Celebrating 25 years! - September 2010

     Newman Hall was originally the Victorian dream home of Samuel E. Amidon, who built this house in 1888.  He was a wealthy businessman who became Willimantic’s most well-known grocer by co-owning multiple grocery stores with the partnership of Charles H. Dimmick.

     Amidon lived at 290 Prospect Street until he passed away in 1902. Various other owners owned Newman Hall  until the Ferrigno family sold Amidon’s house to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Norwich in August of 1984.

      Bishop Daniel Patrick Reilly, assisted by Msgr. Thomas Bride, Vicar General, and Msgr. Willis West, Dean of the Willimantic Deanery, blessed the house on November 4,1984.

Father Thomas Powers, Director of Campus Ministry for the Archdiocese of Boston delivered the address at the dedication of Newman Hall on September 15, 1985.

"Blessing of Newman Hall": November 4, 1984

  "Dedication":September 15, 1985

     Newman hall was named after John Heny Newman who began his career as an Anglican churchman and scholar, converted to Roman Catholicism and became a cardinal. Cardinal Newman played an influential role in the Oxford movement. The Cardinal will be beatified by Pope Benedict XVI during the Holy Father's visit to England in June of 2010.

John Henry Newman

(1801 - 1890)

  "May He support us all the day long,

till the shadows lengthen

and the evening comes

and the busy orld is hushed

and the fever of life is overad ur work is done

then in His mercy

may He give us a safe lodging

and a holy rest

and peace at the last."

                                 John Henry Newman

                             "Wisdom and Innocence" 1834