Chapter 7
(1907 - 1921)

Revd. Father Gauthier on the second Sunday in January 1908 came to replace much-regretted Father Gillis. Father Gauthier was P.P. in Gaspe village for many years. Although of Acadian descent, Father Gauthier has a strong veneration for the Irish, as the feast of his ordination and anniversary occurs on March 17th, being the feast of our national St. Patrick, consequently, it has drawn him close to his Irish parishioners. His 25th anniversary was befittingly celebrated on that day a large banquet was held in his honour. It was during the years of Revd. Father Gauthier's stay amongst us that was begun and completed the building of the railroad, firstly name "Québec Oriental" and now taken over by our Government, C.N.R. The station was built on the sand bar. A large iron bridge was built over the "Tickle" so called, and on August 5th, 1909, the first engine moved in towards Gaspé. The regular train right through came in for the first time in 1913, a reforcement to all, as it put us much nearer to the outside world. One of the first foremen on the railroad was Richard Keller, a Scotchman by birth, became a convent in Douglastown in the year 1909 and made his first communion in the convent chapel of the Holy Rosary Convent. Returning to Father Gauthier, he was a great preacher and did much good to keep his faithful in Fervent Piety. In 1921, he became very ill and had to be taken to the hospital.

Chapter 7(continued)
(1921 - 1926)

In 1921, Revd. Father Earnest Gabriel Myles, a Gaspesian by birth and of Irish descent, came to Douglastown as P.P. He was at that time and had been for five years P.P. at Mont-Joli, one of the most important parishes in Rimouski diocese, replacing there his Lordship R.R. Leonard, who was consecrated Bishop of Rimouski.

Father Myles arrived on November 6th. It was a cold stormy day and besides old Harry, a slow old horse owned by Mrs. Xavier Kennedy, and a slow old driver, no one else was there to meet and greet the new priest. In a few days, the presbytery was conveniently fitted up; in the meantime, lodging with Mrs. Xavier Kennedy. Father Myles soon became devotedly acquainted with his Irish faithful and everyone soon understood that better days were dawning for the improvement of the Parish and the welfare of all. Full of zeal for the beauty of public worship, Father Myles had a new organ installed in the church and a choir of beautiful singers. He, being a wonderful singer himself, soon selected and exercised the choir himself. The ancient singers of whom particular mention must be made, Mr. Jerome Morris and Robert Rehel reasonably gave up their places to younger ones. Mr. Edmund Myles Rupert Rooney led the singing. Since then, a few other good-willed and generous young men have joined. Let us mention Robert Kennedy, Lorne Grant, William McDonald and Graham McDonald. In a near future, many more shall be enrolled, so that the choir shall be composed of male voices only. Many ladies, wonderful singers, have helped years since in the singing at church.

In 1923, the diocese was divided and Douglastown becomes part of the new diocese of Gaspé. On May 3rd, 1923, His Exel. Bishop Ross resided at Gaspé. In 1928, some urgent repairs were needed at the Holy Rosary convent and the actual sisters left for sometime and were replaced by teachers. In 1930, they were recalled and reopened the convent, much to the satisfaction of all the people. In 1933, the cemetery was embellished by putting up a wire fence around it. A beautiful gate opening into the graveyard adorned at the top by the beautiful name of St. Patrick. In the year 1934, Québec commemorates the 400th anniversary of the arrival from the St. Mato in France "Jacques Cartier", and plants a cross on the Gaspé shore. Douglastown people joined in the celebration held in Gaspé. The fishermen's boats, very many of them decorated sailed out the Bay to met and convey the Transatlantic "Champlain" into the Gaspé Basin. The same year, the statues of our church were restored and nicely decorated by special artists. St. Pat, looking as though he had just come from Ireland.

At the close of a Mission in 1934, a mission preached by a Redempterist Missionary. Our P.P. organized the Holy Name Society, about 150 men enrolled. A most brilliant solemnity, all these men carrying a lighted candle, stood up close to the alter and recited aloud their solemn promises. Every other Sunday of each month, there is General Communion for all the men of that Holy Name Society. No one else is admitted.

In 1935, a request was made to the Authorities of the C.N.R. to have a station moved from the inconvenient sand bar and placed in the village. In August of that same year, the request was granted. It is now at the foot of the hill and most convenient. With the benevolent permission of Father Myles, a very nice concert by some of our clever young men and maidens was organized, and on Easter Monday night 1936, the actors and actresses appeared on a nicely decorated stage and rendered a most successful performance. We certainly must give credit to them. It was under the patronage of the Holy Name Society in order to purchase a banner for the Holy Name. The greatest success crowned the good will of all; a very generous amount of money was contributed by a large attendance.