WWW.QNS.COM RIDGEWOOD TIMES SEPTEMBER 24, 2020 27
OUR NEIGHBORHOOD: THE WAY IT WAS
the parish’s second parish school building, which
was erected in 1899.
The St. Margaret Parish Center included a new
gymnasium and school rooms below. The parish
also converted the second St. Margaret Church
building on 79th Place into the Parish Hall, a
venue for both sports, theater and other social
gatherings.
The project took place under the direction of
Msgr. Joseph Ostermann, one of the parish’s most
beloved pastors. Following his sudden death in
1981, he was succeeded by Msgr. John Maurer — a
Middle Village native who grew up in the community
and attended St. Margaret School.
Maurer helped oversee the church’s 125th anniversary
and the reconstruction of the Parish
Hall, which caught fire in 1990. The steeple was
lowered and the roof was completely replaced.
The renovated Parish Hall reopened with a “Coming
Home” Mass celebrated in January 1991.
The monsignor suddenly died in April 1993,
and he was succeeded by Msgr. William Varvaro,
who continued various improvements to St. Margaret
during the decade, including renovations
to the sanctuary, a new air conditioning system
installed and stained-glass windows cleaned and
polished. The renovated church was rededicated
with a Mass on Nov. 1, 1994.
Msgr. Steven Aguggia became pastor of St.
Margaret following Varvaro’s death in 2007. He
would serve St. Margaret for the next decade
until being transferred to St. Kevin’s Church in
Flushing 10 years later. Father Robert Armato
now presides as St. Margaret’s pastor.
Over the past 160 years, St. Margaret Church
has marked the time of transition in Middle Village
from farming community to suburban oasis.
The parish remains dedicated as ever to serving
the faithful of the community.
Sources: Our Community: Its History and People,
Greater Ridgewood Historical Society, 1977; and St.
Margaret Church’s website.
* * *
If you have any remembrances or old photographs
of “Our Neighborhood: The Way It Was” that you
would like to share with our readers, please write
to the Old Timer, c/o Ridgewood Times, 38-15 Bell
Blvd., Bayside, NY 11361, or send an email to editorial@
ridgewoodtimes.com. Any print photographs
mailed to us will be carefully returned to you upon
request.
The fi rst St. Margaret Church Photo courtesy of St. Margaret Church website
Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio celebrates St. Margaret Church’s 150th Anniversary Mass in April 2010. File photo/Ridgewood Times
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