During the 1890s, the Polish congregation of what was later known as the Mater Dolorosa Church was conducting services in the Flats section using the Holy Rosary Church until funds could be raised to buy land and construct a church.
In 1896, another Polish Church made its mark by attracting parishioners. This is the story of the short-lived church, known only as the Old Polish Catholic Church, and the Rev. Aldabert Maria Dynia.
A group of disgruntled Polish parishioners desired to form an independent Polish Parish in Holyoke. They chose Reverend Aldabert Maria Dynia, who arrived from Columbus, Ohio, in early 1896. In the process, the parishioners bypassed the local bishop's approval for the selection.
Land to construct a church was purchased from Rufus Mosher, with the deed recorded on April 25, 1896. The purchasers were Aldabert Maria Dynia, Frank Nitkiewicz, and John Kossowski.
In mid-April 1896, the small church, which purportedly had 200 members, was under construction on the eastern side of Bridge Street, between Mosher and Dwight Street.
The local bishop threatened excommunication for those attending services at this new church.
The bishop ordered Rev. Dynia to meet and verify his credentials with the presiding Cardinal Sartolli in Washington, D.C. There were reports that Rev. Dynia was an excommunicated Catholic priest in Poland, but this was not confirmed. Rev. Dynia returned from his visit with the cardinal, stating, "Everything was all right."
Civil suits mounted against Rev. Dynia for failing to pay several contractors who built the church and repay a personal loan.
By mid-June 1896, the church was unused after about two months of services. The 200 parishioners had abandoned the church, many returning to the Polish congregation using the Holy Rosary Church.
The wooden church on Bridge Street became a lightning rod for young arsonists. The arsonists' attempts failed to destroy the building. A foreclosure proceeding occurred in 1897, but this was forestalled. The City Health Inspector wanted the building razed as it was considered a public nuisance.
The real estate was sold to Louis Lafrance at foreclosure in 1899 for $3,500. The plan was to erect three twelve-tenement buildings along Bridge Street for police officer John A Vachon for $44,000.
Citations:
Newspapers.com (paid subscription): Citations: Holyoke (Massachusetts) Transcript & Transcript-Telegram; publication dates are shown.
Holyoke Public Library, Holyoke, Massachusetts, City Directories.
Registry of Deeds, Hampden County, Springfield, Massachusetts
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