PARISH OF THE PRECIOUS BLOOD
It is estimated that there are in Holyoke more than 15,000 people of
Canadian birth or descent and the parish of the Precious Blood was the first one
to be organized in the diocese among the French-Canadians. It was formed
in 1869 by Father A. B. Dufresne, who built a frame church on Park street
that year.
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Church Of The Precious Blood Organized
1869 . Among
the first French families in the town were the Prews, the Benoits
and the Terriens. Previous to 1860 John Proulx (Prew)
brought down forty-five French people from Canada for the Lyman mills.
They came in two large wagons, and in the company was one who became a noted
missionary to the Indians, Father John St. Onge.
In connection with this parish occurred the saddest tragedy in the history
of Holyoke. On a May evening, in 1874, while the church was filled with
people, some lace was blown against a lighted candle and almost immediately the
whole interior was in flames.. A panic ensued and seventy-two lives were
lost, many others being saved by the bravery of some Irish boys who were playing
ball in the vicinity. Prominent among these was John J. Lynch, who
is now chief of the fire department of the city, and who was , at the time,
hailed as a hero all over the country.
The afflicted parish had the courage to begin the erection of another and
better house of worship, and it was dedicated in 1878. It will seat 1,100
persons and cost $78,000
In 1887 Father Dufresne died and was buried in the church-yard, where the
congregation have built a fine monument to him. He was succeeded by Father
H. O. Landry, who died after three years of service.
The present pastor, Rev. Charles Crevier, came in 1890, and four
years afterward he opened a large school for boys, which he had built at a cost
of $28,000. He also built a parochial residence at an outlay of $30,000.
There are 6,000 persons in the Precious Blood church. The assistants are Rev.
H. Desrochers and Rev. W. A. Hickey