REMINISCING: Mrs. Assunta (Michelle) Tornesella, 77. 78 Thorncliff Road, and a brother she had not seen for 52 years. Alfonse Michele, of Rome, Italy, had a wonderful time yesterday looking at old time family photographs and reminiscing. Mrs. Tornesella “treated” her brother to the trip to the United States. In a few weeks, they are going to board a plane for the West coast to visit Mrs. Tornesella’s son, Theodore, in San Diego, Calif., and a daughter, Mrs. Kenneth Altmann in Phoenix, Ariz. En route home, they will visit an-other daughter. Mrs. Philip Spina of Massilon, 0. Mr. Michele will be entertained in the meantime by his sister’s other daughters. Mrs. Arthur Montenari, 307 Lowell Road:. Mrs. Carl Blum, 44 Old Colony Road: Mrs. Charles Battaglia, 312 Puritan Road, and the Misses Rose and Louise Tornesella who reside with their mother.
A fast growing colony of Italy sprang up east of Main Street about 1905. Bishop Colton appointed the Rev. Luke Sharkey to form a new parish. He bought the Presbyterian Church at 266 Swan Street, and the Bishop dedicated it to Catholic worship, August 6, 1906. Father Sharkey bought an adjoining frame building for a rectory, and a brick house which served as a school for eight years until the new school was opened in 1914.
Father Sharkey remained until September 1914, when Dr. Charles Maxwell took charge. Dr. Maxwell was succeeded by the Rev. Dr. John Boland, July 11, 1917. In July 1928 the St. Lucy’s was merged with St. Columba’s.
Today St Columba-Brigid Church is located at 75 Hickory, Buffalo NY and continues to minister to a diverse congregation.
