By Caroline Daley

 

 

 

P.O. Box 368
10 Howard Street
Miramichi, NB
E1N 3A7
Phone: (506) 778-5152
Fax: (506) 778-5156

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Website: www.saintmichaelsmuseum.com

Fr. John Sweeny built St. Michael’s Rectory in 1846 and it was from this building that he set out for Middle Island to minister to the sick and dying passengers of the famine ship “Looshtauk”. Fr. Sweeney had lived in the rectory for three years when Father Richard Veriker came to replace him as parish priest, followed by Rev. James Rogers in 1860. Rev. Rogers was appointed the first Bishop of Chatham in that year and through his energy, St. Michael’s College was established. A story was told stating that Bishop Rogers stood gazing at the one and a half storey little building that was to become the Episcopal residence and turned to Fr. John Sweeney and said with a smile, “This is the house that Jack built.” His statement was an obvious reference to the fact that John (Jack) Sweeney had directed the construction of the building while he was parish priest of Chatham. Bishop Rogers resided in this small building known as the first Bishop’s residence where he conducted studies for several seminarians, who became professors of St. Michael’s Male Academy formerly known as St. Patrick’s Temperance Hall School.

This historic little dwelling, 36’ x 25’, referred to as the cradle of all the parochial institutions, is situated at 10 Howard Street, Chatham, New Brunswick.

This building was the first Hotel Dieu Hospital; on the first floor of this small house were four rooms, two on the right and two on the left of the entrance hall. The first room on the left was destined for a supply room and parlour, the second was the chapel. The hall served as a parlour for the sick during the day and at night at one time it was the sleeping quarters for a little orphan boy who arrived a few days after the sisters. In case of need, this hall was used for a hospital ward. The first room on the right, containing three beds, constituted “the hospital”; the second served the purpose of refectory and pharmacy; when needed this room was also used as a ward. The three rooms on the second floor were occupied by the sisters. The kitchen was in the rear with the attic above being divided into two rooms; one occupied by an old gentleman who had placed himself at the service of the sisters and the other by an old lady, an invalid, and a little orphan girl. The chronicles tell us it was very often filled with numbers of poor, who came for medicine, or with whole families of Indians who entered without ceremony to warm themselves, or “visit the sisters.”

The building was also used as a civic hospital during the 1903 diphtheria epidemic. In 1914 St. Joseph’s School for boys opened its doors here and remained open until 1931. When the school closed, the building was moved to the grounds of the convent and used as an oratory for the sisters and later a storage area.

In 1974 a small group of eight people met at St. Michael’s Rectory and at the invitation of Rev. B.M. Broderick a small group of St. Michael’s parishioners met to discuss the idea of starting a history of St. Michael’s Parish. Mr. John Connell was appointed chairman and Mrs. F.H. Barry, secretary. The first significant project of the group, under the direction of Mr. Connell, was the establishing of a display in the unused part of St. Michael’s Basilica, known as the Lady Chapel. This display of artifacts, photos, church vestments, etc. continues to be of interest to local people and has become an attraction for tourists who see the landmark, St. Michael’s Basilica, and stop by for a visit.

After a fire in 1979 that threatened to destroy the building, it was moved to its present location and became known as St. Michael’s Museum & Genealogical Centre which also houses a Catholic Book Store. This little building has survived three major fires over its 162 year history and managed to escape all of them with minimal damage.

In June 1981 the St. Michael’s Museum was officially opened and declared an historic site by a representative of the Department of Historical Resources of the Province of New Brunswick.

In June 1998, extensive exterior repairs and painting improved the outside appearance of St. Michael’s Museum. The summer of 1998 saw the demolition of Chatham’s fourth Hotel Dieu Hospital and stones from the site were transferred to the museum (First Hotel Dieu Hospital) for a Friendship Garden.

St. Michael’s Museum is home to the collections of Bishop James Rogers, Msgr. Raymond F. Hickey, Fr. Benedict J. Murdoch, Fr. Bernard M. Broderick and many others. If you are looking for information on your family history the museum has all census records, cemetery, baptism, marriage and death records, land grants, land petitions, family histories, ship builders checklist for Northumberland County, wills, school and church histories, sports photos, year books and photos from St. Michael’s Academy and St. Thomas College, local photos and books, The Commercial newspapers from 1899-1964, copies from three other newspapers, Louise Manny files, Edith McAllister files and much more related material.

The Catholic Book Store has available gifts for weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, baptisms, First Communion, Confirmation, greeting cards, rosaries, books and numerous other items.

We are available to do genealogical searches for a fee. Contact our website for more information.