Saint Michael Parish

458 Maple Street
Livermore, CA 94550
925-447-1585

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OUR PARISH BEGINS

In 1878, Rutherford B. Hayes was the President of the United States, the last Czar of Russia, Nicholas Romanov was ten years old, Pierre Renoir had just finished painting "Young Women Talking", and St. Michael's Church was opening it's doors for the first time. The date was August 25, 1878. For the more than two hundred Catholics of the valley this was a very special Sunday to celebrate. They were welcoming their first pastor, Father John F. Cassidy to St. Michael's. No longer would they have to travel long distances for Mass or wait for the irregular visits of a mission priest. From now on a priest would be in Livermore to regularly administer the sacraments and to offer pastoral guidance.

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THE EARLY CATHOLIC SETTLERS

The Catholic people who welcomed Father Cassidy in 1878 had been settling in Livermore in the 1850's and 1860's. Many were Irish, seeking relief from the potato famine that was causing widespread economic disaster in Ireland. Some Italians and Portuguese came during that time. They all joined the few of the h3ish heritage who were already here. These families lived a hard life, often working from sun up to sun down, enduring droughts and storms and the loss of crops and livestock. Through it all, their strength and their refuge was in each other and in their religion. For these early settlers, attending Mass meant a long, tiring trip.

In the 1870's more Catholics came, some directly from Ireland, some from other parts of the United States. The 1870's also brought Catholics from continental Europe.

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THE FIRST CHURCH

The church building in which Father Cassidy said his first Mass as pastor of St. Michael's had been built and blessed in 1872. However, the church was largely unused because there was no pastor. Instead, from 1872 to 1877 the church was a mission under the care of Father Nugent of St. Leander's in San Leandro; then it was assigned to St. Joseph's in Mission San Jose under Father Cassidy. The church was used only when these priests could arrange to visit Livermore. The 25 by 50-foot frame church was built on a 200 by 400-foot piece of land donated by the Alphonso Ladd estate. (The church was located approximately where the former Kinney's Shoe Store was located at 2558 First Street.)

Those Catholics who erected the small church in 1872 waited patiently until 1878 for the arrival of their first pastor. Together they started the building of the Livermore Catholic community and thus became the bricks and timbers on which our present parish is constructed.

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FATHER CASSIDY, FIRST PASTOR

John Francis Cassidy was born in Melbourne, Australia, in September of 1841, and came to this country with his parents as a child. He entered the North American College in Rome from the San Francisco Archdiocese in 1859, a member of the original class of twelve. Among his classmates were three who would attain the distinction of becoming archbishops: Michael Corrigan of New York; Robert Seton (grandson of Mother Seton, our first native-born saint, canonized in 1975 as St. Elizabeth Seton), and Patrick W. Riordan, who would become Father Cassidy's own ordinary as the second Archbishop of San Francisco.

John Cassidy was ordained in Rome in June 1865. Just 24 years old, five months a priest, he was named second pastor of St. Leander's Church in San Leandro. He served in the same capacity in San Andreas in the Mother lode country. In 1875 he was appointed pastor of St. Joseph's Mission San Jose, from where he served our mission church until he came here as pastor, August 24, 1878.

Father Cassidy's stay here was brief, because of a fire in the little church. Early records are sparse, but we do know that Father Cassidy, for lack of a rectory, slept in the sacristy

Six months later in February of 1879, Father Cassidy was transferred to Leadville, Colorado. In 1891, plagued by illness, he went to Los Angeles, where he died May 21, 1892. He was 50 years old. A Solemn High Mass of Requiem was held at St. Joseph's in San Francisco. His old classmate, Archbishop Patrick W. Riordan gave the blessing.

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EARLY LIVERMORE

The town, to which Father Cassidy came, was a busy and growing place. After the Southern Pacific Railroad came through in 1869, buildings began to spring up around the railroad station (which at first was just a freight car). Ranching and farming were the principle livelihoods for most people, but small businesses also started in town. In 1874, a fire company, the Hook and Ladder #1 was formed. The firehouse was built on Second Street. Well water was used until John Aylward formed the Livermore Spring Water Company in 1875. In 1876, Thomas Hayes brought water from Las Positas Creek in two-mile long flumes. Workers on these flumes sometimes would get inebriated to the point where a marshal was hired at $50.00 a month and a wooden jail was built. Those who couldn't stagger to the jail were delivered there by wheelbarrow. In 1876 Livermore had sufficient population, around 800, to incorporate as a town. The town was a mile and a half square, with street widths wisely decreed at 80 feet. The newspaper of the day was The Enterprise, published by W.B.Bartlett, the forerunner of the Livermore Herald.

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FATHER PATRICK POWER BECOMES PASTOR

On March 4,1879, Father Patrick Power was transferred to St. Michael's from a mining district in Northern California. Father Power was born near Waterford, Ireland. He was educated in Paris, France and was graduated from Carlow College in Ireland. He came to San Francisco in 1872, and was briefly assigned to St. Patrick's Church on Mission Street before being assigned to the mining district.

The 6-foot tall Father Power was a man of action, possessed of both great physical strength and moral courage who was known never to have backed down from a challenge. In the nearly 36 years he served St. Michael's as pastor, Father Power did his best to make the entire community a more law-abiding, God-loving place in which to live. He did this by meeting both the material and spiritual needs of his people head-on.

Father Power's new parishioners soon saw that hesitation was not in his vocabulary. By 1881, he had built a parish house so he would no longer have to impose on the Connolly family who lived near the church. And for $310.00, he had purchased from Mr. M. McCollier 10 acres out on East Avenue to establish a church cemetery.

 

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EUROPEAN SETTLERS ARRIVE

Many new Catholic families from Europe settled in the Livermore-Amador Valley in the 1880's. Some were sheep men from Ireland like John McGlinchey whose first job here was tending sheep for the widow of John O'Brien. He later became one of the largest stockmen in the valley. When he was just 15, Michael Callaghan left Ireland and came to Livermore. His first job here was to herd sheep for Pat Connolly. Joseph Rose came from the Azores. Catherine and Thomas Perata came from Genoa, Italy, and had large grain growing spreads in the Vasco Road area.

Catholic families settled in the valley in the 1880's to plant the many vineyards that make the Livermore Valley world famous for it's very fine wines. Among them were James and Ellen Concannon who came here with their children in 1883 at the suggestion of Archbishop Alemany. They planted grapevines and built a winery to supply Sacramental wine for the church. Their descendants today still consider production of altar wine to be a special vocation.

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LARGER CHURCH PLANNED

Seeing how rapidly his parish was growing, Father Power in 1882 had the foresight to begin a building fund to erect a larger church. It took several years of adding to his initial deposit of $1,672 before construction could begin. Even after the small church was damaged by fire, it had to be repaired rather than build a new one. In 1880, Father Power and the parishioners of St. Michael's began sponsoring bazaars and fairs at the Farmer's Union, and the ladies of the parish also prepared and served dinners on Christensen's barn lot, site of the present convent. These, besides being great social events, were big fundraisers for the planned new church. Records of the fair receipts showed St. Michael's cleared between $1,200 and $3,000 a year.

Sociability increased in the 1880's and life became a little easier. Livermore's got its first telephone exchange in 1884 and in 1885 a gaslight company was incorporated. By 1888 business patrons saw electric lights in stores as they walked along First Street on wooded walks covered by wooden canopies.

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GOTHIC CHURCH BUILT

Finally Father Power had sufficient capital to begin the long awaited new church. Construction began on July 1890, and the new church was dedicated on March 17, 1891. Built of Oregon pine on a brick foundation, it dwarfed the old church. The floor area was 56 by 108 feet with enough pews to seat 500 people. The roof rose to a peak of 70 feet. But its most prominent feature was a gleaming gold cross that could be seen as far away as Mount Diablo. Inside the tower was a bell that weighed almost a ton and having, as noted in a local newspaper, "a sweeter, deeper, purer tone than any that had heretofore floated its sound out over the Livermore Valley.

Even in those days when fine craftsmanship was more common, the church stood out. The white cedar varnished pews, the plastered terra cotta sidewalls, the delicate blue ceiling. At the ceiling were molded ribs, corresponding to the trusses. There were two very large crystal chandeliers suspended from the ceiling, each having 32 gaslights. Thirty-two smaller gaslights were installed along each sidewall. There were 12 tall narrow windows. Four of them stained glass donated by parishioners. The sanctuary contained the altar and the choir area. Two fine altar cloths covered the altar. The bottom cloth was a 30 year-old, handmade gold lace cloth, the personal possession of Father Power. A smaller linen lace cloth, handmade by ladies in the parish, topped it. High above the altar was a 14-foot wide by 21 foot-high allegorical painting of the Archangel Michael overthrowing Lucifer. The new church cost $30,000 to build. Father Power said of all involved in the project: "They all did better than they agreed to do."

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At the far left is the first Catholic Church, built in 1872. It served the parish until 1891 when the large new Gothic Church at the right was completed. The first church was moved to the location shown in this picture (approximately where the City of Livermore Corporation Yard is now [1978]) to allow room for construction of the larger church.

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CHURCH DEDICATION CEREMONIES

Dedication of the new church was quite an event for people in the valley as well as those from far away. Additional cars were attached to the trains coming to Livermore that day. Archbishop Riordan along with 16 priests attended the ceremonies. He blessed the church and then the anxious waiting crowd was allowed in. Father Power was pleased with the reception given the church dedication.

The Gothic church completed in 1891 towered 148 feet and was the first sight of Livermore to greet the incoming traveler. To the left is the rectory completed in 1881.

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PARISH CONTINUES GROWTH

In the 1890's more new Catholic families settled in the valley, swelling attendance at Mass. The growth of the parish signaled the start of lay organizations, some are still active. In 1896, the Portuguese formed a local council of "Irmandade do Divino Espirito Santo" (I.D.E.S.) In the early 1900's there were all-day church picnics with games, contests, and lively conversations. They were held near the Arroyo del Valle south of town. Families assembled for the hayride. They brought lunches, and prepared homemade, hand cranked ice cream right there at the site.

For many, coming into town for Mass on Sunday was the start of an all-day social event. The John and Ellen Walsh Egan Family were one of the many who regularly made the 12-mile trek from Altamont aboard their spring wagon for Mass on Sunday. Afterward they stayed on to visit friends, particularly the Sweeney and Alyward families. As the new century started, Livermore could boast of several positive changes. People in town now had electricity in their homes, and Lizzie Street (South Livermore Avenue) now had cement sidewalks instead of wooden ones. The schools and the library were expanding. There were new employment opportunities in 1896 as the Tesla Coal Mines began operation, and in 1898, Mines Road was extended to the magnesite mines at Red Mountain.

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FATHER POWER'S INFLUENCE

By 1904, in his twenty-fifth year as pastor, Father Power had quite a list of accomplishments. The physical beauty of the church and the financial well being of his parish were visible signs. But he felt that strengthening the moral character of his parishioners, and, indeed, the entire community was his principle work. A newspaper of the time called him, "The greatest factor in the moral growth of Livermore. He never hesitated to use the pulpit to denounce any parishioners whose behavior had become notorious."

When a verbal reproof was inadequate, he could use physical persuasion. In his youth Father power had taken boxing lessons to defend himself against unkind remarks about the Irish. He always kept himself in good physical condition. Once, when threatened with a stick by one of two brothers, incorrigible sons of a widow who asked for the Fathers help, Father power wrested the stick from the young man and gave the two of them the drubbing of a lifetime. We can imagine that they were duly impressed by the disciplinary prowess of Father power, and were at Mass the following Sunday.

Livermore had a "hoodlum bell" that at 8 p.m. in the winter and 8:30 p.m. in the summer signaled the minors to be off the street. Father Power would walk around town with a stick enforcing the hoodlum bell ordinance.

He would oppose the city council or any politician on those occasions when their actions did not confirm to his standards. His outspokenness and forceful conduct endeared him to many regardless of their religion or political affiliation. Father Power owned racehorses and was an authority on the pedigrees and performance records of trotters and pacers. He enjoyed hunting deer and pheasant. He owned several purebred greyhounds that he sometimes entered in dog trials.

As the city of Livermore grew, so did the frequency of the running of the Southern Pacific Railroad trains. The tracks ran between the church and the cemetery on East Avenue. Often the trains would interrupt the funeral procession. Once Father Power had had enough, and when a train again approached the procession, he stood in the middle of the railroad tracks with his arms outstretched and stopped the train so the procession could proceed uninterrupted to the cemetery.

When trying to stop the Western Pacific Railroad from building railroad tracks that would cut through church property if a pending lawsuit were successful, Father Power had to be personally escorted from the site by Sheriff Barnet.

  The only signs of activity on unpaved First Street when this picture was taken are the few horse buggies tied up at the lower right. Wooden awnings over store fronts at lover right were typical. The St. Michael's property is at the upper left just beyond the railroad tracks.

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1906 SAN FRANCISCO EARTHQUAKE

After the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire, many people fled San Francisco permanently. (The earthquake was felt in the valley...Henry J. "Joe" Callaghan, Jr.Remembers the water sloshing out of the swaying water tower behind their big house on East Avenue.) Because land was available and cheap, several San Francisco families came to the Livermore Valley. Frank Gomes sold his ranch in Half Moon Bay for $500 an acre and came to the Livermore Valley and bought a ranch for $56 an acre.

The second railroad probably influenced growth as Livermore continued to be more accessible. Population continued to grow rapidly in the 1910 decade. "Devil Wagons" as Father Power called automobiles, were increasing in numbers. The new mobility made places less remote. In 1912, First Street was paved making driving easier.

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FATHER POWER'S GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT

From the start of his pastorate here, Father Power was very concerned that the children of the parish be well schooled in their religion. With the help of the ladies of the parish, Father Power taught Sunday school classes between the 9 and 11 o'clock Masses. A pupil of father Power told that "While examining any class for First Communion, if anybody answered (by rote from the Old Baltimore Catechism) correctly, Father Power's next question was always, 'why so?' to check if we understood it." Sometimes he would go to the home of a child who played hooky and missed Catechism class to make sure they would be there the next week.

For a long time, Father Power had been concerned that there was no Catholic school for the children to attend. In 1910 he finally was able to start making arrangements for the construction of St. Michael's Academy. The school was completed in time for the 1913 school year. When Father Power turned his energies to building the parochial school he was in failing health. Of all his accomplishments, Father Power personally considered the school to be his greatest. As he lay dying of pneumonia in 1915, he asked to be lifted up so he could look in the direction of the school and said: "Thank God, I got that finished."

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FATHER POWER'S FUNERAL

Father Power died on February 11, 1915. His passing was deeply felt, not just in the community, but also throughout the archdiocese. Besides the Rt. Reverend Edward Hanna, 119 priests attended the funeral service and hundreds of people stood outside the church that was filled to capacity. Schools, businesses and even the saloons in Livermore closed during the time his funeral was being held.

In his eulogy, Father R.P. Lynch of San Francisco said of Father Power: "He was admired for his straightforwardness and manliness, his hatred of sham, and fearlessness in exposing it regardless of the consequences. He was uncompromising when it was a question of duty. He was loved for his undiplomatic frankness."

The Livermore Herald reported that the ceremonies were: "...a greater demonstration by members of his parish and his friends than was ever before accorded to a parish priest in the Diocese of California..." It was said that the funeral procession was one mile long and, "The people of the parish witnessed the sepulchre with eyes suffused with tears."

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FATHER McKINNON

In 1915, the wooden awnings over the sidewalks came down, giving everyone a better look at the new tall slim parish priest walking down First Street. By comparison to Father Power, Father McKinnon looked frail, but he was anything but.

Father McKinnon was originally from Prince Edwards Island where he was ordained in 1895. He came to Livermore after being pastor of St. Catherine's in Morgan Hill.

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THE GOTHIC CHURCH IS DEVASTATED BY FIRE

It was good that Father McKinnon had an uneventful first year, because on August 4, 1916, a devastating fire turned the fine Gothic church built in 1890-91 into a pile of timber.

Maria (Vargas) Azevedo tells what happened. (1978) "When the old church on First Street began to burn, and the fire bells started to ring, everyone within hearing and smelling distance came out of their homes to see what was happening. Volunteer firemen were running in from all directions. I lived at 280 North Livermore Avenue. I came out of the house carrying my 3-month old baby. I came across the field (now Chestnut and I Streets) and looked up to see clouds of smoke. There were fields of grass in the area where the present Junction Avenue School is, and everyone was running over to help the firemen." "In June 1978, I was 86 years old, but I still remember the church fire. If I close my eyes, I can still see the waves of smoke, feel the summer heat, and smell the burning wood and grass."

The church fire was the most serious Livermore had experienced, destroying property worth about $30,000. During the fire, some high school students rushed in to salvage what they could. Mary "Meime" (Azevedo) Borges carried out one of the angels along side the altar; and someone else saved the other. Father McKinnon removed the Blessed Sacrament.

People stood helpless as firemen tried to save St. Michael's church when it caught fire in August 1916. In just a few minutes though the church roof was a mass of flames and the building could not be saved.

 

The exact cause of the fire was never determined. Some say that the blaze broke out in a motor box in the planing mill of Horton and Kennedy. Burning shingles were carried by the wind toward St. Michael's Church, and embers lodged in the church roof and the 148-foot high steeple beyond the reach of the fire hose. Fire fighters could not reach the roof to use buckets to extinguish the flames because the hook-and-ladder truck did not have long enough ladders. In a few minutes the roof was a mass of flames. The burned out steeple collapsed into the body of the church, and the building could not be saved. The rectory caught fire several times, but, by using the hand-engine, the firemen were able to pump enough pressure into their hoses to save the parish house. The fire spread to the Moy home, burning it to the ground in minutes. Hundreds of volunteer firefighters working with hose, buckets, and wet sacks, prevented any other buildings from burning. Fritz Kelly and his father, John C., of Junction Avenue, were not at the site at the time, but when they approached in their buggy, Fritz said, "The mill is gone!" to which his father replied, "The church is gone!"

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PLANS FOR A NEW CHURCH

Once again the first little church, built in 1872 and used as a parish hall since 1891, overflowed during Sunday Masses. The insurance on the burned out church was only $10,000. Father McKinnon, his assistant pastor, Father McNamara, and a committee of parishioners and citizens set about quickly to arrange construction of a new church. They decided to rebuild at a new site at Fourth and maple Streets, adjacent to the newly opened parish school, St. Michael's Academy. Accordingly, Father McKinnon bought land from four gentlemen for $1,200 who, in turn, donated this amount to the church building fund. This generosity was appreciated all the more, as two of the men were not members of the parish. It was a real community effort to work on and complete the rebuilding of St. Michael's.

 Exterior construction of our present church, built in 1916-18, was nearly complete when workmen took time out to pose for this picture. Several are waving American flags, probably indicative of the patriotism prevalent during United States involvement in World War I.

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WORLD WAR ONE AFFECTS PARISH

Hardly had the parishioners launched their fund drive when they read on April 6, 1917, that the United States had entered the war against Germany. This meant another call upon their resources of money, men, and faith. The Catholic Church and its twenty million members swung behind the war effort. In this spirit, Father McKinnon took an active part, with his people, in working for the Liberty Loan Bond drives, Red Cross fund raising, and for soldier's welfare organizations.

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MISSION STYLE CHURCH COMPLETED

Despite the war's draw on resources, construction of the church continued. By June 1918 at the corner of Maple and fourth streets stood a concrete building, 130 feet by 52 feet, of the purest mission type. "With twin towers and a tile roof which vividly recall the days of the padres...A handsome rectory is connected to the church by an arcade passage." Because of his work in these times, and his ability to complete the building of a large church in so short a time, attested to the ability of Father McKinnon to inspire, organize, and lead his parishioners.

The Livermore Herald described the new church:

This view of the church and rectory was taken a few years after completion in 1918. Fourth Street is little more than a path, and there are wide open fields behind the rectory.

Happy with the completion of their new church, the parishioners staged a celebration to be remembered. On Saturday June 8, 1918, there was an open-air concert. The Y.M.I. gave a ball that attracted a large crowd. On Sunday June 9, the St. Vincent Boys Band led a parade along the main streets to the church.

Archbishop Edward J. Hanna dedicated the imposing new edifice, the interior of which the congregation saw for the first time at the 11:00 o'clock Mass, Van Bree's First Mass, sung by a choir from San Francisco.

Archbishop Hanna delivered an address congratulating Father McKinnon and the congregation on the realization of their ambitions, and expressed his admiration of their zeal in erecting such a magnificent temple to the glory of God.

A new 100-foot flagpole had been erected on the church grounds. At 3:00 p.m. Archbishop Hanna blessed the new service flag with its 84 blue stars. "Thank God, no gold ones" was every mother's thought as she watched Jim Gallen (who happened to be home on leave from the war) raise the Stars and Stripes and the service flag to the mast as the band played "The Star h3gled banner."

At 4:00 p.m. the Archbishop confirmed a class of 107 children and adults. Mr. and Mrs. M.G. Callaghan acted as sponsors.

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FATHER McKINNON'S COMPASSION

The Spanish influenza, dubbed "the flu" ravaged the world in 1917-18 and did not bypass Livermore. From September to January schools were closed, and people required to wear gauze masks covering the nose and mouth for five weeks. Father McKinnon daily visited every ill parishioner, and other sick townspeople, bringing food, medicine, and care to all. He even managed to drive to the ranches out of town to help. Some traced Father McKinnon's deteriorating health to his untiring efforts to help others during this time. In December 1919 his condition worsened. In January 1920, he was operated on at Providence Hospital in Oakland and spent months convalescing. Back in his parish only ten days, he had to return to the hospital where he died on August 24th.

Father McKinnon was only 45 when he died. He is buried in St. Michael's Cemetery. He was remembered for not only the building of the church, but his Christ-like kindness.

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FATHER LOONEY'S PASTORATE BEGINS

Father Looney, born in County Cork, Ireland, came to the United States as a boy and was educated here. He was ordained in Minnesota, but had served for several years in the San Francisco Archdiocese. He was welcomed with a public reception at Forester's Hall.

The festivities over, Father Looney faced the problem of paying off the debt the parish incurred building the new church. He worked hard to erase the debt and was grateful for the financial support from fairs and shows, but he expected his parishioners to be generous when the collection basket was passed too. He finally put in an envelope system, and read the results of collections from the pulpit to the discomfort and dismay of many.

He was, however, a man of contrasts. He understood that many of his parishioners did not have excess funds. He wanted all the children of the parish to be able to attend St. Michael's School, so he kept the tuition at $1 a month. If even that amount was more than some parents could afford, well, they could always leave a few eggs or some vegetables at the rectory or convent.

Pupils who attended St. Michael's School were somewhat in awe of him. When he handed out the monthly report cards, some were accompanied by an icy stare for those whose marks had slipped.

If a child misbehaved in class, he was exiled to the hall. If Father Looney saw them he would give them a sharp calling down. Luckily for them, one of his trademarks was a big, black, strong smelling cigar whose aroma preceded him, giving them time to hide.

Father Looney was quick to visit his parishioners; he was well liked by the veterans at the new Veterans' hospital that was built in the Livermore hills in 1925. Despite his stern demeanor, he enjoyed a good laugh, and understood that the veterans needed something to brighten their days.

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A CHANGING TOWN

The world changed swiftly in the 1920's, partly due to the aftermath of the World War, to the 18th Amendment-Prohibition-in 1918, to the 19th Amendment in 1920 that gave women the right to vote, and to the automobile.

Not many people owned an automobile in 1920 when Father Looney came to Livermore, but that the car was gaining in ascendancy is seen in the road construction and improvement. For those who could afford to own a Ford, it was a lot easier to come from their ranches to Mass. By 1922 the Carroll and Altamont overpasses had been built.

It has been said that Livermore has never known a depression, not everyone agrees. However, there was a lot of construction going on at the time; the Hetch Hetchy water project, the tunnel through the hills from Tesla to San Jose, and the work provided by Jackson and Perkins. In 1932, local businesses were doing so well a one-hour parking limit was imposed on First Street. The parish was now growing with the town, whose population was now 3,119. Livermore became a city in 1930. Livermore high School was built.

John Michelis joined the Livermore Police Department in 1931, as it's first motorcycle officer. He had to buy his own motorcycle. John says; (1978) "Things were pretty rough then, the Hetch Hetchy crew, miners, bootleggers...that kind of thing. I remember all the transients coming through here during the Depression. They would start out from Los Angeles or some other place looking for work, a family with a bunch of kids, hadn't eaten all day, get stuck here, no gas, or the car broke down, no money. Whenever I would help them with food, lodging, or fix their car, Mrs. Bostwich of the Alameda County Welfare Department used to reimburse me".

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PROMINENT SPORTS FIGURES

Father Looney enjoyed watching the St. Michael's boys play baseball. The parish was especially sports minded in the 1930's. Johnnie Schneider became the World's champion Cowboy in 1931. Frances Santucci's brother, Max Baer, the "Livermore Larruper," captured the World's Heavyweight Championship in 1934. (The town was so excited, that the town's name was almost changed to Baersville.) Max's first trainer Charles Calderoni was a St. Michael's parishioner. In 1938, Nevin McCormick made All-American in football.

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1940's BEGIN QUIETLY

The 1940's began quietly. The handsome new United States Post Office on South Livermore Avenue was dedicated on March 2, 1940, with Father Richard Barron, assistant pastor of St. Michael's, giving the invocation. W.J. McKinnon, brother of the former pastor, was the Postmaster.

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