FROM THE BRYANT ROOM ARCHIVES
By Myrna Sloam, ©Mar/Apr 2003

Memories of St. Mary's Church by Peter Lynch

Note: Peter Elmer Lynch was born July 10, 1901 in Roslyn. He attended Roslyn public schools and in 1925 married Ruth Hartman. Though he lived much of his adult life in Glen Head, his roots remained firmly in Roslyn. In 1921 Mr. Lynch became a member of Roslyn Rescue Hook & Ladder Co. #1, and began his long career in fire fighting. Through the years he held many local offices and in 1958 he became Nassau County Fire Marshall. He held this position until his retirement in 1970. Before his death in 1990 at the age of 88, Peter Lynch contributed a number of reminiscences to the library's Local History Collection. The following is excerpted from a story that was written in 1976. His son, Peter (1927-2000) was a member of the Glenwood Fire Company. His daughter, Helen Lynch Becker, resides in Florida, and has continued to support the efforts of the library's Local History Collection.

St. Mary's Church has always meant a great deal to me and has been an important part of my life. I was baptised there, in the old font still at the rear of the church, made my first communion there, was confirmed there and was married to my Ruth in the Rectory. I hope to round out my life by being buried there.

For many years, we lived in the second house south of the Church on Bryant Avenue. My grandfather, Peter Lynch, lived in the house adjoining the Church property on Summit Avenue. He was active in building the church in 1872, and one of the stained glass windows, since replaced, was his gift according to an inscription on the glass. In addition to the church being an important religious part of my life, it was also the center of my boyhood activities….

Somewhere around 1910, St Mary's Cadets were organized. We were a group of about thirty, with snappy blue uniforms. We were also outfitted with old Civil War guns, bayonets included…. The guns we had were very heavy and taller than most of us without the bayonets…. Our leader was "Captain" Thomas Fearns. Mr. Fearns was a local harness maker and was a British cavalry man and a Boer War veteran. In addition to teaching us squads right and left and gun handling, he used to teach us cavalry sabre handling exercises and tell us fascinating stories about the Boer War….

After a while, the Cadets acquired a base drum and two snare drums to keep in step when on parade. Later this expanded and the Cadets became a Fife and Drum corps…. All the boys had a wonderful time. Amusements were limited in those days and it did not take much to keep us happy. We enjoyed all the parades…. we also took part in the St. Patrick's Day plays that were put on in Bryant Hall by the St. Mary's Players, a very excellent theatrical group. Later the Cadets became Roslyn Troop #2, Boy Scouts of America. Roslyn Troop #1, was one of the first Boy Scout troops in the country [the first in Nassau County.]

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Email: localhistory@bryantlibrary.org

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