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Anvil
To the left of the entrance to the Cathedral you will find this blacksmith's anvil.
It stands today in front of the cathedral to
commemorate the occasion of the first Mass in Rockville Centre which was offered
during the summer of 1887 in the blacksmith shop of Walter Johnson.
"The Old Forge" of Mr. Johnson was located on Centre Avenue north of
present day Merrick Road, then known as Jamaica Avenue. Bishop John
Loughlin of the Diocese of Brooklyn assigned Fr. E. J. Connell of Rockaway Beach
to serve Mass for a group of six Catholic families living in the area.
The
anvil monument was donated to the Cathedral by Mr. Frank Calitri in memory of J.
J. Strazzeri.
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