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 34
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congregation, then comprising about thirty families. In the spring of 1867 the foundation of the proposed brick church (30x60 feet) was begun, and in July following Bishop Rappe laid the corner-stone. Everything looked promising, and the early comple- tion of the church was apparently a certainty, when, to the great disappointment of all concerned, work on the church was brought to a sudden stop-owing to lack of means. The foundation, ready for the superstructure, remained for two years in that condition, as an eyesore to the Catholics of the village. Meanwhile the Rev. N. Flammang, who succeeded Father Vattmann in the pastorate of Findlay in September, 1869, occasionally visited Carey and tried to arouse the congregation to finish the church, but his appeals met with no response. Finally in the fall of 1870, the Rev. J. L. . Bihn, pastor of St. Joseph's, Tiffin, was commissioned by the Very Rev. E. Hannin, then administrator of the diocese, to take charge of Carey. After considerable difficulty he succeeded in raising sufficient means to build a frame church, but finding he could not continue to attend the mission and do justice to his own large congregation, he asked to be relieved of the former charge. His request was granted, and in July, 1872, the Rev. J. P. Gloden, pastor of Berwick, was appointed to attend Carey. He found the church in an unfinished state, but eight or nine families remaining, and these despondent ; also a large debt, considering the number of people and their resources. Although the future of Catholicity in Carey now looked very dark indeed, Father Gloden was full of hope, and with indomitable zeal he succeeded so far in bringing the work to completion that in the fall of 1873 Mass could be said in the church. He then visited the Mission every Thursday, and once a month on Sunday. October 18, 1874, the church was dedicated and placed under the patronage of the Blessed Virgin, under the title of Our Lady of Consolation ; Father Bihn was dele- gated by Bishop Gilmour to perform the ceremony. From that time, and especially since a fac-simile of the celebrated statue of Our Lady of Consolation in Luxemburg was secured, the church has been visited from far and near by large numbers of the faithful, afflicted in one form or another. To encourage the pilgrims, Father Gloden sought, and obtained in April, 1878, special spiritual favors from the Holy See for those visiting the church. He
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also established a confraternity of Our Lady of Consolation, approved by Rome and endowed with many privileges. Its mem- bership is now quite large.
The church is very neatly furnished, and the main altar is considered an excellent piece of workmanship. The altar, vest- ments, and the interior ornamentations of the edifice were donated or paid for chiefly by persons visiting the church as pilgrims, in thanksgiving for favors received. A magnificent gold-embroid- ered antependium was sent to the church by Pope Leo XIII. It was one of the many gifts he received on the occasion of his Golden Jubilee as a priest, in 1887.
In May, 1886, the Rev. M. Arnoldi succeeded Father Gloden at Berwick. He also had charge of Carey until the appointment of the Rev. Cornelius L. O'Brien, as first resident pastor, in August, 1888. Father O'Brien's successor was the present pastor, the Rev. John G. Mizer, who took charge in January, 1890. He at once devised means to cancel the parish debt, of about $1,500, which he found on his arrival. It was paid within one year. In 1891 he had plans drawn for remodeling the pastoral residence, begun in 1887, but left incomplete. The lot on which it stands was bought in 1882. The work was done in a few months and the house ready for occupancy. It is a neat structure and is well arranged.
In February, 1887, Father Mizer secured four acres of land about one mile from Carey, for a parish cemetery. Platted as modern cemeteries usually are, it presents a neat appearance, and is a credit to the Catholics of Carey.
On July 3, 1892, Carey was visited by a destructive cyclone, doing much damage to the town. The church spire was torn off, although the church itself escaped injury. The adjacent pastoral residence was also struck, and considerably damaged. In a short time, however, the spire was rebuilt and the residence repaired.
During Father Mizer's pastorate the congregation of Carey increased considerably, and now numbers about sixty families. Of recent years the annual pilgrimage to the shrine of Our Lady of Consolation, which takes place during the fourth week after Easter, has received a new impetus; the number of pilgrims is increasing each year.
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Preparations are now under way for the erection of a fine church, of brick or stone, which, according to present indications, will be under roof in 1903.
The parish school was established by Father Gloden in 1877. It is in charge of a lay teacher, and has an attendance of sixty-five pupils.
CECIL, PAULDING COUNTY.
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION MISSION CHURCH.
The Mission of Cecil was not organized until 1875. As early as 1865, however, the Catholics who had settled there and at Emerald, and The Furnace, about two miles distant, had been regularly attended, for ten years, from Defiance. Since 1875 the resident pastors of Antwerp have had charge of Cecil, as a Station, till 1879; and since then as a Mission. They were the Revs. J. Klute, H. Kolopp, P. H. Delbaere, F. Rupert, A. E. Manning, A. Hamelin, F. A. Schreiber, E. P. Graham, J. A. Sidley, and since August, 1899, the Rev. G. A. Forst.
Father Rupert purchased four lots, in September, 1879, and on one of them he had a small but neat frame church (30x40 feet) erected, at a cost of $600. Bishop Gilmour delegated him to bless it, on the feast of the Immaculate Conception, December 8, 1879. Previous to that time Mass had always been said in private houses in the above mentioned places. In 1883 Father Manning pur- chased a tract of land for a cemetery. During the pastorate of Father Schreiber the Mission of Cecil outgrew its church. It was thought best to enlarge the church rather than build another. Plans were accordingly drawn for remodeling and enlarging the church. Its length was increased 43 feet, making its present size 30x83 feet. The work was begun in the spring of 1888, and finished by the following autumn. The result was that practically a new church had been built. The cost of the reconstructed edifice was about $2,000. In the following year it was neatly frescoed and provided with windows of cathedral glass. Three neat artistic altars, two statues and other furnishings were added, thus enhancing the beauty of the sanctuary. A 1,000 pound bell was placed in the belfry in 1889. The reconstructed church, now fully and tastefully equipped, and paid for, was re-dedicated on Sunday,
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July 27, 1890, by Mgr. F. M. Boff, as Bishop Gilmour's delegate. It was a day of rejoicing for Father Schreiber and the devoted and generous people of his Mission. Owing to the fact that most of the children live too far from Cecil, it has not been found possible to establish a parish school, although the Mission numbers about forty families.
CHICAGO, HURON COUNTY. ST. FRANCIS XAVIER'S CHURCH.
The Rev. J. Martin Putz, pastor of Monroeville, was the first priest to look after the spiritual interests of the Catholics at Chicago (formerly known as Chicago Junction), a thriving railroad town, located on the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, at its junction with the line of the same system, running from Newark to San- dusky. Father Pütz attended Chicago from the summer of 1876 until the appointment, in February, 1877, of the Rev. Francis J. Oberle, who attended the place from Shelby as a Station. He and his predecessor said Mass in private houses. In the spring of 1879 he succeeded in raising enough means to purchase several lots, and erect on these a frame church, or chapel, 20x40 feet in size. The cost of both was about $700. The school was opened in November, 1880, with an enrollment of 27 children, taught by a lay teacher. The vestry of the church was the first school. The Rev. Frederick Rupert succeeded Father Oberle at Shelby and Chicago in April. 1881, and attended the latter place monthly, as did his predecessor. Owing to lack of means the parish school had to be abandoned in June, 1881. Father Rupert had charge of the Mission until July, 1882. From that time, until June, 1898, the following priests attended Chicago from Shelby, viz .: The Revs. A. Huthmacher, P. McDonald, J. F. Smith and J. P. Michaelis. The Rev. J. C. Herr was appointed first resident pastor of Chicago in June, 1898, but remained only until the following September, when he was appointed one of the Cathedral curates. His successor is the present pastor, the Rev. Daniel B. Kirby.
During the pastorate of Father Michaelis (November, 1894, to June, 1899), the Mission of Chicago had far outgrown its first
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church. Its site, moreover, was inconvenient and undesirable ; and now that a new church was a necessity, a more desirable loca- tion was sought. Three lots, situated on the south side of Washington, near Hayes street, were bought in May or June, 1896. The former lots were sold by Father Michaelis, and their proceeds applied on the purchase price of the new lots. Plans were procured for a brick church, to be located at the intersection of the above named streets. Its corner-stone was laid by the Rt. Rev. Mgr. Thorpe, as the Bishop's. delegate, on Sunday, August 30, 1896. Just one year later (August 29, 1897), the handsome edifice (42x72 feet), a reproduction in miniature of St. Peter's, Rome, was dedicated by Bishop Horstmann. It seats nearly 300 and cost about $9,500; its interior is very attractive. The church is indeed a credit to Father Michaelis, and to the small but gener- ous congregation ; and no less to its designer.
Owing to lack of means there is no parish school at Chicago. Father Kirby hopes to re-establish it in the near future, and to build a pastoral residence. At present the parish numbers about thirty-eight families.
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· CLOVERDALE, PUTNAM COUNTY. ST. BARBARA'S CHURCH.
Cloverdale, a small but enterprising village, less than ten years in existence, is located at the crossing of the "Cloverleaf," and the Findlay, Ft. Wayne and Western railroads. There are only ten Catholic families in the place, but the surrounding country is settled largely by prosperous Catholic German farmers, who form the principal membership of the congregation, which is an outgrowth of the Ottoville parish. These farmers petitioned Bishop Horst- mann for permission to erect a church for themselves, and thus obviate the necessity of going to Ottoville, seven miles distant. As soon as they gave evidence of their ability to build and pay for the desired church, the permission was granted. The Rev. Michael Mueller, pastor of Ottoville, was commissioned to secure a proper site to serve for church, school, and pastoral residence. This was done in January, 1895, when a three-acre tract of land was bought.
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In the sunfmer of 1898 the church, a neat frame structure, 40x90 feet, was built at a cost of about $5,000. It was dedicated to St. Barbara on August 21, of the same year. From that time forward Cloverdale was attended from Ottoville every Sunday as a Mission, by the Rev. Henry Wichmann, who was then Father Mueller's assistant. In June, 1900, Father Wichmann was appointed resident pastor of Cloverdale. He had an elegant residence built during the fall of 1900, at a cost of about $3,000. Pending its construction he resided at Ottoville.
The parish numbers about seventy families, and has a healthy, steady growth, with fair prospects of soon ranking among the large country parishes in the diocese. Catholic "District Schools" accommodate the children, a regular parochial school being impracticable, as the children live too far from the church.
CLYDE, SANDUSKY COUNTY. ST. MARY'S CHURCH.
The history of Catholicity in the beautiful village of Clyde dates back to 1853. It was in that year the Rev. Thomas J. Walsh, resident pastor of St. Ann's, Fremont, said Mass there for the first time in an old log house, which stood on the site now occupied by the Lake Shore freight house. His visit was the source of great joy to the few Catholics of the town. Until 1861, Clyde was attended from St. Ann's. The Rev. John Roos had charge from 1856 to May, 1857; and the Rev. Louis Molon, to 1861. Up to this time Mass was said in private houses. In May, 1857, Father Molon bought an acre of ground, for a church site and cemetery. Two years later he secured additional ground of the same dimension. Both these purchases were made in a part of Clyde that later proved very attractive. In 1858 he commenced the erection of a frame church on the ground first purchased. Before its completion, however, he was succeeded in the attendance of Clyde, in July, 1859, by the Rev. George Peter, who was then at St. Joseph's, Fremont, and had charge of a number of the neighboring Missions. Father Peter had the church finished early in 1860. Bishop Rappe blessed it and the adjoining cemetery, in May of that year. In June, 1861, Clyde was made a Mission of
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Bellevue and so remained until July, 1872, when the Rev. J. D. Bowles was appointed its first resident pastor. In October after his appointment he purchased for his residence a house and lot, near the church lot, with a street intervening. In January, 1875, the Rev. G. Rudolf became his successor and remained until the appointment of the Rev. F. X. Nunan in March, 1879. From June until September, 1881, Clyde was again attended from Bellevue-this time by the Rev. J. T. Cahill, who was then transferred to Clyde, as resident pastor. He soon succeeded in allay- ing the disturbed condition of the congregation and infusing into it new life. His successor was the Rev. A. E. Manning, who took charge in April, 1883. In a short time he had the parish debt cancelled and set about to prepare for the erection of a much needed church to replace the old, time-worn structure. In this project he was seconded by his people, whose confidence he soon gained and who, though few in number, proved generous givers. Plans for a brick church, 45x100 feet, with a transept of 52 feet, were made by a competent architect and approved by Bishop Gilmour. Work was commenced on the new church in May, 1886, and the corner-stone laid by Bishop Gilmour on the following 4th of July. In order not to overtax his people, Father Manning thought it wise to "make haste slowly," and hence nothing was done in connection with the new church during the next two years, beyond enclosing it. In 1889 the groining, plastering and fresco- ing were completed. In March, 1890, before the church was quite finished, Father Manning was transferred to St. Ann's, Fremont. His administration had been fruitful in inspiring the people with confidence and courage. He was succeeded by the Rev. Francis T. Moran, who took up the work where it had been laid down. and brought the new church to completion. It was dedicated on July 13, of the same year, by Bishop Gilmour. It was the last church he dedicated, as shortly after this event he fell seriously ill and never recovered. With furnishings, and a $450 bell, the church cost about $13,000. Of this sum Father Manning paid $6.700; the balance was met by his successor, Father Moran. Shortly before the dedication of the church, Mrs. Jane Mack, a member of the parish, donated the very generous sum of $1,000 towards furnishing the same, particularly its sanctuary. Honor
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ST. JOSEPH'S CHURCH, COLLINWOOD.
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to whom honor is due! The church, a beautiful Gothic structure, is the most attractive and conspicuous building in Clyde, and is justly the pride of the Catholics of the town. In 1892 Father Moran built the present neat and commodious pastoral residence. It is of brick and cost about $3,000. He sold the old residence and lot the same year. Many improvements were made about the ground and the adjoining cemetery, and the parochial property was as complete as possible, when Father Moran was transferred to Akron, to be succeeded by the Rev. Patrick C. N. Dwyer, in December, 1896. He in turn was succeded by the present pastor, the Rev. John J. Powers, in January, 1898. The parish now num- bers about 70 families, most of them living on farms within a radius of about five miles.
Thus far it has not been found practicable to establish a paro- chial school, owing to the small number of children that could conveniently attend.
COLLINWOOD, CUYAHOGA COUNTY.
ST. JOSEPH'S CHURCH.
About 1875 the Lake Shore Railway Company bought a large tract of land, two miles west of Nottingham, and converted it into a car-yard for their through traffic. They also built a roundhouse and repair shops there. The employes of the road came by degrees, and as fast as houses could be built for them they settled in the neighborhood of the station and car-yard. Thus in a short time an extensive village was formed and named Collinwood, after Mr. Collins, who was the chief engineer of the "Lake Shore" road. Among the new-comers was a fair number of Catholic families. These soon required church and school accommodations. The Rev. A. T. Martin, pastor of Euclid, was given charge of Collin- wood's spiritual interests, in October, 1877, when he was author- ized by Bishop Gilmour to purchase a few lots at the intersection of Manchester and Collins avenues. The purchase price was $910. In November of the same year a small frame church, 24x30 feet in size, was commenced on the east end of the property. Mass was celebrated in it for the first time the following Christmas. In the spring of 1879 the church was enlarged by an addition of 40 feet
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and the whole building fitted up for church and school purposes. The entire cost of land, church and school was about $2,500. The school was opened in January, 1880, with an attendance of 40 pupils.
Father Martin attended Collinwood from Euclid, at first twice a month, on Sundays, and from 1884, every Sunday. In a few years the Mission had grown so rapidly that the church became much too small. The original debt having been cancelled in 1890, Father Martin made preparations for the erection of a larger and permanent church, to be located near the intersection of the above named avenues. Plans were drawn for a brick structure, 44x90 feet, of Norman-Gothic architecture. The foundation was laid in 1891, at a cost of over $2,000. Work was then stopped until the spring of 1894, owing in part to present lack of means, and later to the general financial distress of 1893. The corner-stone for the new church was laid by Mgr. Boff, V. G., on Sunday, August 26, of the same year. The attractive church was dedicated to St. Joseph by Bishop Horstmann on Sunday, September 1, 1895. It was a day of great rejoicing for the Catholics of Collinwood, as well as for Father Martin, under whose watchful care the edifice was brought to completion. It cost about $13,000.
All of the former church was now converted into a school, which a few years previous had been placed in charge of two Ursuline Sisters.
Father Martin's faithful attendance of the Collinwood Mission ended with his edifying death, on November 24, 1899. His demise was sincerely mourned by his parishioners. The present pastor, the Rev. John W. Bell, was appointed Father Martin's successor in January, 1900. His first care was the proper grading of the school. For this purpose he had the building enlarged and reno- vated at a cost of about $700. He also engaged a third teacher to assist the two Ursuline Sisters.
Father Bell found that the best interests of the parish and school demanded that he reside at Collinwood, and make Euclid a Mission. Bishop Horstmann approved of the proposed change and authorized the purchase of lots on which to erect a suitable pastoral residence. This was begun in August, 1900, and at present writing (December, 1900) is almost completed. Its cost
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ST. MARY'S CHURCH, SCHOOL, AND PASTORAL RESIDENCE, CONNEAUT.
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and the purchase price of the lots will approximate $9,000. The parish now numbers about 120 families. The prospects for further growth of the village and a corresponding increase of its Catholic population are the brightest, because of the decision of the "Lake Shore" road to build immense car shops, and to enlarge its present repair shops in the near future.
CONNEAUT, ASHTABULA COUNTY. ST. MARY'S CHURCH.
The Rev. Peter Peudeprat, resident pastor of Painesville, from 1850 to 1852, was the first priest to minister to the spiritual wants of the two Catholic families then living at Conneaut. He visited them a few times between 1851 and 1852. The Rev. Charles Coquerelle succeeded him at Painesville and Conneaut, and attended the latter place monthly on Sundays. He said Mass in the house of William Brody. The V. Rev. Alexis Caron had charge from 1859 to 1862, when Conneaut was attached to Ashta- bula as a Station, and later as a Mission. Thus it remained until July, 1880. During this time the following priests, resident at Ashtabula, looked after the spiritual interests of Conneaut: The Revs. John Ellwood, John Tracy and Edward J. Conway. In July, 1880, the Rev. W. J. Finucan was appointed resident pastor of Jefferson, and was also given charge of Conneaut, which he attended till March, 1881, when it was again attached to Ashtabula. In May, 1864, the Rev. J. Tracy secured, as a donation from Martin Murphy and Terence Quinn, a half-acre lot, fronting on Chestnut street. The Catholics of Conneaut were too poor and too few in number to build a church. Father Tracy bought a frame building (26x36 feet) at an expense of $300. It was formerly used as a dwelling and stood on the site of the present Town Hall. He had it removed to the above mentioned lot and remodeled for church purposes, at a cost of about $600. It was dedicated, in 1865, under the title of St. Mary. In the following year an addition was made to it, costing about as much as the old building itself. In 1869 Father Conway made some improvements in and about the church, which bridged over for some years the necessity of building a permanent and larger church. In July, 1884, Con-
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neaut was again attached to Jefferson as a Mission, and placed in charge of the Rev. Gilbert P. Jennings. In the spring of 1887 he purchased a new site for a church-two lots covering an area of 122x155 feet, at the corner of State and Chestnut streets ; they cost $900. On July 10, of the same year, Bishop Gilmour laid the corner-stone of the new brick church. It is a neat Gothic structure, 40x80 feet, with transept, and is tastily frescoed. It was dedicated on October 21, 1888, by the same Prelate. Exclusive of altars and pews, its cost was about . $10,000. In October. 1889, Father Jennings was appointed the first resident pastor of Conneaut, and Jefferson became the Mission. This change was necessitated by the greater relative growth and importance of Conneaut, and was welcomed with joy by the generous people, who had made so many sacrifices in erecting their beautiful church. In October, 1891, the present commodious pastoral residence was ready for occupancy. It cost about $2,200. In July, 1892, the old church was torn down and the lots on which it stood since 1866 were sold. The present pastor, the Rev. William F. Murphy, succeeded Father Jennings in August, 1893. He found a flourish- ing congregation, imbued with an excellent spirit, thus making his pastorate a labor of love. Thus far Conneaut had no parish cemetery. Father Murphy therefore secured five acres of land for that purpose, in June, 1900. The purchase price was $750, and the location is a desirable one. During the same year he also bought, for $2,900, two lots, on State street, to serve for school purposes. The building was commenced on September 8, 1900, and at pres- ent writing (December, 1900) is under roof. It is built of pressed brick and is two stories high, exclusive of basement. When completed it will have cost about $15,000. This completes a group of parish buildings that would do honor to a parish of much greater numerical and financial strength. Conneaut now has about 100 Catholic families, and with its present bright prospects this number will rapidly increase in the near future.
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CONVOY, VAN WERT COUNTY. ST. MARY'S MISSION CHURCH.
The village of Convoy, located on the P. Ft. W. & C. railway, between Delphos and Van Wert, is a small Catholic Mission, of only ten families, which number it never exceeded. It was first attended from Glandorf, Putnam county, as a Station, as far back as 1850, by the Sanguinist Fathers, the Revs. P. Henneberry and M. Kreusch. In 1855 it was attached to Delphos, and thence attended, successively, by the Revs. F. Westerholt and A. I. Hoeffel until 1876. It was then made a Mission of Van Wert, and has since so remained. Father Westerholt bought a lot at Convoy in April, 1861, and had a plain but neat frame church (25x35 feet) built on it, which still serves its purpose. The following priests attended Convoy monthly, from Van Wert: The Revs. J. H. Leddy, J. T. Cahill, P. Barry, E. F. Rohan, F. J. O'Neill, M. J. Clear, J. J. Clarke, and the present pastor, the Rev. S. Weber, since June, 1898.
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