St Pius X Memo to D Akin 07.15.2016 Historic ResourceVozella, Beth
From: Vozella, Beth
Sent: Friday, July 15, 2016 10:55 AM
To: Dave Akin
Cc: Beverly Bachand; Duncan Oliver (oliver02675@comcast.net); Frederick C. Fries (phredfll
@verizon.net); Janice R. Norris(JaniceRacineNorris@comcast.net); Julie Mockabee (vanguard3l
@verizon.net); Sarah R. Horne
Subject: FW: St. Pius X Church Building
Attachments: 7.15.16 Memo to CPC.pdf
Hello Dave -
Good news!........ The Yarmouth Historical Commission has deemed the original St. Pius X Church building as a "historical
resource" making it eligible for applying for Community Preservation funding. The attached memo has been submitted to Jen
Copeland for presentation at the next CPC meeting.
Congratulations and good luck!
-Beth
Beth Vozella
Office Administrator
Yarmouth OKH Committee/Historical Commission
Town of Yarmouth
1146 Route 28, South Yarmouth, MA 02664-4451
Tel: 508-398-2231 X 1292
Fax: 508-398-0836
From: Vozella, Beth
Sent: Friday, July 15, 2016 10:25 AM
To: Copeland, Jennifer
Subject: St. Pius X Church Building
Hi Jen-
Attached is a memo to the CPC regarding the `historical resource" status of the original St. Pius X Church building located on the
corner of Station Avenue and Barbara Street in South Yarmouth. Please present at the next meeting.
Let me know should you have any questions.
Thanks,
Beth
Beth Vozella
Office Administrator
Yarmouth ON Committee/Historical Commission
Town of Yarmouth
1146 Route 28, South Yarmouth, MA 02664-4451
Tel: 508-398-2231 X 1292
Fax: 508-398-0836
1
Vozella, Both
From: Vozella, Beth
Sent: Friday, July 15, 2016 10:25 AM
To: Copeland, Jennifer
Subject: St. Pius X Church Building
Attachments: 7.15.16 Memo to CPC.pdf
Hi Jen-
Attached is a memo to the CPC regarding the `historical resource" status of the original St. Pius X Church building located on the
corner of Station Avenue and Barbara Street in South Yarmouth. Please present at the next meeting.
Let me know should you have any questions.
Thanks,
Beth
Beth Vozella
Office Administrator
Yarmouth OKH Committee/Historical Commission
Town of Yarmouth
1146 Route 28, South Yarmouth, MA 02664-4451
Tel: 508-398-2231 X 1292
Fax: 508-398-0836
LG`
.0. TOWN OF YARMOUTH
1146 ROUTE 28, SOUTH YARMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS 02664-4451
Telephone (508) 398-2231 Ext. 1292 Fax (508) 398-0836
N
OLD KING'S HIGHWAY HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMITTEE
TO: Gary Ellis, Chairman
Community Preservation Committee
FROM: Julie Mockabee, Chairperson
Yarmouth Historical Commission
DATE: July 15, 2016
RE: St. Pius X Church
Deacon David Akin from St. Pius X Church recently asked the Yarmouth Historic Commission to
consider declaring the building located at the corner of Station Avenue and Barbara Street in South
Yarmouth, as an "historic resource". Mr. Akin is aware that this building, which was the original church
built in 1954, is not historic because of its age nor is it listed on the National Register of Historic Places,
however his hope was that the story of the church's origins along with the fact that Justice Antonin Scalia
was married there on September 10, 1960, would be of adequate importance to qualify as an "historic
resource" to the Town of Yarmouth whereby it would then be eligible to apply for CPA funding
The YHC members compiled their own research along with what was provided by Deacon Akin and
drafted the attached document which explains the origin of St. Pius X Church which was the first Catholic
Church established in Yarmouth.
At the regular Yarmouth Historical Commission meeting which was held on Thursday, May 6, 2016, the
Commission members voted unanimously that this building is symbolic of the social movement of the
influx of Catholics to Cape Cod, and therefore is a "historic resource" to the town of Yarmouth.
ATTACHMENT
Cc: Deacon David Aiken
ATTACHMENT
St Pius X Church
Prepared By: The Yarmouth Historical Commission
Research by: The YHC and Deacon David Akin
The Catholic church followed the workers on early Cape Cod, having churches where fishermen,
glassblowers, and railroad car workers lived and worked. Occasionally, a small chapel might be
built, such as the one in Yarmouth Port, built at the request of a domestic worker to her employer
who footed a large portion of the costs.
After World War 2, with rapid growth in population on the Cape, many faiths started organizing
true church buildings of their own, including the Jewish faith, Greek Orthodox, minority and
evangelical. During this time, Catholics in Yarmouth had to travel to Harwich or Hyannis or the
mission chapel in Yarmouth Port during the off season months when the part-time mission
church, Our Lady of the Highway was closed. It served Catholic tourists and locals only during
the busy summer season. Thanks in part to the G.I. Bill and low housing rates, Yarmouth's
population had exploded from pre-war levels and Yarmouth had become a bedroom community
for people working both on Cape and off. Catholic believers felt that they needed a parish and
church of their own.
Bishop James Connolly of the Fall River Diocese listened to their requests and granted a new
parish in Yarmouth. Because it was approved on the same day that Pope Pius X was canonized,
May 29, 1954, the parish was named in his honor. Reverend Christopher Broderick was
appointed first pastor.
While the first church for this parish was being built, Catholics continued worshiping during the
first summer at the mission church, Our Lady of the Highway. On August 18, 1954, the new
church for the parish was dedicated, although not completed. Services were held in the basement,
which turned into a parish hall when the upstairs structure was completed.
A ground swell of local support made this possible, doing as much of the work as possible and
providing fund-raising, upkeep, and grounds keeping. To deal with the extra -large summer
crowds, priests from Boston College, as well as priests vacationing on the Cape, helped with the
services. In ten years, the mortgage for this building was paid off.
It wasn't long before Yarmouth Catholics realized that their church building wouldn't be able to
provide for the parish's needs, and fifteen years after the first church was opened, a new much
larger church, seating 1200, was built and dedicated.
This first church building still stands and is still used for parish and town activities. It is a symbol
of post-war desire of Yarmouth residents to be a separate parish, rather than a mission, and have
a church of their own. The first building for any faith shows the desire to worship together; that a
second much larger building was needed, only confirms what Yarmouth Catholics knew was
needed for their town. This first building is a monument to their vision.
Probably the most famous person to be married in a Yarmouth church was Antonin Scalia, future
US Supreme Court justice and a lightning rod for his pointed decisions. He was married in this
first parish church in Yarmouth.
In regards to whether post World War 2 buildings can be considered historic, the Cape Cod
National Seashore has several buildings constructed later than this Catholic Church building in
Yarmouth that are considered eligible for the National Register of Historic Places by the Federal
Government and eligible for national recognition and funding.