Page:History of West Hoboken NJ.djvu/101

 the first huge stone was rolled in place for the new church, and actual building on the church was commenced in April, 1869. The corner stone was laid on Sunday, July 18, 1869, in the presence of the largest multitude that ever assembled in Hudson County for a similar purpose, and on July 22, 1870, St. Mary's Church, amid the lamentations of its old parishioners, was closed forever to divine services.

On July 4, 1875, the superb church of St. Michael the Archangel was dedicated amid all the pomp and splendor possible. At this time Very Rev. John Phillip Baudinelli was rector.

The dimensions of this magnificent church are as follows:—Extreme length, 195 feet; width of nave, 70 feet; width of transept, 104 feet; height of main aisle, 75 feet; height to top of dome, 190 feet; diameter of dome, 50 feet; circumference of dome, 140 feet.

The style is Basilican, being more on the Corinthian than Roman order.

The architect was Mr. P. C. Keeley, chief stone mason and builder; Mr. James Day, carpenter; Messrs. George Bove and Albert Durheim. The bells in the southeast tower are each named after a Saint, as follows:—St. Michael, 3,040 pounds; St. Paul of the Cross, 1,500 pounds, and St. Joseph, 900 pounds. They were blessed by Monsignor (now Archbishop) Setou, D. D.

The cost of this church at time of building was $250,000, but nearly $100,000 has been spent on it in the way of improvements and decorations since that time.

The following churches have from time to time been established by the Passionists:—St. Joseph's, Guttenberg, June 28, 1866; Holy Family, Union Hill, November 13, 1867; St. Paul of the Cross, Hudson City, October 16, 1870; Church of Sacred Heart, Shadyside, 1874; St. Anthony, West Hoboken, August 16, 1899.

The old St. Mary's Church, after it ceased to be a place of worship, was used as a school exhibition hall. It was finally removed to make room for the new St. Michael's school, which latter building was dedicated November 8, 1896.

This is a very handsome brick structure, consisting of three stories and basement.

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.

Clinton avenue and Serrell street.

When the First Presbyterian Church was organized they numbered among their members a few persons who would have affiliated themselves with a Baptist Church had there been