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 26
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ST. JOHN CANTIUS' (POLISH) CHURCH, CLEVELAND.
The rapidly increasing number of Catholic Poles in Cleve- land necessitated the formation of a fourth Polish congregation, to give church and school facilities to the people of that nationality living in the "down town" district, and too far distant from the other Polish churches. The arrival of the Rev. Hippolit Orlowski, in April, 1898, enabled Bishop Horstmann to effect the organiza- tion of the much needed parish. Father Orlowski obtained the
ST. JOSEPH'S CHURCH, AND FRANCISCAN MONASTERY, CLEVELAND.
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use of the Cathedral Chapel for services on Sundays and holydays, and in a short time had the satisfaction of seeing upwards of one hundred families in regular attendance. Meanwhile he made search for a suitable location on which to erect a church, school and pastoral residence.
Some friction arose while selecting a site pleasing to at least a majority of the congregation. Finally an ideal place was found at the corner of Professor and College streets. The property, consisting of two large lots, 132 by 132 feet, had on it a large frame building, in excellent condition. It was formerly the car barn of the South Side street railway. The property was secured at a cost of $4,000, and was deeded to Bishop Horstmann in February, 1899. Immediately the work of transformation was begun and in a few weeks what was once a barn had now the appearance of a neat and cozy church, amply large, at least for some years, to accommodate the people identified with the new parish. Mass was celebrated in the transformed building for the first time on Palm Sunday, March 26, 1899.
That part of the two-story building along the rear end of the two lots was fitted up for a pastoral residence, school and sisters' house. In three months all these necessary adjuncts to a properly organized parish were ready for occupancy. The school was opened on September 11, 1899.
The attractive church was dedicated to St. John Cantius, by Bishop Horstmann, on Sunday, October 22, 1899, a vast multitude assisting at the ceremony. The congregation was obliged to go into debt for nearly all the property and outfit, but the well-known generosity of the Catholic Poles will cancel the debt, of about $6,000, in a very-short time.
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ST. JOSEPH'S CHURCH, CLEVELAND.
The Rev. John H. Luhr, founder of St. Peter's parish, felt the necessity of starting another school, besides St. Peter's, for the con- venience of children living in the southerly part of the city. He foresaw that his parishioners there resident would be unwilling to send their children to the school adjoining the parish church,
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because of the great distance to be traveled, and that these would find their way to the public school, and perhaps to apostasy. To prevent this evil, the zealous priest opened a school in a private house, rented for the purpose, on Irving street, in September, 1855. Through the energy and ability of its teacher, Miss M. Hengge, the school prospered to such a degree that the number of children at the close of the second year exceeded one hundred. This success gave encouragement to the people, and in 1857 they erected a school house of their own, at the corner of Orange and Irving streets. But a church was also badly needed, as many adults remained away from their religious duties altogether, owing partly to the long distance to St. Peter's Church. To remove all excuse for neglecting Mass, Father Luhr, with the consent of Bishop Rappe, placed an altar in one of the school apartments, where his assistant, the Rev. William Bally, celebrated Mass on Sundays and holydays from July to November, 1857. The good results of this arrangement soon became manifest. In spite of the inconvenience and poverty of the place, the number of people present at the Holy Sacrifice steadily increased. When Father Bally was transferred, Bishop Rappe was asked for permission to form a new congrega- tion. His consent was readily given. Thereupon, in May, 1858, the families living in the southern part of St. Peter's parish separated, and under the patronage of St. Joseph, organized as a distinct congregation. The Rev. Anthony Krasney attended it from St. Peter's as a mission until 1862, when he was appointed its first pastor. Under his direction a lot (100 by 170 feet), situated at the northeast corner of Woodland avenue and Chapel street, was bought of Philo Scoville, and a frame church built thereon. Bishop Rappe blessed the foundation on November 2, 1862. In the following year a new school house of brick was erected, a lot of thirty-six feet having previously been added to the church property for that purpose. The priest's house, also of brick, was built in 1864.
About this time an important change took place. The Rev. A. Krasney not being able, under existing circumstances, to satisfy the wants of the congregation, Bishop Rappe asked the Franciscan Fathers of Teutopolis, Ill., to take charge of St. Joseph's Church. After considerable correspondence and consequent delay Bishop
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Rappe's repeated offer was accepted in 1867, when two Franciscan Fathers, the Revs. Capistran Zwinge, O. F. M., and Dominic Droessler, O. F. M., took charge of St. Joseph's. They labored zealously in their new field, and though having to overcome many obstacles, their efforts for the souls entrusted to them were blessed abundantly.
Soon the old frame church and priest's house became too small. A monastery and chapel were built in 1868, at the corner of Chapel and Hazen streets. On October 12, 1869, the corner- stone of the chapel was laid by Bishop Rappe, and in the following year, November 13, it was consecrated by Bishop Toebbe, of Covington, Ky. Plans were now drawn by architects Cudell and Richardson for a brick church to replace the frame structure. But owing to his many and arduous labors in his former capacity as missionary priest, the health of the pastor, Rev. P. Capistran, was unequal to the task of building a church. His declining health caused him to return, in 1871, to Teutopolis, Ill. He died at Chicago, Ill., on July 24, 1874. Father Capistran was replaced in the pastorate of St. Joseph's by the Rev. Kilian Schloesser, O. F. M., who soon commenced the new church according to the above mentioned plans. On invitation of the Very Rev. Edward Hannin, the administrator of the diocese, Bishop Toebbe, of Covington, laid the cornerstone of the new edifice, October 26, 1871. Two years later, October 5, 1873, the present grand church was dedicated by Bishop Gilmour. It is built in pure Gothic, with clere-story. It has a frontage of ninety feet on Woodland avenue, and extends on Chapel street one hundred and sixty feet.
Father Kilian Schloesser now made every effort to reduce the large debt, contracted in the erection of the church. He suc- ceeded, by prudent economy and careful management, in diminish- ing it considerably each year. In this he was greatly assisted by the St. Agatha's Insurance Society, which lent its earnings to the church without interest.
In July, 1885, Father Kilian was succeeded in the pastorate of St. Joseph's by his assistant, the Rev. Alardus Andreschek, O. F. M. During the same year the beautiful high altar, designed by Brother Louis, O. F. M., and executed under his direction, was blessed by Mgr. F. M. Boff, V. G. In 1888, the Rev. Theodore
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Arentz, O. F. M., succeeded Father Alardus, and the Rev. Boniface Depmann, O. F. M., was appointed his assistant. Two years later the church was artistically frescoed and furnished with a steam heating apparatus. In 1892, the outfit of the sanctuary was completed by the addition of two fine side altars, also designed by Brother Louis, O. F. M. In August, 1897, the Rev. Benignus Schuetz, O. F. M., was given pastoral charge of St. Joseph's, Father Theodore having at that time been elected Provincial of the Franciscans belonging to the Province of the Sacred Heart. Father Boniface was relieved by the Rev. Matthew Schmitz, O. F. M., in the duties of assistant, in January, 1899.
As early as 1893 the completion of the church spire had been discussed. But, owing to the financial depression then and for · some years following, its completion had to be postponed to a more favorable time. This came at last in the spring of 1899. The same architects who drew the plans for the church drew them also for the spire, which was completed in the fall of the same year. It ranks among the tallest and most beautiful spires in Cleveland. On Sunday, October 22, 1899, Bishop Horstmann blessed three fine bells for this church, the largest weighing four thousand pounds. On the same day the splendid organ, which practically had been rebuilt, was blessed and used for the first time.
St. Joseph's Church is now complete in every respect, and is justly classed with the best and most costly churches in the city and Diocese of Cleveland. As stated in the beginning of the sketch, the school was opened before the parish was organized. At all times the best interests of the parochial schools were kept in view. Until 1875 they were taught by lay teachers. From 1875 until 1889 the Ladies of the Sacred Heart of Mary had charge of the girls. From 1875 to 1885 two Franciscan Brothers taught the boys. In the latter year, the present teacher and organist, Mr. Aloysius Pfeilschifter, was given charge of the large boys' school, and in 1889 the Ursuline Sisters were entrusted with the girls and the smaller boys. At present (December, 1900). the school is attended by three hundred and forty pupils. For a number of years prior to 1885, the two school buildings were found inade- quate. In fact, the building used by the boys was condemned as unsafe. It stood to the rear of the church and lacked modern
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equipments. The Franciscan Fathers proposed to Bishop Gilmour to sell to St. Joseph's parish their monastery property, located at the corner of Chapel and Hazen streets, and to take in exchange, as part of the purchase price, the lots on which stood the school buildings. The object of this offer was to enable the parish to fit up as a parochial school the monastery, and so secure, at a com- paratively small cost for the necessary transformation, an excellent building, with ample grounds, comprising half a block. At the same time also the Fathers could thus put into effect a long cherished plan-to have their monastery immediately adjoining the parish church. Bishop Gilmour and the parish councilmen considered the proposition with favor, but he died before anything definite was or could be done in the matter. Within a short time after Bishop Horstmann came to Cleveland, the proposition was revived, and at once accepted by him. The exchange of the two properties in question was effected in June, 1892, the parish agree- ing to pay $12,500 for the monastery and grounds. The former was remodeled into a very commodious school during the early part of the following year, and in 1894 the monastery chapel was transformed into a fine parish hall, all at a cost of about $4,000. At the same time the present monastery, immediately north of and adjoining the church, was built. With the above mentioned changes, St. Joseph's came into possession of excellent school facilities, and now has all its parish wants supplied, with but a trifling debt remaining. The Rev. Bernard Wewer, O. F. M., the present pastor, has been in charge since September, 1900.
ST. LADISLAS' (SLOVAK) CHURCH, CLEVELAND.
Prior to 1885, the Slovak Hungarians in Cleveland had no separate church organization, owing to lack of numbers. In that year it was found advisable to organize them as a mission congre- gation, as now they had increased considerably in numerical strength. To the Rev. Stephen Furdek was entrusted the work of forming the new congregation, to be composed of two elements- Slovaks and Magyars, both of Hungarian origin. From June,
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1885, to December, 1888, they had a regular Sunday service at 6.30 a. m. in the chapel of the Franciscan monastery, one of the Franciscan Fathers saying the Mass, and Father Furdek preaching the sermon. In June, 1888, Bishop Gilmour authorized Father Furdek to purchase a lot, for church purposes, at the corner of Corwin and Holton avenues. An additional lot was bought in November of the same year, both costing nearly $3,000. On the first lot a frame church, 40 x 70 feet, was erected. It was dedicated to St. Ladislas by Bishop Gilmour, on Sunday, December 2, 1888. Till the completion of the school proper, in 1891, a part of the church was used for school purposes. Thus, from the very begin- ning of the congregation the school was an integral part of the parish. The Rev. John Martvon was given the pastoral charge of St. Ladislas' in July, 1890, thus relieving Father Furdek, who during all this time was also pastor of the large Bohemian congre- gation of Our Lady of Lourdes.
Owing to dissensions in the parish, Father Martvon left his charge and the diocese in September, 1892. The Rev. Wenceslas A. Panuska was appointed his successor on September 27, follow- ing. Father Panuska had a number of necessary improvements made in and outside the church, shortly after he took charge of the parish. The Slovak-Hungarians living near the center of the city asked permission, in 1893, to organize as a separate congregation, as they found St. Ladislas' Church too far distant from their homes. The petition was granted and the organization of St. Martin's Church, on Henry street, was the result. This separation diminished the numerical strength of St. Ladislas' considerably, and in consequence much dissatisfaction arose, as those remaining felt they could hardly carry the church debt and meet the running expenses of the parish. But in a short time this feeling was allayed. In February, 1894, Father Panuska was appointed pastor of St. Martin's Church. The Rev. Francis Jiranek succeeded hirn as pastor of St. Ladislas', but he remained only until August of the same year. The parish was then attended from St. Martin's as a mission, by Father Panuska about four weeks, when, on September 15, the Rev. Peter M. Cerveny was appointed resident pastor, and has since then remained in charge. He inaugurated and brought to completion a number of improvements in and
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around the church, and a fine pipe organ was bought shortly after his arrival. Later on the altars were repainted and ornamented in good taste.
In 1898 the school house was removed from its location, fronting on Corwin avenue, to the rear of the church, and the few rooms in the same building, that served as a temporary residence of the pastor, were remodeled for school purposes by taking out the partitions. Thus two additional and commodious school rooms were gained-four rooms in all being now occupied. The school is in charge of three Ursuline Sisters.
On the plat of ground now vacated by the school building a much needed pastoral residence was built at a cost of about $3,500. It is a handsome frame structure and has all the modern con- veniences. It was completed in December, 1898.
The people of St. Ladislas' parish having generously responded to every call on their limited means, now have the satisfaction of possessing a neat, well-appointed church, a well- equipped school, attended by one hundred and fifty children, a handsome pastoral residence, and a fine plot of land, with a debt of only about $3,000.
ST. MALACHY'S CHURCH, CLEVELAND.
St. Malachy's congregation was organized in November, 1865. It was formed out of the eastern section of St. Patrick's parish. The present rector of the parish, the Rev. James P. Molony, was appointed its first pastor. Until December, 1868, the congregation had services in St. Mary's on the Flats.
On Pentecost Sunday, June 10, 1867, the cornerstone of the present church, located on the south side of Washington street, was laid by the Very Rev. Vicar General Caron. On Sunday, March 5, 1871, Archbishop Purcell dedicated the church, although Mass had been celebrated in it since Christmas, 1868. The church had then just been enclosed. During 1870 the interior of the brick edifice was completed. St. Malachy's Church, when com- pleted, was surmounted by an electric cross on the pinnacle of the spire. This cross was the first and last object in Cleveland visible
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to approaching or receding sailors on Lake Erie. In December, 1876, the spire was blown down and has never been rebuilt.
Between 1896 and 1897 the church was thoroughly renovated. The original stained glass windows being very dark and having served their purpose for over twenty years were replaced in 1896, and the church as a consequence was much brightened. The church seats about 900, and contains a number of beautiful statues, notably a very fine Pieta.
In 1867 St. Malachy's built its first school, a rented building having served the purpose prior to that time. In 1871 the present boys' school (formerly a public school) was purchased at a cost of $10,000. The boys were taught by lay teachers and Ursuline Sisters until November, 1893, when the Christian Brothers took charge of the school. They have conducted it since then with great success.
The girls' school was from the beginning in charge of the Ursulines, and has been remarkably successful, no less than fifty- one of its pupils having taken public school teachers' certificates. Many of them also passed at once into the public schools of Cleve- land and proved most efficient teachers. The present girls' school building was erected in 1885 at a cost of $20,000.
The following priests have been curates at St. Malachy's : The Revs. T. M. Smyth, M. P. Kinkead, W. J. Fitzgerald, F. M. Scullin, J. Hannan, E. M. Ryan, A. R. Waldron. The present curates are the Revs. John MacHale (since October, 1889) and John Kelly.
The following self-explanatory statement, put lished recently, shows the amount expended by St. Malachy's for its parish property and buildings :
"Cost of St. Malachy's property on which the church is built, and lots east and west adjoining. $ 15,000.00
Pearl street boys' school property 10,000.00
Rectory 17,000.00
COST OF BUILDINGS.
Church and requirements, protection wall, steps and outside expenses 70,000.00
Girls' school, with outside expenses 20,000.00
House and lot, with addition and improvements-residence of the Brothers. 5,800.00
Total $137,000.00"
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ST. MARY'S SCHOOL CLEVELAND
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ST. MARTIN'S (SLOVAK) CHURCH, CLEVELAND.
In 1893 a considerable number of Slovaks living west of Willson avenue and in the northern part of Cleveland, asked Bishop Horstmann for permission to leave St. Ladislas' congre- gation, and form a separate congregation. They gave as a reason. in support of their petition, that they lived too far distant from the church with which they were then affiliated. Their petition was granted, and under the direction of the Rev. Wenceslas A. Panuska they purchased the German Evangelical meeting house, a frame structure, on Henry street. The purchase also included two lots, with frame residence thereon. The property was bought on June 15, 1893, for $6,000. The meeting house was soon trans- formed into a church, at considerable expense, and was dedicated to St. Martin by Bishop Horstmann~ In September of the same year a parish school was opened and soon filled with the children of the parish. St. Martin's was attended as a mission, from St. Ladislas' Church, by the Rev. Wenceslas A. Panuska till January, 1894, when he was appointed its resident pastor. In June, 1896, he was succeeded by the Rev. Aloysius Kolar, under whose direc- , tion another frame school was opened to meet the demands of the - increasing attendance. He also enlarged the church by adding a sanctuary, increasing the seating capacity considerably. In June, 1899, Father Kolar was succeeded by the present pastor, the Rev. Wenceslas J. Horak. The parish school is now in charge of two Sisters of St. Joseph. The congregation numbers about two hundred and fifty families.
ST. MARY OF THE ASSUMPTION CHURCH, CLEVELAND.
For some years previous to 1853 the Catholic Germans of Cleveland had separate services in old St. Mary's Church. The Sanguinist Fathers, Revs. J. Ringele and M. Kreusch, attended to their spiritual wants from 1848, till the advent of the Rev. John H. Luhr, who came to Cleveland in February, 1853, and was appointed their first resident pastor. In November, 1854, the
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Catholic Germans, living on the West Side (then known as Ohio City), separated from those on the East Side and were organized as a congregation under the patronage of St. Mary of the Assump- tion. Bishop Rappe appointed the Rev. John J. Kramer as their pastor and assigned them the above mentioned Church of St. Mary's on the "Flats." The Rev. F. X. Obermueller succeeded Father Kramer, in September, 1857, and remained in charge till August, 1861. He purchased part of the present church property. He was succeeded by the Rev. Jacob Hamene, who remained only until the following March. His successor was the Rev. Stephen Falk, who commenced the present church, at the corner of Jersey and Carroll streets, in September, 1863. Bishop Rappe dedicated it, on September 13, 1865. The building is a plain, brick structure, 67 x 137 feet, but its interior is quite attractive, being beautifully frescoed, and furnished with three very fine altars, pulpit, organ, pews, etc.
A parochial school was attached to the church from the time of its organization. Father Obermueller enlarged it to four divisions in 1859, and put it in charge of two Brothers of Mary and two Ursuline Sisters.
In order that Bishop Gilmour might put into effect a long cherished plan, viz., to establish a college for boys, under the direction of Jesuit Fathers, and at the same time to give the latter a position in Cleveland in connection with parish work, Father Falk voluntarily and most generously resigned the pastorate of St. Mary's, of which he had charge for over nineteen years. His resignation took effect in July, 1880. During all these years at St. Mary's he labored unselfishly and without ostentation for the best interests of religion, of his parish, and especially of its schools. He left St. Mary's without a dollar of debt, and in excellent con- dition both temporally and spiritually. For this St. Mary's owes him a debt of gratitude. After a short respite he took charge of the congregation at French Creek, where, after another long term of hard work for religion and his kind, he died most edifyingly on August 26, 1899.
In July, 1880, St. Mary's parish was assigned to the Jesuits, with the Rev. Michael Zoeller, S. J., as pastor. Under his direc- tion the present beautiful spire was built. In June, 1886, he was
ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH, CLEVELAND.
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succeeded by the Rev. John B. Neustich, S. J. He had many improvements made in and about the church, during the next four years, including also a fine pipe organ, which cost nearly $5,000. On November 16, 1893, the church was greatly damaged by fire. The loss, however, estimated by the adjusters at a little over $15,000, was promptly paid by the insurance companies. The damaged church was at once repaired and put into better condition than it was before the fire.
Father Neustich was succeeded by the present pastor, the Rev. Victor Scheppach, S. J., in July, 1894. In the following spring the brick pastoral residence and school buildings were torn down, to make room for a much needed school of larger propor- tion, which cost about $36,000. The foundation was begun in June, 1895, and so rapidly was the work pushed that the handsome edifice was ready for occupancy in February of the following year. It is one of the finest schools in the diocese, and can accom- modate at least 600 children. It has ten class rooms, a large elegant parish hall in the top story, with society rooms and library in the basement. It has all the modern equipments, and is equal to the best public school buildings in its appointments. It is justly the pride of the pastor and his generous people. Four Brothers of Mary and five Ursuline Sisters successfully conduct the school, which is attended by about 500 pupils.
St. Mary's has also a club house for the use of young men- spacious, attractive and well equipped. It is a two-story frame building. Above are large reading rooms, and rooms for social gatherings; below is a fine bowling alley. The use of the club house is restricted to members of the Young Men's Sodality, and each member must be a monthly communicant.
· ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH, CLEVELAND.
Previous to 1881 very few Catholic German families had settled in the southwestern part of Cleveland. But in that and subsequent years their number was rapidly increased by immigra- tion from Germany. They divided their parish affiliation with St. Joseph's and St. Mary's, according to convenience, though each of these churches was at a considerable distance from their homes.
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