From The Connecticut River Valley in Southern Vermont and New Hampshire:  Historical Sketches by Lyman S. Hayes, Tuttle Co., Marble City Press, Rutland, VT., 1929, page 215:

ST. CHARLES (CATHOLIC) CHURCH–FIRST MASS IN 1848

St. Charles ( Catholic) Church of Bellows Falls is one of the strong and effective church organizations of the Connecticut Valley. It is building up a widespread influence for good in this and surrounding towns, having an interesting historic background.

As far as can be ascertained, the first mass ever said in Bellows Falls, or its vicinity, by any priest of the Catholic church, was during the year 1848. Until that year but few Catholics had come to this town, but the building of the different railroads at about that time brought a large number of Irish Catholics here .

From 1848 to 1853, Father Daley, a missionary of the Franciscan order, who was connected with the Boston diocese, visited this section once in three months, holding services in various dwellings of his communicants, and in a large building that stood near where the present office of the Vermont Farm Machine Company is. In a report made by Father Daley at about that time, the Bishop was informed that the number of Catholics in Rockinggham, Windsor, Woodstock and Plymouth was about four hundred.

In September, 1850, Bishop Fitzpatrick of Boston, accompanied by Revs. George Fenwick and Samuel Mulledy, visited Bellows Falls, coming here from Ruttland. No available hall seemed adapted to the wishes of the bishop, and, looking about the village, he was struck by the beauty of the large pine grove, then standing in the village just north of the present church edifice. He determined to hold his services there, and of this he [216] wrote: "On the hill at the west side of the village is an extensive pine grove. We find there a beautiful place for divine service. Two parallel lines of tall pine trees form a nave about a hundred feet long, covered by limbs which form an arch above. The ground is entirely free from undergrowth and perfectly dry. At the extremity of this natural nave a temporary sanctuary is formed of cotton cloth, enclosing three sides, and covering the top to keep off the wind. Four masses are celebrated in the forenoon." He also stated that people came from a radius of twenty-five miles and a great number connfessed. Also, that the service was in both English and French, and that over a thousand people were present, only a few of whom he considered to be Protestants.

Bishop DeGoesbriand, of the diocese of Burlington, in 1853, celebrated mass in Island Hall, recently used as a boarding house known as the Fall Mountain House. In 1854, Fr. Druon came here regularly from Burlington, establishing his services in the old brick school house of the village, which stood at the corner of School and Cherry Streets, now the site of the residence of Judge Warner A. Graham, and he purchased the building in May of that year. It was remodeled and ennlarged for church purposes, named St. Charles church, and served until the dedication of the present fine church building of the same name, on November 4, 1885.

The architect of the new building was George H. Guernsey, of Montpelier, and its cost, with the grounds, was $28,000. The present parochial dwelling was first occupied in January of 1895, and cost $14,500.

In 1894, a large and delightfully located tract of land was purchased for cemetery purposes on the south Southern Vermont and New Hampshire [217] side of "The Basin" about a mile south of the church, Vicar General Lynch, of Burlington, blessing it in September, 1898.

At this time St. Charles parish is much the largest one in town, comprising over three hundred families and over seventeen hundred members.

Father Druon, who came here in 1854, surrendered the parish the following year and it was then served by Rev. Charles O 'Reilly, of Brattleboro, until 1869, when he was succeeded by Rev. Joseph Halpin, each having charge of both parishes. Rev. Edward Gendreau came to Bellows Falls, as the first resident pastor, in 1871. In 1882, Rev. Edward C. Reynolds came to assist Fr. Gendreau, and he succeeded to the pastorate in July, 1883. lIe served his parish longer than a minister of any church in the history of Bellows Falls. He was born in County Cavan, Ireland, in 1852; graduated from St. Bonaventure's College, Alleghany, N. Y., and Grand Seminary, at Montreal, where he was ordained just before coming to Bellows Falls. His whole priestly career was identified with Bellows Falls, and he exercised a strong influence for good over those to whom he minnistered. He died February 19, 1919, and was succeeded by Rev. James D. Shannon, who conducted the parish until April 7,1927, when he was transferred to Bennington. During Fr. Shannon's local administration the parish was freed from all indebtedness incurred by the acquisition and erection of the extensive parish builddings, and he left it with a handsome balance on hand. He was temporarily succeeded by Rev. Fr. John J. Cullion of West Rutland, Vt.

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Rev. Thomas J. Henry, the present priest of the parish, came here in April, 1928, from West Rutland. The parochial school was established in 1912, and it now numbers over 300 pupils. The public school buildding, known as the" Old High School" building, was purchased by them in 1913, and that year a most creditable convent building for the accommodation of the teachers was erected.