Local History with Dede Terns-Thorpe - 1962 Volunteers

Immaculate Conception volunteers

HAINES FALLS — I just got my hands on this amazing photo of local people. 

This 1962 volunteer group dedicated their time to the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Haines Falls. They are gathered in front of the Lourdes Grotto, built by Father O'Keefe in about 1925. 

The official name for the grotto is "Grotto of our Lady of the Mountain." In an August 1930 Hunter Review newspaper, it said over 1000 people walked in a 

candlelight procession on the Feast of the Assumption. 

The back of the photo had most of their names. 

Standing: Victor Staffskey,   Al Sasso , Manny Showers, Eddie Dolan, and Bill Leach.

Sitting: Left to right, Bill Byrne (my dad), Mary Curran (John Curran's Mom), Eileen Flahive, Father Tracy, Catherine Legg (Virigl Legg's wife),   (?)  , and Warner Byrne

Have a good night, and have a happy Valentine's Day. Stay Save.

Dede Terns-Thorpe/Hunter Historian