Parish House / Pastors 59

In that rustic churchy setting of yesteryear the novelty of radio began opening our eyes — and ears — to a vast technology which was just then beginning to creep upon the world. On these midweek occasions many of us sat on the floor or on the stairs, keeping quiet during the programs and not tarrying long after they were over. There was really no need for such haste, since our host was most friendly, but hanging around the priest’s house did not seem the thing to do back then. During these weekly visits I soon came to notice a 4 by 4-foot grate in the hallway floor, the warmth from which filled the house. It turned out to be a pipeless furnace, a common fixture a few years later, but which at the time appeared as a luxury piece. Speaking of luxury, as youngsters we had the strange idea that the priest’s house somehow must have been the last word in comfort and styling. When as a well-grown adult I finally got to see the house rather thoroughly inside, I was quite surprised to note how ordinary and plain the place really was.

For many years as a general rule parishioners supplied a load of wood per family for the priest’s kitchen stove and furnace, as well as for the side-chapel stove. The wood was usually hauled in sleigh lengths during the winter and sawed on the spot with a crew of men.

Before St. Michael’s officially became a parish, the house would have been used mainly as a stopping place for the visiting priests who were mostly Father James Phelan of Vernon River or Father William Phelan of Montague. Since then it has been home to resident pastors for over a century. Father Corbett was the first of these from 1884 to 1890. He was born in New Brunswick, but at an early age moved with his family to Charlottetown. He was a fiddler as well, leaving his violin with Matt Farrell who in turn handed it on to his son, Joe. That old instrument which for years rang out its sweet music around Iona remains among the Farrell descendants on P.E.I. to this day. Father James Phelan was a missionary from Ireland’s county Kilkenny. Known as “Father James”, a bold title for his day, his name has been held in reverence by the older folk. He was resident pastor from 1891 to 1908, during part of which he Was vicar general of the diocese. Toward the end of his pastorate he was named monsignor, a recognition of considerable weight in those years. His brother, Father William, was pastor from 1890 to 1891, but continued to reside that year in Montague of Which he was also parish priest. Father Gaudet occupied the house from 1908 to 1913. He was a quiet, gentle man from