St. Joseph Parish
St. Joseph Parish was formally established in 1880. Previously, the predominantly Irish immigrant congregation was part of St. Ann Church in Junction (now Hampton) and worshiped in a building on Church Street. St. Joseph Church has occupied this site since 1879. The upper cornerstone marks the 1898 date when the building was rebuilt following a fire that destroyed the original building and many other structures in High Bridge. The lower cornerstone engraved with a Celtic Cross and the legend "St. B. ABBEY 724" comes from the ruins of St. Brigid's Abbey built in the 8th century near the River Bride in County Cork, Ireland. The lower stone was a gift to St. Joseph Parish from Dr. T. A'Heron (Ahern) from Junction whose ancestors once occupied the land near the abbey. It anchors the Irish roots of our parish.
Marker is at the intersection of Main Street and Van Syckle Street, on the right when traveling south on Main Street.
Courtesy hmdb.org
