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 30
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In 1884 a new and much needed pastoral residence was built, to replace the old and dilapidated house of fifty years ago. With heating, etc., it cost about $5,000. It is a well arranged brick structure, of neat design.
A lot adjoining St. Vincent's Church to the west was pur- chased in 1SSS at a cost of $3,300. The house located on the lot, with some additions, has since then served as a residence for the Sisters.
In 1892 a fine brick school of generous dimensions was built at a cost, including heating and furniture, of nearly $18,000.
At an outlay of about $7,000, in 1893, an addition was built to the rear of the church. This sum includes the replacing of the entire ceiling of the old part and a new roof on the whole edifice. The entire church property is now in excellent condition and although the debt that had to be incurred in making the above ยท mentioned improvements is considerable, it is within easy grasp of the generous and well disposed people of St. Vincent's. The flourishing school is attended by about three hundred pupils, who receive a thorough religious and secular education.
The following priests filled the position of curate at St. Vin- cent's : The Revs. Michael J. Brennan, July, 1888, to July. 1800: William G. Mahar, July, 1890, to October, 1893; John A. Sidley, November, 1894, to October, 1895; and from January, 1895, to February, 1896, the Rev. Jer. P. O'Connor was stationed at St. Vincent's during the illness of the pastor.
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ALLIANCE, STARK COUNTY. ST. JOSEPH'S CHURCH.
The construction of the Cleveland and Pittsburg, and of the Pittsburg, Ft. Wayne and Chicago railroads brought to Alliance a number of Catholic Irish, German and French laborers, who settled there between 1850 and 1854. In the latter year they were visited for the first time by a priest, the Rev. Bernard Carragher, who was then stationed at St. John's, Canton. The Rev. Michael Prender- gast, pastor of Summitville, visited them occasionally, between 1856 and 1857. They were next attended by the Rev. Florence D'Arcy, of Louisville, until 1858. At that time the whole number of Catholic families at Alliance amounted to thirty. Between 1858 and 1859 the Rev. E. W. J. Lindesmith attended Alliance as a station once a month on a week day from St. John's, Canton. On May 9, 1859, he rented a hall, named it "Catholic Hall," and fitted it up as a temporary place of worship. On the first Sunday in June, 1859, Bishop Rappe himself said the first Mass that was ever celebrated at Alliance on a Sunday. Between 1859 and 1865 the following priests attended Alliance as a mission: The Revs. Edward Hannin, 1859-1862; Patrick H. Brown, 1862-1864; Louis Hoffer, a few months in 1864; Frederick J. Ludwig, 1864-1865. During the time Father Hannin had charge of Alliance he pur- chased two lots and had a small frame church built on one of them. It was dedicated to St. Joseph in May, 1862. From August, 1865, to May, 1866, the Rev. Francis Moitrier attended Alliance from Harrisburg. He was then appointed the first resident pastor of Alliance, and remained nearly two years. The Rev. Francis Walsh, a Basilian Father, succeeded the Rev. F. Moitrier, attending Alliance from Louisville for a few months, in 1868, when the Rev. E. W. J. Lindesmith was appointed resident pastor, in October of the same year. He had the church renovated, and bought a lot with a brick house on it, which he made his residence. He also secured five acres of land, south of Alliance, for cemetery purposes. During his pastorate he expended about $8,000 for the benefit of the parish and left it without debt at his transfer to Leetonia, in May, 1872. The following priests were next in charge of St. Joseph's, Alliance: The Revs. Eugene M. O'Callaghan, May to
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ST. JOSEPH'S SCHOOL, ALLIANCE.
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July, 1872 ; James Monahan, July, 1872, to August, 1875; Joseph L. Ahern, August, 1875, to July, 1877; James O'Leary, August, 1877, to March, 1886 ; John McMahon, March, 1886, to February, 1900; the present incumbent, the Rev. James J. Farrell, since February, 1900.
Father Monahan bought the three lots on which the present church stands, and commenced the foundation of a much larger edifice than the present one. The foundation had to be removed, however, as the plans selected by him could not be executed for lack of means. This was caused by the panic of 1873, which most seriously affected the financial condition of Alliance, and almost depopulated it, because of the removal of the car-shops, upon which the town depended for support.
During the pastorate of Father O'Leary the present neat and attractive church was built, on lots bought by Father Monahan. It is a brick edifice, 40 x 100 feet, of Gothic architecture, and cost about $10,000. Bishop Gilmour dedicated it on Sunday, October 30, 1881. In July, 1880, the lots bought by Father Hannin were sold by Father O'Leary for $1,225, and the old church moved to three new lots bought by him-next to those secured by Father Monahan -- and changed into a temporary school. This purchase of lots by Father O'Leary made the entire church property a plat of land 150 x 280 feet, located in the most desirable part of Alliance. Since Father Farrell has had charge many necessary repairs have been made in and about the church. These included frescoing, repainting and a general tidying up of the property, which now presents an attractive appearance. During the summer of 1900 an abandoned academy, located on a fine site, was pur- chased at a very reasonable price. Father Farrell had the large brick building fitted up partly as a parish school and partly as a pastoral residence. It answers admirably for both purposes.
The school is now, as it has been for many years, in charge of the Sisters of the Humility of Mary.
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ANTWERP, PAULDING COUNTY,
ST. MARY'S CHURCH.
The Catholic families located in and near Antwerp were visited for the first time in 1864, the Rev. Aloysius I. Hoeffel, pastor of St. John's, Defiance, attending to their spiritual wants two or three times a year until 1867. At first a public hall (Dagget's Hall) was rented and fitted up as a temporary place of worship. In 1867 the Rev. J. P. Carroll, assistant to Father Hoeffel, visited Antwerp occasionally, and said Mass in the above mentioned hall. In the following year the Rev. Denis O'Keefe, then residing at Defiance, was given pastoral charge of Antwerp and neighboring missions. Under his direction the present frame church was built in 1869, although not completed until the follow- ing year. In October of the same year Father O'Keefe was trans- ferred to Providence as resident pastor. The Revs. John Hannan, Edward J. Conway, Gustave Drolshagen, Dominic Zinsmayer, and Anthony Eilert successively attended Antwerp between October, 1869, and October, 1873, when the Rev. John A. Michenfelder was appointed the first resident pastor. He remained however only until the following December. The mission had no attendance then until August, 1874, when the Rev. John Klute was appointed resident pastor of Antwerp, with charge of a number of missions. He immediately collected money for the erection of the present pastoral residence, but before the house was finished he was trans- ferred, in January, 1876, to Elmore. Since that time the following priests have been resident pastors at Antwerp, with charge of adjoining missions in Paulding county: The Revs. Hyacinth Kolopp, January, 1876, to April, 1877; Polydore H. Delbaere, April, 1877, to May, 1879; Frederick Rupert, July, 1879, to April, 1881; Alfred E. Manning, July, 1881, to April, 1883; Armand Hamelin, April, 1883, to August, 1886; Ferdinand A. Schreiber, August, 1886, to August, 1890; Edward P. Graham, August, 1890, to October, 1895 ; John A. Sidley, October, 1895, to August, 1899. The present pastor, the Rev. George A. Forst, received his appointment in August, 1899.
During the pastorate of Father Graham a building fund for the erection of a brick church was commenced. The foundation
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for the new church was laid during the fall of 1900, and the edifice will be finished in the year 1901. It will cost about $8,000. The congregation of Antwerp, numbering at present only about thirty- five families, find the burden of a parish school beyond their means.
ARCHBOLD, FULTON COUNTY. ST. PETER'S CHURCH.
Mass was celebrated for the first time at Archbold in 1846, in the house of Francis Fleury, by the Rev. Louis De Goesbriand, then stationed at Toledo. In 1850 the Rev. Louis J. Filiere, at the time pastor of St. John's, Defiance, organized the Catholic families in and near Archbold as a mission, and had a small log chapel erected about two miles from Archbold as their place of worship.
It is related that Bishop Rappe, upon the occasion of his episcopal visitation in 1868, slept in this chapel over night. The pastor, Father Becker, had been expecting him, but did not know exactly how or when he would arrive, as it was well known that he traveled often in a very Apostolic manner. The Bishop arrived at Archbold station about midnight and of course found nobody to welcome him. Seizing his heavy valise he started towards the chapel, two miles distant. When he arrived there he found no priest's house near at hand. Thinking, perhaps, that even if he should find it it would not be as comfortable as the chapel, he con- cluded to pass the night in the latter. Therefore, quietly raising one of the windows, he entered, and made himself as comfortable as he could under the circumstances. Next morning when Father Becker entered the chapel he was much surprised to find the good Bishop ensconced in the confessional, waiting for penitents.
The present frame church (36 x 75 feet) was commenced by Father Becker in 1868, and completed in the following year by Father Eyler, at a cost of about $2,700. The ground donated by Francis Fleury, and upon which the old chapel was situated, is now used as a cemetery. In 1875 Father Delbaere built the present frame pastoral residence. He also endeavored to establish a parish school. Owing however to the small number of families and these so scattered about, he had to abandon the idea. For the same
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reason no attempt has since been made in that direction. During Father Muehlenbeck's pastorate many improvements were made in connection with the church and residence, the latter having been considerably enlarged. He also added to the parish property by the purchase of additional land adjoining it, and did much successful work in behalf of the spiritual and temporal interests of his charge.
Since 1875, when Father Delbaere was appointed the first resident pastor of Archbold, the missions of Bryan, Stryker and Wauseon have been attended from Archbold.
Following is a list of the priests who attended Archbold, either as a mission or who were located there as resident pastors : The Revs. L. J. Filiere, 1850-1856; F. Westerholt, 1856-1858; A. I. Hoeffel, 1858-1862 ; J. P. Carroll, 1862-1865; N. Kirch, 1865- 1867; P. Becker, 1867-1868; J. Eyler, 1869-1870; C. Braschler, 1870-1873; J. G. Vogt, 1873-1875; P. H. Delbaere (first resident pastor), 1875-1877 ; N. J. Franche, 1877-1881; F. X. Nunan, 1881- 1882 ; J. B. Primeau, 1882, to November, 1883. Between Novem- ber, 1883, and July, 1884, Archbold was attended from St. Mary's Corners by the Rev. T. F. McGuire. Resident pastors were again appointed to Archbold as follows: The Revs. G. C. Schoenemann, July, 1884-1886; J. H. Muehlenbeck, 1886-1898; and the present pastor, the Rev. P. H. Janssen, who has had charge since June, 1898.
ASHLAND, ASHLAND COUNTY. ST. EDWARD'S MISSION CHURCH.
Ashland was organized as a mission in 1863. Mass had been said there however in private houses as early as 1853 by the Rev. George H. Brennan, then pastor of Wooster, from which place his successors attended Ashland as a mission until 1865. In 1863 the Rev. J. F. Gallagher, of Wooster, bought for the sum of $600 a building which had been used up to that time as a Presbyterian meeting house. Two years later the Rev. J. Kuhn was given charge of Ashland as a mission, attending it monthly from Mans- field. He had the above mentioned meeting house, a wooden structure and quite old, put into good condition at an expense of about $500. The mission numbering about thirty families, between 1863 and 1865, increased to about forty during the
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construction of the Atlantic and Great Western railway-now known as the Erie. After its completion only a few families remained at Ashland. Father Kuhn attended the mission until October, 1869, when the Rev. A. Magenhann, also of Mansfield, took charge. On the very day of Father Magenhann's first visit to Ashland the church was destroyed by fire. Preparations were at once made to rebuild it. A brick church, 36 x 50 feet, was com- menced, but not put under roof until the following year. For want of means to complete the building, it was used in its unfinished and even unplastered condition for many years ; and in that condition it had cost about $3,500. In September, 1872, the Rev. N. Schmitz, then pastor at Loudonville, took charge of the mission, and attended it monthly until May, 1SS5. He found a burdensome debt of $1,500, drawing 10 per cent. interest, still resting on the small mission. This made it imperative for him to appeal to the faithful people of the diocese for assistance to prevent the church from being sold for that debt. His appeal met with a generous response, thus saving the church from being sold by the county sheriff.
Father Schmitz's successor at Loudonville, the Rev. Joseph Sproll, attended Ashland monthly, from July, 1885, until June, 1898, when it was attached to Shelby as a mission. Thus it remained until January, 1900, when it was again attached to Loudonville. Since the time of Father Sproll's pastorate the following priests have attended Ashland : The Revs. J. P. Michaelis, E. P. Graham, T. M. Kolb, F. J. Pfyl, and at present, the Rev. H. E. Boesken.
Father Michaelis had the interior of the church neatly reno- vated. The mission now numbers but five families, and they deserve great commendation for their generosity towards the church.
ASHTABULA, ASHTABULA COUNTY. ST. JOSEPH'S CHURCH.
For about five years previous to 1861 the Rev. Charles Coquerelle attended Ashtabula from Painesville-first as a station, then as a mission. Under his direction a small frame church was built in 1860, on a two-acre tract of land he secured by contract, but for which the deed was not given until July 19, 1864; the pur-
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chase price was $300. From 1861 to 1862, the Very Rev. Alexis Caron, V. G., then in poor health, resided at Painesville as the guest of Father Coquerelle. He volunteered however to attend Ashtabula, which he did during that time. In the fall of 1862 the Rev. John Ellwood was appointed first resident pastor of Ash- tabula. His stay lasted only nine months, when he was succeeded by the Rev. John Tracy in July, 1863. During his pastorate the interior of the church was finished. He also built on the above mentioned land a pastoral residence and parish school-both frame buildings. The school was opened in September, 1865. When Father Tracy left Ashtabula, in October, 1869, the parish was without debt. He was succeeded by the Rev. Edward J. Conway, who had an addition of 35 feet built to the church in 1872, to accommodate the increased membership of his congregation. The church is still in use. In 1877 the present two-story brick school, 44 x 44 feet, was built at a cost of $2,300, and the old school changed into a residence for the Sisters of the Humility of Mary, who had charge of the school during Father Tracy's pastorate. In 1881 he also secured a five-acre tract of land for a cemetery.
The Rev. Thomas M. Smyth succeeded Father Conway in August, 1887, and remained until December, 1893. For three years, beginning October, 1890, he also attended Ashtabula Harbor as a mission.
In December, 1893, Father Tracy was again appointed pastor of Ashtabula and has since then remained in charge. In 1894 he had the pastoral residence remodeled and enlarged at a cost of about $1,200. He is now preparing for the erection of a handsome church, for which purpose a considerable sum has already been raised.
Between 1866 and 1890 the school was in charge of the Sisters of St. Joseph; tlien, for a few years, it was taught by lay teachers, and for one year by the Cincinnati Sisters of Charity. Since 1897 the Sisters of the Humility of Mary have again had charge.
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MOTHER OF SORROWS' CHURCH, PASTORAL RESIDENCE AND SCHOOL, ASHTABULA.
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ASHTABULA, ASHTABULA COUNTY. OUR MOTHER OF SORROWS CHURCH.
The parish of Our Mother of Sorrows owes its existence to the development of Ashtabula Harbor as an iron ore and coal receiving and shipping port.
The Rev. E. J. Conway, when pastor of St. Joseph's Church, Ashtabula, purchased, in December, 1886, three lots, 50 x 150 feet each, for the needs of the future congregation. The purchase price was $450. One of the lots is located at the corner of Market and Coyne streets, the other two front on Oak and Coyne streets. His successor, the Rev. Thomas M. Smyth, built a frame combination church and school on Market street, at a cost of $6,500. It was dedicated by Mgr. F. M. Boff, V. G., on Sunday, October 19, 1890. Father Smyth attended the new congregation as a mission until December, 1893, when he was succeeded by the Rev. John Tracy. From the very beginning the people showed great generosity and zeal in seconding the efforts of their respective pastors.
The Rev. Joseph F. Smith was appointed first resident pastor in October, 1894. Three more lots were purchased December 1, 1894, for $1,800. A very neat and well appointed frame pastoral residence, costing nearly $5,000, was erected, together with a home for the Sisters, at a cost of about $2,500. Until September, 1894, the parochial school was in charge of two lay teachers, when the Sisters of St. Joseph, of Mt. Gallitzin, Pa., took charge, and since that time have been conducting it very successfully. The enroll- ment in December, 1900, was 215 pupils.
In a few years neither church nor school was able to accom- modate the increasing numbers. In the fall of 1898 a subscription for a new and much needed church was taken up. The people showed good will, and responded so generously that it was decided to begin the erection of the new church immediately. Ground was broken on September 26, 1898, and the corner-stone was laid on Sunday, November 27, of the same year. Bishop Horstmann officiated, and Mgr. Thorpe delivered the sermon.
The beautiful church, built of Ohio sand stone, was dedicated by Bishop Horstmann on Sunday, September 16, 1900. It is 60
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feet wide, 130 feet long and 74 feet wide in the transept, and cost, with altars, pews, etc., $43,300. The church was begun without a building fund in reserve, but in two years the debt was reduced to $14,900. The generosity thus shown by the people will make the cancellation of the remaining debt an easy matter. The church is of old Norman architecture, with two towers, and is complete in every detail, excepting a pipe organ, which will be secured in the near future. The interior, unobstructed by pillars, is of very artistic design, and has a fine array of statuary.
During the year 1900 Father Smith had the pastoral residence, Sisters' house and the school completely renovated, and the large grounds beautified, thus making the church property very attractive.
The members of the parish made great sacrifices for the success thus far achieved. Their zeal was encouraged by the generosity of the members of St. Joseph's Church and their Protestant fellow-citizens, all of whom feel a special interest in the new church, which by common consent is admitted to be the finest edifice in Ashtabula county.
- ATTICA, SENECA COUNTY.
STS. PETER AND ST. PAUL'S MISSION CHURCH.
The mission of Attica was organized in 1882. Previous to that time the few Catholics living in and near the small town of Attica attended Divine service at the neighboring churches of Tiffin, St. Stephen's, Bismarck and Reed. The Rev. A. Huthmacher, pastor of Shelby, was given charge of the mission in July, 1882. The church, located on an elevated piece of land two and one-fourth acres in extent, is a frame building, 33 x 50 feet, 34 feet high, with a steeple of 83 feet. The total cost of land, church and fixtures amounts to about $3,000, which is all paid. The non-Catholics of Attica contributed $400 towards the erection of the church. The first Mass ever celebrated in Attica was offered up on the day the church was dedicated, October 29, 1882, Father Huthmacher being the celebrant.
In 1885 a handsome set of Stations was erected. In 1886 two side altars, and statues of the Blessed Virgin and St. Joseph were
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HOLY TRINITY CHURCH AND PASTORAL RESIDENCE, AVON.
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placed in the sanctuary. The statues and Stations were donated by individual members of the mission, which is now composed of but twelve families.
In addition to the above, it may be added as a matter of record, that the organization of the congregation was not author- ized by Bishop Gilmour, whose directions in the matter were ignored by the laymen who constituted themselves a board of trustees, purchased land (April 15, 1882), and built the church during the summer of 1882. Later, however, the proper amende was made and the unauthorized action of the self-constituted "trustees" accepted, so that the church was duly dedicated, as above stated .-
The mission was attended from Shelby until 1894; at first by the Revs. A. Huthmacher, from July, 1882, to November, 1888; P. McDonald, until June, 1889; J. F. Smith, until October, 1894. Attica was then attached to St. Stephen's, Seneca county, as a mission, and has thus remained ever since. It was thence attended monthly by the Rev. Ignatius Rauh, C. PP. S., until October, 1898. Since that time the mission has been in charge of the Rev. R. Schmaus, C. PP. S.
AVON, LORAIN COUNTY. HOLY TRINITY CHURCH.
The origin of Holy Trinity congregation dates back to 1833, when the first Catholics settled in Avon Township. There were then but three families, whose respective heads were John Schwartz, Jacob Mueller and Paul Faber. They had left their native Germany to seek their fortune in Northern Ohio. Soon they had secured by purchase sections of the primeval forest in the Western Reserve and erected roughly hewn log cabins as their habitations. For seven years these families had been left without the consolations of religion, living alone in the wild woods. Mean- while a few more Catholics arrived, so that the original number was increased to eight families. In the month of March, 1841, the Rev. Peter McLaughlin, then stationed at Cleveland, came to Avon to minister to their religious wants. He was the first priest to visit these brave pioneers, who for so long a time had been in spiritual
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exile. Father Mclaughlin said Mass in the log cabin of John Schwartz on March 21, 1841. It was a day of rejoicing and con- solation for the fervent attendants. As the log cabin of Mr. Schwartz was the largest in the Avon settlement, it served for years as a place of worship. For about ten years it harbored the missionary priests who visited the place, and Bishops Purcell and Rappe whenever they came that way. Father Mclaughlin repeated his visits every three months to this portion of his scattered flock. Steadily the number of families increased, until in 1844 it had grown to forty-four. ' By this time the above men- tioned log cabin had become much too small to contain all the worshippers, among them being a number of Catholic settlers from French Creek, in the western part of Avon township.
The question of building a church had now to be met, but the site for the prospective church gave rise to considerable dissension. The Catholics who lived at and near French Creek insisted on building a church in the western section of the township, whilst those in the opposite direction were just as determined to build a church in their locality. The dispute was finally settled by the formation of two separate congregations, each of which was to build its own church on whatever site it deemed most suitable. Accordingly, with the approval of Father Mclaughlin, an acre of land was secured on September 9, 1843, by the Catholics of East Avon as the site for the proposed church, which was built during the following year. It was a very plain, frame structure, 30 x 40 feet. Although it was unfinished interiorly, Father Mclaughlin said Mass in it for the first time on November 21, 1844. It was dedicated by Bishop Rappe on Trinity Sunday, 1848. On the same occasion he also blessed the cemetery, adjoining the church site. In 1858 additional land was bought for parish purposes, thus making the church grounds a little over two acres. By this time the old church had become too small. Another frame church, 40 x 60 feet, was therefore erected in 1862, on the site of the old building, which was moved to an adjacent part of the parish grounds, adjoining the new building, and partitioned off for sacristy and chapel.
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