USA > Minnesota > Renville County > The history of Renville County, Minnesota, Volume II > Part 73
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its usage and meaning. It is hardly con- ceivable that a forger of our days would even think of such an invocation, since the Scandinavians have been Protestants from the sixteenth century. Much there- fore is in favor of the authenticity of the inscription upon the Kensington Rune Stone found in our part of the State, indi- cating that Catholics were here as early as 1362.
However, as far as the history of the Catholic Church in Olivia is concerned, the earliest traces we can now find are the sources of its adherents, and these, nat- urally, were the adjoining Catholic settle- ments. Such settlements, not to mention Bird Island, were Fort Ridgely, with its quota of Catholics already in the year 1857: Birch Cooley, under the ministra- tion of Father Somereisen, 1868; Bechyn, with its Church edifice erected in 1880; and the Church of St. Philip, of Henry- ville.
The Church of St. Philip has now gone out of memory. The records on file in the office of the Church of St. Aloysius of Olivia, show that said parish was incor- porated on Oct. 6, 1882, with Thomas L. Grace, Bishop, August Ravaux, V. G., John Andre, Pastor, Michael Holden, Treasurer, and John T. Kelly, Secretary. Of the orig- inal incorporators, Michael Holden is the sole survivor. The members of this par- ish have now all been amalgamated with the members of adjoining parishes, the church building moved away and the cem- etery with the entire church grounds placed under the charge of the Church of St. Aloysius of Olivia.
The Catholic parish of Olivia was off- cially organized and incorporated in 1888. It was on the seventeenth of May, 1888, that several Catholic men "of the village and vicinity" met in Olivia, "for the pur- pose of locating a site for a Catholic Church in said village."
They felt that their religious needs had not hitherto received adequate attention. Religion and morality, to be truly the pil- lars of national and individual greatness, must be systematically inculcated.
The interludes of spasmodic services neutralize if not nullify much of man's effort in matters religious.
The material prospects in Renville county were bright. The prairie fields gave tokens of willingness to exchange their coat of wild grass for a covering with rugs of golden grain. But the mere material ad- vantages, in view of man's immortal and noble destiny, are ultimately, as a rule, the surest counteractors of themselves, the first to dissolve their own momentary charm. Thus the pioneer Catholics of Olivia were not satisfied with mere material ad- vantages, the somewhat prevalent folly of Americans. To them past religious serv- ices were palpably deficient, they yearned for fuller measures of ministrations and the grandeur of the Catholic Ritual. And
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well might the Catholic Pioneer demand more of his religion, for of no man is it the surer perquisite. Like Leban of old carrying her household gods with her wherever she went, so these pioneers car- ried their Catholic faith with them, with all its hopes. Silver and gold, indeed, they did not have, but they possessed something far more valuable than that-their faith. Happy, thrice happy, they who possess faith! They cannot smile without think- ing that they will rejoice in the eternal smiles of heaven; they cannot weep with- out thinking that their sorrow will soon be over. Their tears, so frequent among our old pioneers, are not lost, religion col- lects them in her urn, in her chalices, and presents them to the most High, through whose benevolence many become valuable pearls of merit and are stored in the ce- lestial treasury for future reward, the re- mainder blossom forth into flowers of Divine benedictions, which are strewn upon man's path in this world. The Pio- neer Catholics of Olivia had the Faith, and, wishing to perpetuate it, they there- fore met to consider plans for systematic services in religion.
There were Catholic services in Olivia prior to 1SSS, for as early as 1880, two years after the foundation of Olivia, if not earlier, Father Andrew Kober, the actual Apostle and good Samaritan of Renville county Catholics, ministered to the local Catholics.
At the meeting of May 17, 1888, Peter Abercrombie was elected chairman, and J. B. Foreman secretary. The building com- mittee was composed of John Morgan, Jacob Kubesh, Henry Leonard, Louis Brug- man, Michael Sherin and James Burns.
On the 27th of May, 1888, a new elec- tion took place "for the purpose of elect- ing the officers for one year." The record of that meeting says that Peter Abercrom- bie was elected chairman, with Louis Brug- man, Michael Glenn and James Riha as associates, and John Morgan as treasurer. "Peter Abercrombie acting also as secre- tary."
At a meeting of June 10, 1888, two more niembers were added to the building com- mittee, Michael Sherin and William Hea- ney. On the 14th of June the bond of the treasurer, John Morgan, with M. J. Glenn and Michael Sherin as sureties, was ac- cepted.
M. J. Glenn and John Morgan were then sent to St. Paul "to secure a deed to the property" intended for the church site, which was Block 13 Nester's Addition to the Village of Olivia, and also "to make inquiries for lumber, in diverse places, for the church building."
The work progressed well, for a few days later, on the twentieth of June, 1888. the vigil of St. Aloysius Day (hence the name, Church of St. Aloysius), the incor- poration documents were signed by Rt. Rev. John Ireland, Rt. Rev, Thomas L.
Grace, V. G., Rev. Andrew Kober, John Morgan, and Michael Glenn. The records on hand give no account of the dedication of the church.
Father Andrew Kober was therefore the first pastor, and he ministered to the par- ish until about July 1, 1896, when Roy. T. Plent succeeded him. Under the latter's direction was built the present commodi- ous and thoroughly modern brick presby- tery in 1897. His charge terminating in February of 1904, Rev. Il. P. Fey conducted services until May of the same year, when Rev. Daniel Hughes took his place. In September of the same year, Rev. Paul Barron, an Englishman, became the acting pastor, and occupying the office until No- vember, 1906, when Rev. Paul Perigord was sent here. His pastorate terminating on the second of August, 1907, Rev. Henry D. Pomije was sent by Archbishop Ireland to assume charge of the parish of St. Aloy- sins, and its pastorate he holds since that time.
Mention should be made that the large bell in the high steeple of the church was donated, almost in its entire cost, by Frank Holan, an amiable old Pioneer, now de- ceased. The bell weighs 2,000 pounds and is rung daily, signalling to the people the time of prayer, morning, noon and eve; its magie sound controlling many hearts. It is also used in calling people to Mass, to ring wedding marches, and to toll the sad funeral farewell.
The main altar is the gift of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas McGinty. The Stations of the Cross were donated by M. J. Glenn, MI. Holden, G. Kelly, II. Nelson, Mr. and Mrs. Albert Jansen, Mr. and Mrs. John Hopman, Mr. and Mrs. Owen Heaney, Ladies' Rosary Society, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Kubesh, St. Andrew Court, C. O. F .. Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Pitka, William Maloney, Catholic Workman, Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Heaney, Mr. and Mrs. P. J. Schaeffer, Mr. and Mrs. L. Brugman, Mr. and Mrs. A. Brugman, Anton Kubesh, Frank Fousek and Geo, Lipert.
Among other more notable gifts to the parish may be mentioned, the Sanctuary Lamp, donated by Albert Jansen; the Park Fountain, donated by Messrs. John Free- man, Peter Wacek, P. J. Schaeffer and Henry Heaney; the Pergola, donated by Wm. Russel and Rev. H. D. Pomije, and the School Library, donated by the last mentioned.
About half a mile west from the church is the parish cemetery, which with its mowed lawn, flowers and a central flower mound, makes, in connection with the con- tignous public cemetery, one of the best appearing cemeteries in Renville county.
People of several nationalities belong to the Church of St. Aloysius. According to the alphabetical order they are: Bo- hemians, French, Germans, Hollanders, Irish, Poles and Scandinavians. All told, 175 families belong to the parish.
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The parish property, including its park, cemetery, and all buildings and furnish- ings, is worth about $75,000. The parish is without debt and in a highly flourishing condition.
The Catholic parish owns a block of ground and maintains in addition to the church a parochial school, which was re- cently built at a cost of $25,000. A beau- tiful park situated on the grounds is the pride of the parish. Rev. H. D. Pomije is pastor.
The Aloystanum .- The Aloysianum is an eight grade and music school under the direction of the Trustees of the Church of St. Aloysius, and in charge of the Sisters of the Order of St. Joseph.
On Easter Sunday, March 27, 1910, the pastor, Rev. Henry D. Pomije, just before leaving on a tour of Europe, Northern Af- rica and Western Asia, announced to his parishioners the necessity of a private school where, besides all the ordinary branches of secular knowledge, also a moral and religious education could be im- parted to the pupils.
Upon his return, two gentlemen, John M. Freeman and John Flaschenriem, met with him in his library room and discussed the projected institution. All agreed that such a school should be built, and it was thought prudent to take three years to do said work, so that in 1913, the year of the Silver Jubilee of the parish, the building would rise upward as a memorial of the 25th anniversary.
Immediately the following committee was appointed: Rev. Henry D. Pomije, John M. Freeman, John Flaschenriem, Thomas McGinty, James R. Landy, Frank Fousek, Albert Jansen, Charles Deyling, Joseph Rousar, Bernard Tersteeg, Henry D. Hopman, Frank Polansky, Joseph Ku- besh, William Meaney and August Uhlir.
On June 21, 1911, the breaking and the blessing of the ground took place; Very Rev. L. Haas, Dean of the Glencoe Deall- ery, officiating, with the assistance of sev- eral clergymen. Rev. P. Quesnell of Glen- coe, preached in the church, and Rey. James Klein of Minneapolis delivered an address on the school grounds.
On June 21, 1912, the Catholics of Olivia were requested by Father Pomije to bring sand gravel for the building, and in the autumn of the sanie year again requested to proceed with the excavation of the ground. Both requests were responded to with high enthusiasm.
These were the remote preparations for the laying of the corner stone on June 21, 1913, the year of the Silver lubilee re- ferred to above. On that day, in the pres- ence of a vast concourse of people, the corner stone was solemnly laid by the Very Rev. Humphry Moynihan, President of St. Thomas College. The said gentle- man spoke in the English language, and Rev. H. D. Pomije in Bohemian.
The corner stone hears the following patriotic inscription: "June 21, 1888, For God and Country, June 21, 1913."
The complete cost of the building is $30,- 000.00. It is a brick structure two stories high above the basement. The brick is the Danville cloister, with deep red mor- tar joints. The entire building is trimmed with cut Bedford stone, giving it a sol- emn expression and stately stamina.
The basement, with the exception of the large boiler room, is less than four feet beneath the ground level, so that all its windows are above ground, and thus mak- ing the rooms in the basement almost ideal. On the side of the boiler room are two lavatories, separated by a wall and reached by different stairways. In the center of the basement is located a parish kitchen, and on the west end is located a large parish hall.
The building is 94 by 47 feet. While the ends of the building are only 47 feet deep, the central part of the building is 601/2 feet deep. This central projection is 601% by 30 feet. The landings of both front and rear entrances are 10 by 12 feet. Lead- ing into the building is a large entrance double door of paneled glass and sur- rounded by windows of flowing tracery. In the spacious vestibule the floors are of marble. Another double door with glass panels opens into the building proper. Here one stairway leads into the basement and the other to the main floor. All the doors in the building have large glass panels.
On the main floor is a splendid central lobby, 14 by 26 feet, where there are a few chairs, piano, ornamental statuary, pictures of the Declaration of Independ- 'ence, of George Washington, of Lincoln, and of Renville county wheat fields. This lobby is a new feature in school buildings, as is also the flower house on the south side of the building, where over a thou- sand plants are yearly propagated. Cir- cling around this lobby are the music rooms, reception room, two dining rooms, private chapel, two dormitories and lava- tories.
On the second floor are the school rooms, each 21 feet 4 inches by 30 feet 8 inches. Eight large windows, with tran- soms above, admit an abundance of light into each room. Genuine, hand finished slate blackboard is in all the class-rooms. Each class-room has its adjoining cloak- room, and is otherwise provided with all the requirements of a modern school-room, including electric lights, clocks, pictures, sanitary drinking fountains, etc. The library is 14 by 20 feet and contains pres- ently over 500 volumes, all classified ac- cording to the universal Dewey Decimal System.
The building is heated by the Judge Gravity-vapor-system, and each room sep- arately ventilated by the Judge Channel- system.
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The electric system cost about $1,000.00, and the pictures in the building over $5,- 000.00. All the furniture, which is fumed oak, rugs, carpets, etc., is of the best qual- ity. The style of the architecture of the building is a beautiful combination of the classical and modern, and the building, in appearance, is not unlike the Castles on the Rhine.
The dedication program was in charge of J. R. Landy, editor of the Olivia Times. Mr. Landy delivered the address of wel- come in his usual happy way and intro- duced the various speakers. The follow- ing account of the dedication is taken from the Olivia Times, Sept. 10. 1914: "Sunday, Sept. 6, was made a memorable day in the history of St. Aloysius Church. . The dedication of the new school took place and a large crowd turned out to at- tend the exercises. Fully 2,000 people were in attendance, many coming from Redwood, Renville, Bird Island and other neighboring towns. The exercises began at 2:30 o'clock with a march from the par- sonage to the school building. The pro- cession was headed by cross bearers and altar boys and after them came the clergy. Next in line were the school children and following those came the members of the Catholic Workmen and Catholic Foresters. and next the members of the parish. At the front entrance to the school building the procession stopped while the choir sang a hymn, and then the clergy and at- tendants passed into the building, where a short ritualistic ceremony took place. After this the crowd returned to the church grounds, where an improvised stand had been erected. Seats had been placed for about 1,000 people, but these were not sufficient to accommodate more than half of the crowd present.
"The program on the grounds commenced with the singing of the National hymn, 'Hail Columbia,' by school children, then was introduced Hon. M. J. Dowling, Mayor of Olivia. who delivered a pleasing ad- dress, which brought forth hearty ap- plause. He spoke of the great privilege of being an American citizen, calling atten- tion to the responsibilities which Ameri- can citizenship confers upon our people, and contrasting the conditions of America with those of Europe, especially at the present time. Fle paid a well deserved tribute to Father Pomije for what the lat- ter has contributed to the civic growth of Olivia in the way of a beautiful park and a magnificent school building, and as a mayor of the village he thanked him and the parish for the improvements made and congratulated them on the success of their undertaking.
"Following the address by Mr. Dowling, R. T. Daly of Renville was introduced. A speech by Mr. Daly is always pleasing to an Olivia audience and this was no ex- ception. He spoke of the good work that is being done throughout the country by
denominational schools, as well as by the public schools, and he predicted that the good influence of the parish school of St. Aloysius will extend far beyond this com- munity. Referring to the European war he said: '} cannot refrain from touching upon a subject that is uppermost in the minds of all the people, the great war in Europe, and it occurs to me that it must be gratifying to an all peaceful God to turn His eye from the bloodstained Eu- rope and look down upon a happy and peaceful assemblage like this.'
"Speaking of the new school, he said that the people of the other villages of the county look to Olivia to make advance- ment along all lines. Being the seat of government, she draws the citizens of other towns here on business, and while she cannot expect to be as large as Ren- ville, she can be a model city.
"Father Scholzen of Bird Island referred to the task of building such a great school. He said he was surprised at what Olivia accomplished in that respect, building a $30,000.00 school and paying for it the same year.
"The last speaker on the program was Rev. Father Pomije, and, the occasion being to him an especially happy one, he was in the proper frame of mind to deliver an address. He expressed his pleasure that his hopes and ambition respecting the new school had been realized and congrat- ulated the members of the parish on their generous contributions to the school. Sun- day being the one hundredth anniversary of the composition of the hymn, 'The Star Spangled Banner,' by Francis Scott Key, Father Pomije took occasion to speak of the flag, and in an eloquent tribute to the Stars and Stripes, pointed out their sym- bolical significance.
"Following Father Pomije's address. the school children sang 'America' and the au- dience was dismissed with prayer by Rev. Father Cashman of Renville.
"Following the exercises at the stand. took place the formal raising of the flag on the school building, and after that vis- itors were taken for an automobile ride around town.
St. Aloysius Park .- St. Aloysius Park is the property of the Church of St. Aloysius and is open to the public. There are about three hundred trees encircling and dot- ting it. Soft maples. box-elders, elm, ever- greens, birch, poplars, apple and pluim trees vie with each other for superiority. There are also a large number of pyra- midal-Japanese-arbor-vitae, globular dwarf pines and one South American banana tree.
From among deciduous shrubs the fol- lowing have prominent places upon the lawn: Barberis Thunbergii, Deutzia Gra- cialis, Currents, Golden Elder, Golden Syr- inga. Hydrangea Paniculata, Honeysuckle, Lilac (syringa vulgaris), Lilac-syringa Ja- ponica, Syringa Philadelphus Coronarius
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trimmed into a globular form, Snowball ( lantana). Anthony Waterer Spirea, Spirea Van Houttei, Tamarix Africana and Wei- gelia Eva Rathke. The beautiful hedge, 31% feet high by 3 feet wide. is of Lilac Vulgaris. The roses include several Amer- ican varieties.
The hardy perennials scattered through the park include Achillea Ptarmica. Del- phinum Chinense, Dianthus Deltoides ro- seus. Lilies, Japanese and German Iris, Phlox and Peonies of several varieties, Platycodon grandiflorum and few others.
The annuals. of which there is a very great number, include various species of Cannas, Gladiolas, Dahlias, Asters, Alys- sum. Elephant Ears and fancy leaved Cala- diums. Celosia, Coleus, Dracaenas and Vincas.
The climbing vines include such as Cle- matis Jackmanii, Clematis Paniculata. Dutchman's Pipe, Beta Vine, Cardinal Climber. Hops. White and Blue Wistaria. and Ampelopsis Quinquefolia.
The park is duly supplied with garden furniture and other requisites. Special mention deserve three ornamental iron flower vases: bronze sun dial mounted on cut Bedford stone; fifty dollar Reflecto- scope on Bedford stone pedestal: gar- goyle: three basin iron water fountain, surmounted by a bronzed pelican, and rest- ing in a 14 foot cement water basin; one 16 foot high five globe cluster ornamental iron lamp centrally located, and a 55 foot long, double column Pergola of fluted, lock- joint 12 foot columns with Scamozzi Ionic cap and Attic base.
The entire little park is tangled with gravel paths and driveways. All in all, according to travelers who have seen the best flower parks in this and other coun- ties, it is as pretty a spot as any.
Rev. Henry D. Pomije, pastor of St. Aloysius Catholic church at Olivia, was born in LeSueur county, Minnesota, in 1880. He attended public school at New Prague as a boy and later completed the collegiate course at St. Thomas College. St. Paul. His theological training was re- ceived at the St. Paul Seminary, from which institution he was ordained a priest in 1906. The same year he was assigned by Archbishop Ireland to the pastorate at Olivia, where he is still located. In 1912 he took an extended trip through Europe. Asia and Africa, visiting many places of historic interest and writing for the pub- lic press a number of interesting articles descriptive of the countries visited. He has been a tireless worker for the upbuild- ing of his parish and largely as a result of his labor St. Aloysius parish is one of the richest and most prosperous parishes to be found in the state. In 1914 he com- pleted a $25,000 parochial school, which when dedicated was free from debt. and the enrollment in that school numbers at present about 200 pupils. Father Pomije's great delight, as a diversion, is in the
study of plant life, and for that purpose he has a private park and flower garden ou the church grounds, which is a rare beauty spot of Olivia. Father Pomije is a promi- nent and active member of the Catholic Order of Foresters and Knights of Colum- bus.
Church of St. Mary's, Bird Island .- Al- though the present status of Catholicity in Bird Island stands as an exponent of what the Church always endeavors to ac- complish in her zeal for religion and mo- rality, still it must be admitted that the beginning of the church in central Ren- ville county betokened anything but fu- ture progress of success. In the spring of 1879 a committee of two, Bernard Feeter and Daniel Clark, was sent to the Bishop in St. Louis for the purpose of obtaining the services of a priest for the then thriv- ing settlement. As a result of their peti- tion. Father Briety of Birch Coolie soon after visited Bird Island and said the first mass there in the public schoolhouse. Very soon after, in the same year. Rev. Father Godfrey H. Braun of Benton, now Cologne, took charge of the Bird Island mission. The following September Rev. J. B. Els- horst was appointed as the first resident pastor. He built a small residence in the west end of the town, but failed in his at- tempt to obtain sufficient funds for the building of a church from the poor strug- gling settlers. In the fall of 1881 Father Elshorst resigned. During the following year Bird Island was attended as a mis- sion by Rev. John Andre of Birch Coolie. In October. 1882, Rev. Nicholas Schmitz was appointed pastor. He was, however. not only to look after the needs of the Bird Island parish, but also minister unto all the Catholics living along the C., M. & St. P. R. R. from Glencoe on the east to Ortonville on the west. Father Schmitz remained until the end of November, 1883, when he was succeeded by the Rev. An- drew Kober, during whose incumbency the parish became firmly established. Father Kober was a man of sterling character, un- tiring zeal and almost heroic self-denial. The welfare of the parish at Bird Island and those of the surrounding towns did not establish the limits of his priestly labors. His ambition to do good took him westward as far as the Dakotas and this was done not without much peril and hard- ship, especially during the winters of the early days. when traveling was anything but a pleasure and often extremely haz- ardous. It is related of him that on one of his mission trips near the Dakota boun- dary he failed to secure a conveyance and undertook to walk to the mission. some 12 or 13 miles distant. Having gone a considerable distance he was overtaken by a severe blizzard and lost his way. After tramping along until evening he was about to give up hope of being rescued when, to his great relief, he came upon a sod hut, where he was hospitably cared
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for for several days, until travel again became possible.
During Father Kober's rectorship a frame church was built, and also a com- modious residence, which served as rec- tory until the schoolsisters of St. Joseph arrived in September, 1898, when it was given over to them for convent and school-
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