Recollections of My Life and Reflections on Times and Events During It: A Memoir by Father W. J. Howlett Main Menu Introduction Table of Contents Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 62 Page 63 Page 64 Page 65 Page 66 Page 67 Page 68 Page 69 Page 70 Page 71 Page 72 Page 73 Page 74 Page 75 Page 76 Page 77 Page 78 Page 79 Page 80 Page 81 Page 82 Page 83 Page 84 Page 85 Page 86 Page 87 Page 88 Page 89 Page 90 Page 91 Page 92 Page 93 Page 94 Page 95 Page 96 Page 97 Page 98 Other Writings by Father W. J. Howlett Timeline Howlett Family Tree William J. Howlett Family Tree Maps and Geography: Howlett's First Trip West Fr. Howlett moved with his family to Denver when he was a child, and then moved to St. Thomas Seminary in Bardstown, KY several years later. This map recounts the path he took to get to both places. Maps and Geography: Howlett's European travels Fr. Howlett traveled far and wide during his trip to Europe. Here is a map of the places he recorded visiting. Maps and Geography: Howlett in Paris, 1872-1873 This map shows the locations that Fr. Howlett mentioned visiting while in Paris, France. Maps and Geography: Howlett in London, 1874 This map shows the locations that Fr. Howlett mentioned visiting while vacationing in London, England Maps and Geography: Colorado Missions with Terrain Fr. Howlett's Colorado mission locations, with Colorado terrain. Index Acknowledgements Contributors' Biographies HIST 394 at CUA, Spring 2020

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of these were the day she made vows, the day Dad [Dan] told her of his intention of being a priest, the day she heard his first mass, and the day of her great Jubilee. She still lingers active, finding her pleasure in praying before the Blessed Sacrament where she hopes the angel will find her when he comes to take her before the god whom she has so faithfully served. 

          In those days the schools did not close until near the end of June. Our closing exercises were of the simple:  a little music, an essay or two, the valedictory, the conferring of honor and a word from a member of the faculty; then home. I reached Denver, this time by rail all the way, on the morning of the Fourth of July, 1872. It was my first return since 1867 and I noticed great changes in the town and in the surrounding country. It was no longer “wild and woolly,” as in the earlier days. My old dislike passed away, and I felt perfectly satisfied to consider it as my future scene of labor and my home. The ox wagons were mostly gone, the stages had given way to the railroad, four of which radiated from Denver, and two priests were doing the work of the surrounding missions. There were now seven with a bishop at their head. Manufacturing had started, farming was becoming more general and prosperity reigned everywhere. The outlook was bright and I was anxious to share in the work of the future. 

          My hope at the end of my preparatory studies was that I might to to [go to] Lovian in Belgium for my course in theology. During the vacation I consulted several times with Bishop Machebeuf on the matter and found him adverse to my going abroad. The Rector of the American College at Louvain, who had given me my First Communion had suffered a mental breakdown, and the Bishop feared that might interfere in some way with the successful management of the institution, so he would not send me there. Rome was out of the question as the Pope was a prisoner and the city in the hands of the enemies of the church. Cincinnati had a fine Seminary and that was his favorite just then. So it was settled that I go to Cincinnati and enter Mount St. Mary's Seminary which would open for registration of students on Monday, September 2, 1872. On the day preceding my proposed departure for Cincinnati I called at the house of Bishop to say goodbye, but I found that he was absent at Central City, forty miles away, and would not return until the next day. Father Raverdy , the Vicar General, advised me to remain until the bishop came home, and I would yet have time to reach Cincinnati by Sunday morning. The next day saw the return of the bishop and two priests with a brand new plan for my consideration. This time it was to go to France and enter the seminary of St. Sulpice of Paris. The pastor of Central City, Rev. H. Nourion, had a younger brother, Alcide, who had just finished his preparatory studies, and was about to start for Paris to continue his theology. He was then visiting in Central City, and would leave for Paris on the following Sunday night. It was then Thursday evening, and I was considerably upset by the preposition and the suddenness of  the departure. I had no fear of any trouble in Europe from the start, and I do not think Bishop Macebeuf had either. It was his way of putting things to make his plan appear the best thing. France had just been defeated in a serious war, and the ruins of a part of Paris were almost smoking still from the fires of the commune. He had no fear of trouble, and it was such a good chance with a Frenchman as my companion and guide all the way. 

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