USA > Ohio > Cuyahoga County > Cleveland > A history of Catholicity in northern Ohio and in the diocese of Cleveland from 1749 to December 31, 1900, Volume I, pt1 > Part 22
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IN THE DIOCESE OF CLEVELAND.
building a steeple and of renovating the interior of the church and furnishing it with electric lights. The parish is to be congratulated on having very little debt to meet.
The following priests filled the position of curate in Holy Name parish : Revs. James Monahan, from 1877 to July, 1880; F. J. O'Neill, July, 1880, to June, 1881; J. C. Desmond, July, 1881. to May, 1882 ; J. B. McGlone, May, 1882, to February, 1883 ; J. J. Clarke, November, 1883, to November, 1884; James P. Myler, January, 1885, to the time of his death, August, 1887; E. F. Rohan, January to February, 1888; F. B. Doherty, July, 1888, to Decem- ber, 1889; J. J. Powers, January, 1890, to December, 1892; F. A. Malloy, December, 1892, to December, 1899; and the Rev. K. P. Banks, the present (1900) curate, since January, 1899.
HOLY ROSARY (ITALIAN) CHURCH, CLEVELAND.
In order to accommodate the increasing number of Italians in Cleveland (estimated in 1890 at about 3,000) a second congrega- tion* was organized in January, 1892, composed of those Italian families living east of Willson avenue and in the neighborhood of Lake View Cemetery. They purchased a lot in April of the same year at the corner of Mayfield and East End avenues, and erected thereon the present neat, frame church at a cost of $6,500. This building was begun in April and dedicated on the 20th of the November following, by the late Rev. F. Westerholt, delegated by the Rt. Rev. Bishop Horstmann.
Until the church was ready for use Mass was celebrated in a private house, from October, 1891, by the Rev. Joseph Stromia, who was appointed the first resident pastor of the new congrega- tion. He was succeeded in October, 1893, by the Rev. Peter Riva, who, however, remained only until February, 1894, owing to diffi- culties that had been caused by a few refractory and un-Catholic members of the parish. He was an excellent, zealous priest and deserved better treatment at the hands of his people and country- men than they accorded him.
Father Riva's successor is the present energetic pastor, the
(*) St. Anthony's Itallan congregation, Cleveland, was the first to be organized.
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Rev. Anthony Gibelli, who received his appointment in February, 1894. Under his prudent and firm direction, Holy Rosary has been steadily progressing in spirituals as well as temporals. An excellent spirit pervades the parish. Pastor and flock are one in sentiment; they work harmoniously for God and the best interests of the parish.
In 1896 a small but neat pastoral residence was erected for about $900. It adjoins the church to the rear. In December, 1894, the Ursuline Sisters opened a Sunday School under the most trying difficulties; but one short year told what might be done with this highly gifted people, had they a parish school at their disposal. Over two hundred children are in attendance.
In 1896, a Sodality of the Blessed Virgin Mary was can- onically established, and the meetings are well attended. The same year a sewing school was opened, and is conducted by the Sisters on Saturdays. Between sixty and seventy children, from the little tot of five years to the young lady, learned to do not only plain sewing, but to make their own dresses.
To the Sunday School department is attached a small library, the result of the children's work. It is hoped that its volumes will steadily increase in numbers.
Thus far the congregation has not been financially able to support a parish school.
HOLY TRINITY CHURCH, CLEVELAND.
Holy Trinity congregation, composed of Germans formerly identified with the Holy Family parish-later and at present known as St. Edward's-was organized by its present pastor, the Rev. Peter Becker, in August, 1880. The separation of the German families from the Holy Family parish, of which Father Becker was then pastor, had been approved by Bishop Gilmour, in December, 1879. Bishop. Gilmour authorized Father Becker to secure lots for a church site, on Woodland avenue, between Gid- dings avenue and Brown street. Two lots were secured on May 27, 1880, for $3,300. On one of these lots a neat two-storied frame
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school house was built and fitted up in the summer of 1880, at a cost of about $3,000, and placed in charge of the Ladies of the Sacred Heart of Mary as teachers. On the second lot a frame church (the present edifice) was begun in the spring of 1881. During the process of its erection the congregation had services in the Chapel of St. Joseph's Asylum. On August 28, 1881, the new church was solemnly dedicated to the Most Holy Trinity by Bishop Gilmour. The church is a very neat edifice, 45 feet wide by 108 feet in length. It has an ornate spire, 120 feet high, and three fine bells. They were blessed on October 9, 1881. The interior is tastily frescoed, and is furnished with three handsome altars. The complete edifice cost $6,000.
Two lots located at the corner of Woodland avenue and Brown street, to serve as a site for the permanent pastoral resi- dence, were bought in 1882 for $6,500, and on January 19, 1889, an additional lot, situate between Woodland avenue and Brown street, was secured at a cost of $4,500. A fine pipe organ, costing $1,400, was bought in 1886. In September, 1890, a neat frame building, of one story, was erected to serve as a parish hall. Two years later the church was re-frescoed and both church and school were repainted, at an expense of $1,000. In May, 1893, the present handsome pastoral residence, built of stone, was com- menced, and finished a year later. It cost $14,000, and is con- sidered one of the best appointed buildings of its kind in the diocese. In 1898 the frame parish buildings were again reno- vated, stone flagging sidewalks laid, and a neat iron fence along the Woodland avenue front of the elegant church property erected, at a cost of over $2,000. The congregation of Holy Trinity is entirely out of debt, although it received not a dollar from the mother parish, when the separation took place.
In September, 1899, the Ursuline Sisters took charge of the schools, and have since kept them up to the high standard which they attained during the time they were in charge of the Ladies of the Sacred Heart of Mary.
Spiritually and temporally the parish is in a very flourishing condition. Later on, when means will permit, a permanent church and school will be erected to replace the present temporary struc- tures.
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IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CHURCH,
CLEVELAND.
The parish of the Immaculate Conception in Cleveland was established by Bishop Rappe in 1865. For ten years before that time Mass had been said every Sunday for the few Catholics in the neighborhood in a very modest little frame building, known at one time as the Church of the Nativity. Away back in the early fifties this little structure had been moved from the rear of the Cathedral to the site of the future parish church. In its new position it lost its former name, and became known as the Church of the Immacu- late Conception. In this low-roofed, narrow, ill-lighted building, with a capacity to seat about two hundred people, the pioneers of the Immaculate Conception parish worshipped God for fifteen years. They were few, but earnest. Their rugged faith did not stop to consider the inconvenience of unpaved streets and un- flagged sidewalks in their thankfulness for having a roof, though humble, under which to worship God. Their names should ever be held in benediction. Among them, James Watson, Owen Doran, Henry McGann, Daniel Mulcahy, Thomas O'Reilly, Patrick Fennell, Thomas Mahar, Denis Mulcahy, Thomas Maher, Donald McDonald, Andrew McNally, Myles Gibbons, Timothy Dineen, Denis Sheridan, and a few others, nearly all of whom have gone to their rest, deserve special remembrance. Nor did the church stand long alone. With that zeal for Christian education which marked his whole career, Bishop Rappe erected under the same roof two school rooms, into which the children of the vicinity were gathered and taught by the Ursuline Sisters, as they are now, from the very inception of the future parish. For ten years the church was attended by the priests of the Cathedral and the Seminary.
Under the watchful care of the good, old missionary Bishop, Dr. Rappe, the little congregation grew steadily. In 1865 it was given a resident pastor in the person of the Rev. Andrew Sauvadet, who had just arrived in Cleveland from Canada. He worked zealously in the formation of the parish, built a comfortable brick residence, also a school building, which still stands. In September, 1870, Father Sauvadet was transferred to the Church of the Annunciation on Hurd street, and was suc-
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CHURCH AND PASTORAL RESIDENCE, CLEVELAND.
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on the new building, in the erection of the temporary church, in current expenses and in incidental improvements, over $66,000 in six years. In June, 1876, there was a change of pastors. Father Thorpe was called to the pastorship of the Cathedral, much to his regret, and the Rev. A. R. Sidley was brought from Lima to con- tinue the work he had begun. The change was not pleasing to the congregation, and it manifested its displeasure by becoming less generous than it had been. The whole debt of the congregation, when the change of pastors occurred, was only a few hundred dollars, and yet, for various reasons, the new pastor deemed it prudent to partially suspend the work for nearly four years, and then only resumed it at the loss of the clere-story, the massive columns, the heavy cut-stone arches and the magnificent propor- tions of the interior.
But time demanded energy. The temporary building, erected in 1872, needed repairs. The congregation was rapidly growing in numbers, and better church accommodations was the cry. Accordingly, in the autumn of 1880, a public meeting of the con- gregation was held, and both pastor and people resolved that a loan be made and work, according to the changed plans, be resumed the following spring. Two years later found the old structure de- molished, the new church enclosed and the basement used as a temporary chapel. Meanwhile another loan was effected, and with it the church was plastered, and provided with temporary altar and stained glass windows. The anxiously-awaited day had come, and on Sunday, the 31st of May, 1885, the Immaculate Conception Church was solemnly dedicated to Almighty God by Mgr. F. M. Boff, administrator of the diocese in the absence of the Rt. Rev. Bishop Gilmour, then in Europe.
During those years the congregation had grown apace. Iron mills had been multiplied and factories of various kinds spread themselves along the lake shore. Good wages rewarded labor and money became plentiful. The debt on the church was reduced by several thousand dollars, but yet $24,000 remained as a lien. The old pastoral residence had become damp and unhealthy. To pro- vide a new one, the debt and the completion of the edifice were put aside. The house was built at a cost of $16,000. Father Sidley took possession in March, 1892. He had just recovered from a
IN THE DIOCESE OF CLEVELAND. . 217
severe attack of typhoid fever and had lost much of his energy. He was entirely relieved from all parochial work and care by his faith- ful assistants, the Revs. George F. Murphy, D. D., and Patrick Shea. Medical aid was always at hand, but his hour had come, and he peacefully sank to rest on Saturday, the 14th of October, 1893. He was buried with honor, and blessed by the tears of his people, on the 18th day of the same month, and immediately found a suc- cessor in the person of his predecessor, Mgr. T. P. Thorpe, who, after serving the Cathedral as pastor for eighteen years, was, at his own request, kindly sent back to his old charge by the Rt. Rev. Bishop Horstmann, on the 11th of November, 1893.
Looking around the new pastor found that the features of the congregation had entirely changed. The old mills had disappeared and given place to others far greater and more varied in their pro- ductions. But at that time the busy hum of industry was silent. Hundreds of willing workmen walked the streets in idleness. Hard times had set in. A debt of $32,000 rested on the congregation, the church was unfinished and many necessary repairs and im- provements pressed for attention. The people were apathetic. heartless and slow to be moved. Nothing daunted, the pastor went earnestly and immediately to work. The old school building was condemned as unsafe and unfit for use. This condemnation was removed by rebuilding the sustaining walls and arranging the interior, so that the rooms and halls could be emptied in a few minutes. New altars were placed in the chancel of the church. The interior was frescoed and entirely renovated. Massive oak- framed Stations were put in position and rich statuary added to the grace of the sanctuary. All this was the work of the dull years between 1893 and 1896. The intention of building two flanking, tapering spires was changed, and in 1898 a massive campanile of cut stone and rock-faced work, 149 feet 8 inches high was built. In 1899 a chime of eleven bells found place in that tower. In 1900 the clock tower, of the same material and architecture, was erected. The whole cost of the improvements, including the interior ornamentation of the church, was $31,000, together with which over $27,000 have been paid on the church debt, within the past seven years. Looking back to 1865, we find the Immaculate Conception starting on its road of progress with
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a hundred families, poor, but generous, and blessed with a strong faith. In 1871 it lost a large territory, now an important part of the recently resuscitated parish of St. Columbkille, and with it almost as many families as it had gained in the first five years of its existence. In 1893, St. Agnes' parish was organized, and the Immaculate Conception was again called on to relinquish to the new congregation a large strip of territory, not thickly populated, it is true, but nearly a mile wide and two and a half miles in length. In 1898, St. Thomas Aquinas' parish came into existence and was entirely composed, both territory and people, of what belonged to the Immaculate Conception before its formation. The people of Glenville, receiving little benefit from the new church, demanded a pastor of their own.
The mission of St. Aloysius, to be taken off St. Thomas Aquinas' parish, will be formed on territory formerly belonging to this church. In the formation of these new parishes and the recalled activity of the old ones, the Immaculate Conception is now well circumscribed. But she has still the spirit of life strong within her.
Among the priests who served the parish as assistants, the name of Father James Quinn deserves special mention. He was appointed in November, 1893, and was a faithful, hard-working coadjutor to the present pastor for five years. Before him in a part of 1891 and 1892, the Revs. John Hannan and James H. Halligan were the earnest, painstaking assistants of Father Sidley. At a later date, the Rev. G. F. Murphy, D. D., and the Rev. Patrick Shea were the efficient assistants of Father Sidley at the time of his death. After Father Quinn, the Rev. R. B. Doyle served the parish for a year. The Revs. Thomas A. Quinn and John McIner- ney are now the assistants. Nor can the Fathers of the Society of Jesus be forgotten. They, brave sons of Loyola, always ready to lend their assistance, aided the present pastor for seven years.
CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES, CLEVELAND.
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IN THE DIOCESE OF CLEVELAND.
OUR LADY OF LOURDES' (BOHEMIAN) CHURCH, CLEVELAND.
The congregation of Our Lady of Lourdes' was organized by dividing St. Wenceslas' congregation in the year 1883. The Rev. Stephen Furdek was appointed its first pastor, and had charge until July 4, 1883, when he was assigned to St. Prokop's Church, Cleveland. His successor was the Rev. Thomas Schnei- der, O. F. M., until February 10, 1884, when Father Furdek again took charge of the parish. The first church was built in the year 1883. It was a frame building, 100 x 40 feet, and by direction of Bishop Gilmour was arranged for church and school purposes. The building cost about $4,000. On the 15th of April, 1883, it was completed. On May 27th following it was dedicated by Bishop Gilmour. The parochial school was opened at the same time, with an attendance of 200 pupils, the number of which grew within one month to 400. Since its opening the school has been conducted by the Notre Dame Sisters, of Cleveland. Soon it was apparent that another building had to be provided for school purposes, as the existing school rooms were overcrowded. In October, 1884, the new building was ready for use, and at once 200 children took possession of it. A part of the building was fitted up for the residence of the Sisters connected with the schools. In 1886 another frame school building, containing four rooms, was erected in the rear of the pastoral residence. In addition to these rooms others had to be rented, to accommodate the increasing number of the school children.
In 1890 it was determined by the pastor and congregation to erect a brick church, as the frame structure had become much too small. Three lots, fronting on Randolph street, were bought during that year, for the site of the proposed new church. It was commenced in 1891, the Rt. Rev. Mgr. Boff, the Administrator of the diocese, laying the corner-stone on July 19. The church, a handsome Gothic edifice, S4 x 178 feet, with two spires, was brought under roof, and used for the first time on Christmas, 1891. It continued to be used in its interiorly unfinished condition for two years, when it was plastered, frescoed, adorned with stained glass windows, and furnished with beautiful altars, statues, etc. It
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cost $50,000, and ranks with the largest and best appointed churches of the diocese.
In 1897 the frame pastoral residence was considerably enlarged and thus made to serve its purpose admirably.
Father Furdek finding the work connected with his large parish, of over 800 families, beyond his strength, asked for an assistant. Bishop Horstmann granted his request by sending him, in January, 1899, as a co-laborer, the Rev. John W. Becka. " Although the parish debt is considerable, there is a splendid church property to show for it, and as it is within easy grasp, it will be cancelled in a very few years.
A sad event is to be recorded, which happened in the begin- ning of the congregation and which almost dispersed its members :
In July, 1883, the pastor, Rev. S. Furdek, was removed to St. Prokop's Church, Cleveland. To Our Lady of Lourdes' Church was assigned, as his successor, the Rev. J. M. Koudelka. The congregation, excited by a few malcontents, refused to acknowledge Father Koudelka's appointment, and prevented him from entering the church and saying Mass. They insisted on the return of their former pastor, the Rev. S. Furdek. The congrega- tion continuing its disobedience, Bishop Gilmour ordered the church closed. Fortunately the people soon acknowledged their error and the Rt. Rev. Bishop sent the Rev. Thomas Schneider, O. F. M., to the penitent congregation. As stated above, Father Furdek, the present pastor, was sent back on February 10, 1884. Since then peace, harmony and good will have continued undis- turbed.
SACRED HEART OF JESUS' (POLISH) CHURCH, CLEVELAND.
Between 1885 and 1889 a large number of Poles settled in South Cleveland, in the neighborhood of Brecksville road and Harvard street. They lived at too great distance from St. Stanislas' Church to make it convenient for them to attend Mass there, as also for their children to attend the parish school. They therefore petitioned Bishop Gilmour for permission to form a new parish and build a church for their own use. The petition was granted, and
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the pastor of St. Stanislas' was authorized to secure a church site, which he did in the summer of 1889, although the deed was given a few months later-October 15, 1889. The property (315 by 259 feet) was secured at a cost of $2,500. It is located at the corner of Krakau street and Brecksville road. Shortly after the property was secured, a combination frame church and school was begun, the corner-stone for which was laid on Sunday, September 29, 1889, by Mgr. F. M. Boff, V. G. In December of the same year the church was used for the first time. It was dedicated on Sunday. June 2, 1890, by Mgr. Boff, who also blessed the church bell on the same day. The church, with pews, altars, etc., cost about $15,000. The upper story is used for divine worship and the lower story serves as a school, divided into three rooms. The school is attended by two hundred pupils, taught by Felician Sisters, of Detroit, who have had charge since its opening, in the spring of 1890. The church was attended from St. Stanislas' as a mission until the appointment of the Rev. M. F. Orzechowski as first resident pastor, August 6, 1891. During this year a neat pastoral residence was built at a cost of about $2,000, and in 1892 a substantial fence was put around the entire church property. Father Orzechowski left in July, 1893, and was succeeded by the Rev. James Kula, December 22, 1893, the parish having been attended meanwhile from St. Stanislas' Church. He became discouraged, owing to the parish debt, and a want of correspondence with his well-intended efforts on the part of some of his parishioners. He left July 10, 1895, and was immediately succeeded by the Rev. Paul Cwiakala, who in a very short time gained the love and confidence of his people. During 1896 a fine organ and an elegant baptismal font were secured-the former the gift of a church society, the latter donated by a parishioner. The pews were also repainted and a good supply of church vestments, etc., was bought. As Father Cwiakala's health was failing, Bishop Horstmann per- . mitted him to go to Europe for three months-July to September. 1896, during which time his place was supplied by the Rev. L. Kisielewiecz, a professor in the Polish seminary at Detroit. On his return from Europe, Father Cwiakala reassumed pastoral charge of the parish. For nearly three years-till July, 1899-he labored faithfully and zealously for the best interests of the people, and in consequence overtaxed his strength. Again he was obliged
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to ask for a period of rest, to recuperate. He was granted a leave of absence, and left for Europe and Rome in July, 1899, where he is at present (December, 1900). The Rev. Francis Wegrsznowski was given temporary charge of the parish, and in July, 1900, was succeeded by the present incumbent, the Rev. Victor Szyrocki. The parish is in excellent condition. Although its members are entirely of the laboring class, they contribute generously of their earnings to the support of church and school.
ST. ADALBERT'S (BOHEMIAN) CHURCH. CLEVELAND.
The large number of Catholic Bohemians in the eastern section of the city made it necessary to form another (the fourth) congregation of that nationality. The first step in that direction was to secure a proper church site. This was done June 5, 1882, by the Rev. Anthony Hynek, pastor of St. Wenceslas' Church, to which these people belonged. He bought one lot, 50 by 185 feet, fronting on Lincoln avenue, the purchase price being $750. In the following year a frame combination church and school, 30 by 60 feet, was built thereon, at a cost of $1,900. The parish school was opened in February, 1884. In January, 1885, another lot adjoining the first was purchased for $800, although the deed was given in 1886. At the close of the year the debt of the mission church was but $1,350. The steadily increasing attendance at school necessitated an enlargement of the building. This was done in 1887, by adding a tower, and a gallery for the choir, thus affording at the same time more room in that part of the edifice, which served as a temporary church, and making the dimensions 30 by 78 feet. A six hundred pound church bell was also bought. besides a good supply of altar and church furnishings for divine service, some of which were donated by St. Wenceslas' congrega- tion. July 14, 1888, a third lot, with a frame building on it, was purchased for $1,880, to serve as the future pastoral residence.
On September 16, 1888, services were held for the first time in the considerably enlarged edifice, which was also blessed by Bishop Gilmour on Sunday, October 14, of the same year.
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In 1889 a very neat set of stations was secured, and the interior of the building and the surrounding grounds were much improved.
The fourth lot, with two frame buildings on it, was bought February 27, 1890, for $2,200. One of the buildings was fitted up as a residence for the Notre Dame Sisters, who took charge of the parish school.
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