Canal Days

Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Churchyard

In the summer of 1887 Father Howard purchased land for the parish. By August 26 of 1888 the basement was finished and pastor Michael Howard served the first masses there.  He died that year and was buried alongside his church (Findagrave page at the prioer link). In the image above, the burial site of Michael Howard is on the steps of the church between the main portal of the church and the right door. He has a gravestone.

The body of Michael Howard had been disinterred and reinterred in the Calvary Cemetery in 1974 when the church was razed. A new gravestone was used.

Wildwood Cemetery Arboretum

Wildwood Cemetery Arboretum Walking Tour – has map and tree species list

Wildwood Cemetery

Spring

Summer

Fall

Winter

Precious Blood Churchyard

Precious Blood Cemetery

Precious Blood Church

This stone was once in the Precious Blood Churchyard that was located in front of the church.  Dufresne was the first priest of the Precious Blood Church and was pastor from 1869 to 1887.  This stone was moved when the Precious Blood Church was removed.  (Findagrave)

Saint Jerome Churchyard

Jeremiah O’Callaghan was the first priest and when he died the next year he was buried alongside the east wall of the young church. He was the first priest buried alongside his church in Holyoke. Father Michael Howard was buried alongside Rosary Church and Father Andre Dufresne was buried alongside the Precious Blood Church.  Father Sullivan served for 5 years and started Saint Jerome Cemetery.  Then came the Builder – Father Patrick Joseph Harkins.  He started many institutions and had built many structures.

For more on the gravestones and burials that were moved from the Congregational Cemetery of Ireland Parish see stops 1, 4, and 8 at the Forestdale Cemetery LINK. The cemetery was moved in 1888 mostly into Forestdale.

Saint William’s Church

The church burned to the ground in the period from 1928 to 1936.

Agawam Congregational Church is at 745 Main Street in Agawam

It was made in 1800 in the Federal style.

Its web site is HERE and its external history is HERE

Churches on Bridge Street in Agawam

Saint Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic Church

Saint Teresa’s Church

Saint William’s Church

There are three major churches on Main Street in Agawam. This is a grouping of those churches for a walking tour.

Agawam Congregational Church

Agawam First Baptist Church

Saint John Evangelist Roman Catholic Church

Brainard Church in Belchertown at 12 Park Street. The church was built in 1836 when it separated from the First Congregational Church of Belchertown. Henry Fox was the maker of the stained glass.

It would become a Baptist Church from 1842 to 1913.

It would be a community hall from 1913 to 1923.

It would then become the Saint Francis of Assisi Roman Catholic Church in 1923 until 2004. It would then become a parish office. A new church was made in 2004 and is at 24 Jabish Street.

Saint Francis Roman Catholic Church Rectory is at 20 Park Street. It was built in 1922.