost its importance as a source of employment.  Generally, the town stood still and in fact lost population.  The boys and girls of the parish lost membership.  These were discouraging times for the pastors and their main efforts were directed toward reducing the mortgage and keeping the parish alive.  From the fact that it took thirty-five years to pay off a loan of $4500 should be convincing evidence that times were tough in parish circles.

A little later the conditions started to change.  New Catholics moved into the parish, both in town and on surrounding farms.  The villages and hamlets around Washington attracted other parishioners who liked the open country with lower living costs than in the cities.  Good roads and the automobile were finally having their effect.

Page 3 of our history