1880 – FIRST ORDAINED IN AMERICA – Father Benjamin Grom, MSC, was ordained a priest in Ogdensburg, New York, on December 7. The MSC society was just 26 years old. Father Grom was born in Alsace, Germany. He came to Watertown and entered St. Joseph’s College on Thompson St. He became Pastor of the church of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in Watertown and was well liked in his parish. He died at the age of 85.