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| The History of Immaculate Conception
Church |
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The current Immaculate Conception Church
celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2018.
This page details some of the major events in our history.
The
original Immaculate Conception Church was a frame structure
originally built circa 1849. The Roman Catholic community
purchased it from the Universalist Denomination around 1902.
In an interesting note from the "How Times Have Changed"
Department, this original wooden structure was insured for
$6,700 when it burned. . |
 The
pictures in this section depict the original church back
"in the day"! |
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| Palm Sunday 1917 fire |
The original church was completely lost in a fire
started by a lightning strike on Palm Sunday, April 1, 1917.
Over the next year or so, the existing church was built.
We have compiled a number of articles taken from the Watertown Daily
Times newspapers on file at the Flower Memorial Library in Watertown.
Please note that these articles regarding the fire and rebuilding
of the church are close to 100 years old and as a result the quality
is poor.
The first article is not dated but we assume it was published in
the Watertown Daily Times on April 2, 1917.
This talks about the electrical storm that occurred in
the early morning hours of Palm Sunday, April 1, 1917.
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| Rebuilding the
Church |
The article below was taken from the December 6, 1918
WDT. It summarizes a bazaar that was held to raise
money for the new church.
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Below is an article, also from the WDT, about the newly
built church. This is dated February 1, 1919.
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| The '50s and '60s |
A number of Watertown Daily Times articles have been found
discussing various events between 1955 and 1962.
An undated article
which we assume is from sometime in the early 1950s,
tells of a $100 bequest to the church from a parishioner
named Handhette.
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The church's annual
report is chronicled in this January 11, 1955 article.
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This short article
from March 14, 1961 tells about the purchase of the
Devendorf house by the church. We assume this is
the property that houses the current rectory and office.
Sometime late in the day on Wednesday, February 21,
1962, or possibly overnight into Thursday, three
offering boxes at the church were looted. This
article appeared in the Friday, February 23, 1962
edition.
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| 1962 Building Fund
Campaign |
This article taken
from the Watertown Daily Times on March 19, 1962, tells
of a campaign to fund the building of a new Parish
Center. This would be the building we now use
adjacent to the church.
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This March 28
article announces that Bishop James Navagh will preside
at the opening of the fund campaign.
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Bishop Navagh
blessed the volunteers as the campaign was kicked off.
This April 5, 1962 article discusses this.
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The results of the
Parish Fund Drive was announced in this April 14, 1962
article.
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The final pledge for
the fund drive was announced in this April 23, 1962
article.
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| The New Parish
Center |
 The
first step in the construction of our existing Parish
Center was to demolish the building that stood on the
site. This home had been our rectory. This
article appeared in the June 18, 1963 Watertown Daily
Times. |
 This
article, which appeared on June 28, announced the start
of construction of the Parish Center. |
This article and picture
appeared in the August 24, 1963 edition of the Watertown
Daily Times. Construction of the new Parish Center
was underway.
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 The
Parish Center dedication was announced in this December
7, 1963 article, also taken from the Watertown Daily
Times. |
Father Ruddy, assisted by
Father Sharland, blessed the new Parish Center,
according to this December 9, 1963 article. An
Open House followed the dedication.
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This picture of the new Parish Center appeared in the
February 15, 1964 issue of the Watertown Daily Times.
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Roman Catholic Community of Brownville &
Dexter
119 W. Main Street
PO Box 99
Brownville NY 13615
Phone: (315)782-1143
Email:
brownvillesec@rcdony.org
Pastor
Fr. Donald Robinson
Secretary
Marilynn Hibbard
Saturday Masses
SA, Sackets Harbor
4:00 PM
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IC, Brownville
5:30 PM
Sunday Masses
IC, Brownville
9:00 AM
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SA, Sackets Harbor
10:30 AM
Daily Masses
IC - Brownville
12 Noon on M
5:30 PM on W
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SA - Sackets Harbor
9:00 AM on T and Th
Reconciliation
SA - Sackets Harbor
Saturdays at 3:30 - 4:00 PM
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IC - Brownville
Sundays at 8:30 - 9:00 AM, before Mass
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