The Holland’s lived in what used to be a stage-coach stop, a hotel. It was a large rambling two-story building with many rooms and a tavern. Also on the property were a stable, wagon shed and a store. All, except a few rooms for family use, were closed.

Eliza Holland was it small, energetic woman of strong character and Catholic beliefs. The household that she managed consisted of her unmarried sister Emma Willis, a son Oswald, his wife Margaret and their seven children; Thomas, Helen, Mary, Oswald Jr., Francis, Peggy and Rita. Mr. Holland owned a car and the family attended mass regularly at Sacred Heart in Cedar Brook.

Margaret Holland used the Store, commonly known as Holland's Hall, to teach "Sunday School" to anyone who would come. This was the only religious instruction in the community. If, on rare occasions family duties or illness kept her from class, her daughters Helen or Mary replaced her. The daughters were no older than those they instructed.

Eliza Holland was asked by a nucleus of men to contact the Bishop about building a church in Blue Anchor. Discussions followed and Mrs. Holland ("Meesa Hollana") offered to donate land on which to build our church. On February 24, 1925 a certificate of Incorporation was granted and on March 10, 1925, a deed for 1.896 acres of land was given to St. Lucy's. Plans were soon underway for construction of the church. It would be a mission church to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in Berlin. Father Lewis Hayes was the Pastor.

Father Hayes had great ambitions for St. Lucy's. He visualized a strong growing parish that would someday need a school. The plans for the church were made accordingly. The back of the church was built of lumber instead of brick to make it easier and less expensive to expand the building. Plans were that the present building would be used as a school and a new church would be built next to it.

After ground breaking, the excavation began and most of the men in the community pitched in to help.

Horse drawn scoops were used to dig the cellar. A schedule for use of horses and manpower was arranged. There was no machinery. All worked together with a single purpose - to build a church. The contractor for the brickwork was Mr. Slater. The carpentry was done by Anthony DeNardo and AI Petzhold, most of it without charge.

Mary Brady, a widow, who had an adopted daughter Ophie and a foster daughter, Susie Gregorio, donated the bell, an organ and a chalice. Mr. and Mrs. Salvatore DeMarco, the parents of the first bride at St. Lucy's, donated the statue of St. Michael. A collection was started with a generous donation from Felice DiGergolamo. The pews were purchased used. There was a mortgage of $10,000 on the church. The church was officially dedicated in May of 1925.

The first few years were a struggle physically and financially. The heater had to have a fire started late Saturday night to have the church warm by Sunday morning. Timing was important. A fire started too early would burn out. If started too late, the church would be cold. There were times when there was no wood or coal and everyone including the priest kept his or her coats on to keep warm during mass.

Fifty years ago, fifteen or twenty people in attendance was considered a full house. There was one mass on Sunday. Church attendance and collections were very poor. .

Dances were held in the church hall once a month to raise money to pay the interest on the mortgage. The dances were popular with' the parishioners. A live band provided the music and people came from all the surrounding communities, some from as far as Philadelphia or Camden. After a period of time, attendance dropped off and dances were discontinued, and replaced by plays and shows. The gifted people in the community participated in the plays directed by Mrs. Margaret Holland. Gordon Garvey was the "Minstrel Man."

Together the plays and minstrels provided an evening of entertainment. The long hours of preparation and rehearsal, with noses red from the cold, were joyful and fulfilling to all. The stage, with its two dressing rooms, which has since been removed to make way for a kitchen, was equipped with footlights and a curtain. Good entertainment was provided and the performers enjoyed it as much as the audience did. Discontinued for the lack of patronage, the church revenue suffered and there was talk of closing the church.

 

In 1935, St. Lucy's was transferred to St. Joseph's in Hammonton. Father Abbati was Pastor. Tom Holland often drove to Hammonton to bring the priest to say the mass and then drove him back.

In 1941, Father Mark Mortorelli became Pastor of St. Joseph's and started sending a bus to take the children to Catholic grammar school in Hammonton.

A high school was built soon after and several of St. Lucy's children graduated from those schools.

To instruct the public school children, the St. Lucy Filipini Sisters came to our church. The sisters prepared them to receive the sacraments, and also to honor the Blessed Mother. The procession and May crowning were usually highlights of Mother's Day. The positive influence of the sisters became evident when Antoinette DeNardo joined the order in 1951. .

In 1949 St. Lucy was again transferred and became a mission of Assumption Church in Atco. Father Peter Budniak was pastor. Father Zimmer was his assistant. He took an active interest in St. Lucy's. Many lovely social affairs were held.

 

In 1950 Father George Sharkey became pastor of Assumption Church. Father William Reagen was his assistant. As St. Lucy's was still in debt, a special drive to collect money to payoff the mortgage was instated. This goal was accomplished in 1953, twenty-eight years after the building of the church and celebrated with the burning of the mortgage.

Under the direction of Father Sharkey, St. Lucy participated in the Marian Year Pilgrimage and Pageant in Atlantic City on May 22, 1954.

In 1955,  Catholic Grammar School was built by the Assumption Parish with the help of the mission churches. Many of St. Lucy's children attended. The Immaculate Heart of Mary Sisters who taught at Assumption School also assumed the responsibilities of the religious education of our public school children.

On June 30, 1958, Francis and Thomas Garvey Sr. donated their parents' family home to St. Lucy's, in their memory. Annie and Gordon Garvey had moved from Philadelphia to this area to build their home in Blue Anchor the same year St. Lucy's was built. Their home was moved next to the church to be used as a Rectory when we became a parish. This was a positive influence in the Bishop's decision to make St. Lucy's a parish.

 

There was extensive work done in 1936; the back wing was added to the building and the whole church was raised up while a basement was constructed. The sacristy and storage room were built on each side of the new altar area, giving the interior the appearance of a cross. The steeple was also added.

Another annual event during the late 30's and 40's was the May Crowning. The shrine of the Virgin Mary, before the church had been built by Mike Sandro and his son Dan, paid for with nickels and dimes collected in a cigar box. Under the guidance of the Franciscan nuns from Williamstown, Sisters Cyril, Edmond and Mary Ellen, who taught catechism on Sundays, the older teenage girls, dressed in long white gowns with flowers in their hair and carrying small bouquets, walked in procession round the church grounds while the congregation sang May hymns. The lucky girl chosen to crown the statue of Our Lady was dressed as a bride. In the late 40's the crowning became an event for the younger children. The lulucci and Bucci families donated the statue of the Blessed Virgin in the church.

 

Finally in 1961 St. Lucy's Blue Anchor became an independent Parish. The people were overjoyed. After all these difficult years we were now able to support our church and a Pastor. In commemoration of this event people came forward with a new burst of spirit and generosity.

The first pastor was Father Edward McDaid. His enthusiasm and energy was soon felt by many of the parishioners. There was an addition to the Rectory and renovation made to the church, through the generosity of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Caracciolo and other parishioners. A side altar was built and stained glass windows were donated as memorials. To replace the old one, a new organ was donated by Maybelle Kovacks. All these changes were aided by Father John Carrigan who was Chaplain at Ancora.

Father James Moore was appointed administrator in 1963. He was followed by Father Henry Koevoets, who stayed only a very short time, because of health. Father J. Gerold Gallagher was chaplain at Ancora at this time.

Father Edward Powell became administrator in 1964 and Father Bucci was Chaplain. Their availability and sincere interest helped many through difficult times.

Father Keoppen was made pastor in 1965 and Father Yori, Chaplain at Ancora.

Braddock Frosted Foods deeded land adjoining the church property to St. Lucy's on September 15, 1967.

Father Craven, the epitome of charity in word and deed, quietly works at whatever needs to be done, whether physical or spiritual. His work at Ancora has touched many lives.

Fr. Keoppen, who had become a symbol of love to all who knew him, died December 30, 1968. At his request, he was buried in the Sacred Heart Cemetery at Cedar Brook. His warm loving presence is missed by all.

In 1969 Father Stanley Wisniewski became our pastor. He with Father Craven worked very hard with the young people instituting a C Y O Club and C C D classes for public school students. A Parish Council was formed under his direction.

Fun nights became very popular along with "Covered Dish Suppers." All of these activities were held with one purpose, to bring the parishioners together.

 

Father Stanley Barr was welcomed to our parish in 1972, as pastor, with Father Peter Osinski. Through their guidance our parishioners have come to understand and appreciate the new Liturgy. This generated a personal feeling at St. Lucy's people knowing and caring about one another.

In July of this year, Father Darby became our Pastor. Parish life is healthy. The sodality was re-organized, welcoming all women of the parish. The enthusiasm met in preparing this booklet confirmed, that fifty years have not changed the need that precipitate the building of St. Lucy's. A House of God, place of worship, our Spiritual Home on earth.

 

The historical information in this booklet was compiled from personal recollection, reinforced by interviews with remaining involved families, and what documentation could be found.

In most instances, no records were kept and in others, records have been lost. However, our church stands as 'a monument to their sincerity, forethought and dedication. It was a joy to see the look on their faces when we spoke with them. When asked to tell what they remembered concerning the origin of our church, everyone except Helen Holland Hoffman was more than seventy-five years of age; some even were in their eighties. Interviewed were William Caracciolo, the only surviving member of the original group of men, Joseph Fonte, Rose Papa, Erminia Liberto, Mary Fiorentino, Helen Gregorio and Mary Dippolito DeNardo.

Although time dims the memory, each person reached back and brought out something to reinforce our recollections or remind someone of things long forgotten. Any omissions or distortions are sincerely unintentional.