service - Letter in Support of St John Cantius Church- initially sent to incorrect email address.pdf7/14/22, 10:12 AM City of Northampton Mail - Letter in Support of St John Cantius Church- initially sent to incorrect email address
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ik=fec0f72d97&view=pt&search=all&permthid=thread-f%3A1738325764773421438%7Cmsg-f%3A17383257647734…1/1
Sarah LaValley <slavalley@northamptonma.gov>
Letter in Support of St John Cantius Church- initially sent to incorrect email address
1 message
Kathy Service <kathyservice@gmail.com>Thu, Jul 14, 2022 at 7:03 AM
To: slavalley@northamptonma.gov
Cc: mhl@marthalyon.com
Dear Ms LaValley,
Please allow me to introduce myself. I was born at Cooley Dick, raised on a farm in Hadley and moved to Northampton in
1980 to a home on Butler Place and bought another house in 1996 also on Butler Place so I do have personal history with
the Church. My uncle was also a longtime family doctor whose office was up above Broadside Books so we came to
Hamp quite frequently. I am also of Polish descent whose grandparents did not speak English and whose father stayed
on the farm in Hadley. Although raised a Catholic (somewhat), my family did not regularly go to Church so my interest in
the property is not from a spiritual frame of mind but the symbolism of that grand structure.
I would like to support O'Connell's Development Group's request for $500,000 in CPA funding to save the St John Cantius
Church from demolition. My reasons for this request are as follows:
There is something very majestic, beautiful and reassuring about the building. Its simplicity and strength is accessible to
anyone. Even though it is an inanimate object, really, I know its history and what it symbolizes to a formerly marginalized
ethnic group of people; those of Polish descent. The Ward 3B area was accessible class-wise. When we bought the
house (as we couldn't afford other areas), this area was referred to as the mental health ghetto . . . I have worked with
people with intellectual disabilities for over 40 years so I am well aware of services and locations of 'programs'. I think
that this is also what I appreciated about this area was it was welcoming to a diverse group of people. I look at this
building as a symbol of how all these people survived and thrived. The individuals who "built" the Church came to
this country for economic reasons which adds to symbolizing a class issue. By saving the building it is a tangible symbol
of who we as Polish-Americans are and continued to include those marginalized groups who subsequently arrived. It
has grown to symbolize the openness of the neighborhood to all. It tells a very meaningful story.
A personal note on the church being a symbol of strength and hope: As known there had been a number of fires in this
neighborhood. In 1985 we woke up to the sound of fire alarms and our bedroom all aglow in an orange light from
the lumberyard fire. When we could walk some, my steadfast memory was this: After looking at the fire where it looked
like someone 'opened up hell', I turned around towards that incredible tower and gazed upwards. Amidst flying embers
and the bright light, the tower was still there and we, my neighborhood, would survive. We continue to need this more
than ever.
I could go on and on about its beauty and contribution to the neighborhood surrounding 33 Hawley. The old and new
Quite a contrast. Again adding to the diverse, welcoming and exciting nature of our City in another realm.
From my personal historical and professional (working closely within marginalized groups) view, I hope that you will see
the value of voting yes to the request as above.
Thank you for your thoughtful consideration,
Kind regards.
Kathryn Pekala Service
9 Butler Place
Northampton MA 01060-3307