From serving God to serving gas: The story of Bishop Broderick in Millbrook

MILLBROOK —  Author James K. Hanna drove all the way from Pittsburgh, on Thursday, April 20, to talk about Hartford, Connecticut, native Bonaventure Finbar Broderick, a son of a wealthy family who became a Roman Catholic Bishop and later, being exiled, a resident of Washington Hollow in Millbrook, a gas station owner and a writer for the Millbrook Round Table.

Hanna’s book “The Remarkable Life of Bishop Bonaventure Broderick: Exile, Redemption, and a Gas Station” tells much more than of Broderick’s time in Millbrook, of course; it’s also the story of his life, from his birth in 1868, to his studies for the priesthood entering that vocation in 1889, and his obtaining a doctorate from in the North American College in Rome.

Broderick went on to some prominence as a teacher and a pastor. He became a monsignor at the age of 32 and a bishop at 34.  But his brother Clement, an inventor and businessman, along with some other members of the clergy were involved in some questionable “endorsements,” donations and business deals. Eventually this caused a problem for Broderick.

Hanna talked about Broderick’s time in Cuba and in Rome, and his residencies in Yonkers, Saugerties and other places. His years of exile are covered extensively — where he lived, his family affiliations, and what he did when he no longer had a parish or a position, yet remained a bishop of the church.

Why this was significant to the Millbrook Historical Society, and why the presentation was held at the St. Joseph-Immaculate Conception Church parish hall became apparent as Hanna moved into the Washington Hollow aspect of the tale.

In 1926, Helen Bowden, who had been a caretaker of Broderick’s mother for a time until her death in 1917, bought 72 acres of land from heirs of Webster Knickerbocker. Broderick lived there, becoming a member of the community.

Broderick was not affiliated with the parish, but as he specified numerous times, he was also not “unattached” to the church. After the stock market crash, and while no one knows exactly how this affected the wealth of Broderick, he started selling gasoline and car accessories from the property, around 1935. He also sold off real estate that he owned. In 1939, the station was put up for sale for the asking price of $20,000.

While in Washington Hollow, Broderick began writing, for the Millbrook Round Table, which was owned by the Tyldesley family, a column called “Things, Events and Men.” He wrote about many things including automobiles, of which he had a great love; gardening; unions; and education.

Several of his Round Table writings are included in the book. He was also a much-sought-after speaker and traveled a great deal.

His “exile” from the church ended in 1939, one of the first deeds performed by Cardinal Francis Spellman, who created the reconciliation between Broderick and the church. Spellman visited Broderick in Millbrook, with the Rev. Joseph Deahy, of St. Joseph’s Church, Millbrook, although Deahy had no idea that Spellman wished to perform a reconciliation.

Spellman appointed Broderick chaplain at Schervier Hospital and Home in Riverdale, and his time in Millbrook was over. But it was said by many who knew him that he looked back fondly on those days, and was quite proud of his writing for the Millbrook Round Table, although he had also in fact written several books.

This was yet another incidence of the Millbrook Historical Society coming up with something local,  relevant and also  far-reaching, as this book covers so much of not just the church, but politics, business and world affairs. The presentation was attended by more than 80 people, including the Rev. Hartley Bancroft, pastor of St. Joseph-Immaculate Conception and former pastor Bishop Gerardo Joseph Colacicco.