Ninety Years Ago

Photo of St. Mary's Church
July 1976
Source: Seed Sown on Good Ground
A History of St. Mary's Parish
Longmeadow, Massachusetts
by Sister Mary H. Murray, S.S.J., Ph.D. 

The newly built St. Mary's Catholic Church was located on the corner of Longmeadow Street and Bliss Road. On December 31, 1931 parishioners were getting ready to attend the first Mass that would be celebrated.  It was Midnight Mass.  

On this day ninety years ago today, the first wedding in this Gothic style church took place.  The date was April 4, 1932.  Elias Andrew Baudin and Ethel Betty Miller were married by the Pastor,  Rev. John J. Rogers. 

Source:  Springfield Republican
April 6, 1932

There were other marriages that took place that year in St. Mary's Church.  Theresa Guidette lived on Maple Road in Longmeadow.  She and Francis Cuglietti of Thompsonville, CT were married on June 25, 1932. 

Source:  Springfield Republican
June 22, 1932

That year, a few months apart two sisters married their spouses.  Both young women were born in Ireland and had immigrated to the United States.  Beven Sears married Joseph E. Dwyer of Boston, MA on August 3, 1932.  

Source: Springfield Republican
Aug. 3, 1932

Her sister Anna Ita Sears married Francis M. Kennedy of Springfield, MA on November 10 that same year.  

 
Source: Springfield Republican
Nov. 9, 1932

 
Both times after each sister was married the newly married couple and their guests traveled to Springfield, MA for a wedding breakfast/ reception.  The receptions took place at the Hotel Clinton.  Before their marriages both young women made their home with their brother-in-law and their sister Mr. and Mrs. John (Nora Sears) Landers on Colton Place.          

1932 was the first year that marriages were celebrated in this new beautiful Catholic Church and these are just a few of them.  Since that date so many more couples have been married at this location at the corner of Longmeadow Street and Bliss Road.

Additional Sources: 1932 Longmeadow, Massachusetts Town Report- Marriage Records, Springfield Republican- April 6, 1932, June 22, 1932, Aug 03, 1932 and Nov 09, 1932. 

~Judy Moran