Mr. J. Turcotte, M. P., delivered an effective speech in French, expressing the sympathy of the French Canadians with the Irish, their admiration for the abiding faith and their pleasure in assistance at this memorial for their martyrs.
A short address in Gaelic by Major McCrystal, National Director A. O. H., concluded the speeches.
Monsignor Sbaretti, Papal Delegate, then blessed the cross and the ceremonies were at an end.
Returning to Quebec in the early evening, the beauty and solemnity of the sunset on the river lent the final touch of grandeur to the day. In Quebec the delegations scattered and took their various trains during the course of the evening.
Among the prominent men present were Monsignor Sbaretti, Papal Delegate; Lieutenant-Governor Pelletier, Sir Charles Fitzpatrick, Chief Justice; Hon. Charles Murphy, Secretary of State; Mr. M. Cummings, National President, A. O. H.; the Hon. E. B. Devlin, M. P.; the Hon. C. R. Devlin, J. A. Turcotte, M. P.
Beautiful floral pieces were presented by the provincial government, the Ste. Jean Baptiste Society of Montreal and Ste. Jean Baptiste Society of Quebec, and an anchor from Mrs. Lemieux of Quebec.
IRISH PIONEERS IN SPRINGFIELD, MASS.
The early history of the Irish in Springfield and vicinity is of deep interest to those who are in sympathy with the sturdy people who are so important an element in our City, State and Nation. There are revelations in even a cursory insight into early Irish history hereabouts. Few persons imagine how early Irish people were settled in the vicinity of Springfield.
In “The Irish Pioneers of the Connecticut Valley,” by Edward A. Hall, and published in the “Papers and Proceedings of the Connecticut Valley Historical Society,” one may learn of the earliest records of the Irish in this vicinity. In 1684 Henry Chapin sold sixteen acres of land on the west side of the Connecticut to John Riley and this was described as “north of the Riley tracts,” so this was not the first land hereabouts owned by an Irishman. This is part of the so-called “Ireland parish” and the present site of the Brightside home. Miles Morgan made his mark upon the deed in the form of a pickaxe in witnessing it and it was recorded by John Holyoke.
It is probable that the Irish who were in New England at that time were those who came, under the contract made in 1642, to supply three hundred men and two hundred and fifty women in the prime of life for immigration to New England. These Irish men and women were drawn from near Cork, Kerry, Waterford, Wexford and Tipperary, from the purest blood of the south of Ireland. The early Irish who came to this city and vicinity probably numbered among them some who were in this first large migration to New England. Other towns about Springfield were able sooner to support a Catholic Church, for until about 1840 Springfield was a mission of Hartford or Chicopee. Rev. George Reardon, the first pastor, was not a resident pastor, but lived in Worcester and conducted many missions for miles about. Rev. John Dougherty, who came from Boston in 1848, was the first resident pastor. A house for him on Howard street was bought from Noah Porter.