Pioneer history of Ingham County, compiled and arranged by Mrs. Franc L. Adams, secretary of the Ingham County pioneer and historical society.

BUNKERIIILL TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY

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Father Connelly, but his work was not finished, for during his
time the parish suffered two serious disasters. These were the
destruction of the new church by fire in the winter of 1906, and
the similar destruction of the rectory in 1910. Though the people
had but recently made great sacrifices to erect these buildings, they
nevertheless began anew and under the undaunted leadership of
their pastor reconstructed both, better and more substantially
than before. Their courage under these calamities is well worth
being recorded.
Shortly after his arrival in the parish Father O'Brien opened
the school, and during all his years as pastor took a deep personal interest in the welfare of its students. A new school, upto-date in all respects and possessing an auditorium unequalled
in the neighborhood, was constructed in the year 1912. Today a
group of buildings adorn the church grounds, the size and beauty
of which attract the attention of all who pass. They stand as a
monument to the courage of the people and the leadership of their
pastor. In the minds of the parishioners they are a more cherished monument to the memory of those years when Father
O'Brien lived and worked among them. This account of the
Catholic parish of Bunkerhill closes with his departure to new
fields of labor, amidst the regrets of his people, on the first day of
October, 1919.