Immaculate Conception Parish
 
 
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The History of Immaculate Conception Church

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.Original Church.
Original ChurchThe pictures in this section depict the original church back "in the day"!
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.

Article on 1917 Fire

Article on 1917 Fire
Article on 1917 Fire
Article on 1917 Fire
Article on 1917 Fire

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.

Below is an article, also from the WDT, about the newly built church.  This is dated February 1, 1919.
New church

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.
Hanchette Will

The church's annual report is chronicled in this January 11, 1955 article.
Annual Report
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.
Church Buys House

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.
Boxes Looted
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.
Fund Campaign
This March 28 article announces that Bishop James Navagh will preside at the opening of the fund campaign.
Campaign Opens
Bishop Navagh blessed the volunteers as the campaign was kicked off.  This April 5, 1962 article discusses this.
Workers Blessed
Workers Blessed
The results of the Parish Fund Drive was announced in this April 14, 1962 article.
Parish Drive
The final pledge for the fund drive was announced in this April 23, 1962 article.

Final Pledge
The New Parish Center
House RazedThe 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.

Parish Center StartedThis 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.
 
Catechetical Center

Dedication 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.
Dedication Blessing

This picture of the new Parish Center appeared in the February 15, 1964 issue of the Watertown Daily Times.
The new Parish Center
 
RCC of Brownville & Dexter

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
IC, Brownville
4:00 PM
Sunday Masses
IC, Brownville
9:00 AM
-
SA, Sackets Harbor
10:30 AM
Daily Masses
IC - Brownville
12 Noon on M
5:30 PM on W
-
SA - Sackets Harbor
9:00 AM on T and Th

Reconciliation
SA - Sackets Harbor
First Sunday of each month after 10:30 Mass
-
IC - Brownville
Saturday at 3:30
(before 4 PM Mass)
-
Sundays at 8:30
(before 9 AM Mass)

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