Saint Anthony Church is synonymous with the East Side and Italian immigrants. The church was established in 1895 on Market St.: in 1898 the church moved to Talcott Street and was dedicated in 1921. Saint Anthony became the center of Italian religious, community and social life. Most of the festas celebrated by the various societies would start and end at Saint Anthony. The children were baptized there while the dead would receive there their last respect and eulogies. The church had 4,000 members at its peak and over 59 years had baptized 18,000 children and performed 5,000 marriages. One priest, Father Kelly, who for 29 years was its pastor from 1919 to 1948 when he suddenly died was responsible for its success more so than any other.