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, pt2 > Part 12
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Nothing noteworthy was done in regard to the temporal interests of the parish, from 1865 until 1891, beyond cancelling the above mentioned debt and keeping the parish buildings in proper repair. In March and May of the latter year the present excellent and admirably located church property, covering two large lots, at the intersection of East and South streets, was bought by Father Stafford. His successor, Father Malion, com- menced the present beautiful brick church, in October, 1891. It was completed during the following year and used for the first time
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on Christmas morning, 1892. The church (70 by 122 feet) cost $30,000, and seats 800 persons. The architecture is Gothic, and the interior is imposing in richness and beauty of finish. The three beautiful altars are in white and gold, and the artistic chancel railing is constructed of marble and brass. The windows are of Cathedral glass, and the chaste frescoing shows excellent taste. The church furnishings, in white oak, are models of beauty and comfort. The church was dedicated by Bishop Horstmann on Sunday, April 1, 1894-a day of unalloyed joy for the pastor and his devoted and generous people.
In 1892 Father Mahon built the present pastoral residence next to the new church, at a cost of $3,000. It is a frame building. of neat design, has ten rooms and all the modern conveniences. In the same year he sold the old pastoral residence and applied the proceeds of the sale towards the cost of the new residence.
In June, 1895, Father Mahon bought about five acres of choice land for a new parish cemetery. It is located on the out- skirts of Massillon, and is tastefully laid out and ornamented. The old cemetery, comprising less than two acres, was bought in 1868. The remains which were interred in it have been removed to the new cemetery, and the old is no longer used.
The parish school was established by Father Molon, in 1865, in a small frame building. This was enlarged by Father Verlet, about 1870. For upwards of twenty-two years it was in charge of two lay teachers. In 1893 Father Mahon had the old church remodeled as a school, and the old school was fitted up as a resi- dence for the Sisters of St. Joseph, four of whom were engaged as teachers in September of the same year. The school is well conducted and has an enrollment of about 200 pupils.
In 1897, at an expense of $600, the basement of the new church was changed into a neat, commodious chapel for week day services, and answers its purpose very well. In the following year Father Kuebler secured the present fine pipe organ ; it cost nearly $1,900.
The congregation is composed of the second and third gene- ration of Irish and German Americans, and numbers now about 275 families. The parish property is in excellent condition, with but a small debt remaining.
ST. MARY'S CHURCH AND SCHOOL, MASSILLON.
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IN THE DIOCESE OF CLEVELAND.
MASSILLON, STARK COUNTY,
ST. MARY'S CHURCH.1
On March 11, 1839, the few Catholic Germans and Irish, residing at Massillon, then a mere hamlet, bought a small lot fronting on Cherry street; the price was $400. It was the first purchase of the present large and splendid property owned by St. Mary's parish. Owing, however, to the scarcity of priests at that time the Catholics of Massillon had to postpone for a few years the erection of the much desired church. For some years prior to this time, and for nearly two years after the purchase of this lot, Mass was said in private houses, by the priests stationed at St. John's, Canton, among whom was the Rev. Ferdinand Kühr, D. D. In 1840 the Rev. Matthias Würz, at that time stationed at Canton, was directed by Bishop Purcell to take charge of Massil- lon as a Station, which he did until January, 1844. Under his direction the first church at Massillon was commenced ; its corner- stone was blessed on July 20, 1842.2 It was a stone structure, 40 feet wide and 70 feet long, exclusive of the sanctuary; Bishop Purcell dedicated it on August 22, 1847.3
The Rev. John J. Doherty, pastor of St. John's, Canton, attended the English speaking members of St. Mary's, Massillon, from 1844 to 1846. It was then that the Rev. Philip Foley was appointed resident pastor of St. Mary's; he remained until 1848. As he could not speak German the Rev. John Luhr, of Canton, was given charge of the spiritual interests of the Germans. He visited them regularly, often weekly, from 1844 until 1851, and left on his countrymen the impress of his zeal and earnestness. During most of this period he had the aid of his assistant, the Rev. J. B. Jacomet, who resided at Canton. He frequently visited St. Mary's, Massillon, when Father Luhr was unable to do so. When Father Foley left Massillon in 1848 the Rev. Fathers Luhr and Jacomet had full charge of St. Mary's as a Mission. The Rev. Julian Von Braun was next in charge as resident pastor, from
(1) The Church in Northern Ohio, pages 293, 296, 303.
(2) Catholic Telegraph, September 13, 1842.
(3) Catholic Telegraph, September 9, 1847.
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A HISTORY OF CATHOLICITY.
1851 to September, 1852, when the Rev. Louis Molon succeeded him.
The erection of the little church aroused a good deal of latent bigotry, and in December, 1852, it was set on fire; nothing remained but the smoke-stained walls. The work of rebuilding the church was commenced under the supervision of Father Molon, in the spring of 1853, services being held meanwhile in Stone's Hall. At this time the English speaking members of St. Mary's formed a separate congregation. Although St. Mary's parish was considerably weakened thereby, the church was rebuilt. and 25 feet added to it, and was paid for in a short time.
Father Molon's successor was the Rev. Joseph Lais, who had pastoral charge of St. Mary's from July, 1855, until March, 1857. Since that time the following priests were resident pastors of St. Mary's: The Revs. George Stein, from March to June, 1857; Stephen Falk, from September, 1857, to December, 1858; Nicholas Roupp, December, 1858, to November, 1863; Jacob Hamene, 1863, to 1867; Joseph Lais (second time), from 1867, until his death, February 5, 1875; John Koehn, March, 1875, to March, 1879; Jacob Kuhn, April, 1879, until his death, Novem- ber 30, 1899; and the present pastor, the Rev. Henry Kaempker, since January, 1899.
The parish school was organized in the basement of the first church, in 1849. It was then transferred by Father Molon to a large room in the pastoral residence. In the autumn of 1855 Father Lai« built a brick school, about 26 x 38 feet in dimensions. The present two-story brick school was built in 1870, during the second pastorate of Father Lais. All the available space in the building is now occupied, and the present pastor contemplates enlarging the structure in the near future. Until 1878 the school was in charge of lay teachers. In September of that year it was entrusted to six Sisters of Notre Dame, from Cleveland. They were succeeded in September, 1881, by the Sisters of St. Francis, from Tiffin. In September, 1899, they were replaced by lay teachers, who managed the school until the advent of the Benedic- tine Sisters, from Elizabeth, N. J., in September, 1897. The latter have conducted the school since then, with much success.
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At present the enrollment is about 450 children, who are taught by eight Sisters.
In March, 1868, Father Lais bought a seven-acre tract of land, in the rear of the church, for burial purposes; it is still in use. The parish owns a fine, large, and well located property. excelled by few parishes in the diocese. It has a frontage of 450 feet on Cherry street, and 900 feet on Mill street.
During the pastorate of Father Lais the parish had outgrown its church. This fact forced him and his people to consider the urgent necessity of building a much larger church. But Father Lais was not to build it, as death claimed him, when he was in the full vigor of his manhood. After a short illness he passed to his reward on February 5, 1875, in his forty-sixth year. His death was deplored, not only by his own people, but also by all the citizens of Massillon, whose esteem he had won by his fidelity to duty. To his successor, Father Koehn, was committed the onerous work of erecting the church, which had been contem- plated for some years, as already stated. Encouraged by a gener- ous response to his appeal for subscriptions, he began the excava- tion on April 24, 1875. The site chosen was that of the old church, which was torn down. The upper story of the school house was transformed into a temporary place of worship, pending the erec- tion of the new church. During the same year the massive founda- tion was built for the present splendid church. The cornerstone was not blessed however until September 10, 1876, Bishop Toebbe, of /Covington, Ky., performing the ceremony, which was witnessed by a very large number of people. Bishop Gilmour, at that time convalescing from a long siege of illness, was also present. Owing however to ill health, Father Koehn was not equal to the great task before him; but, between attacks of sickness and partial recovery, he struggled on till March, 1879, when he resigned his pastorate. Father Kuhn was appointed his successor in the fol- lowing month. He found the walls raised nearly to the intended height. In.a few months these were finished and by the following winter the church was brought under roof. During the spring and summer of 1880 the most necessary work in the interior was so far completed as to fit the building for use. The church was blessed on August 15, 1880, by the Very Rev. Vicar General Boff, and has
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been used for divine service ever since. The solemn dedication did not take place until twelve years later. Owing to the very large debt contracted during the administration of Father Koehn, whose management of the building affairs was devoid of business knowl- edge, Father Kuhn was obliged to proceed slowly in his efforts to finish the interior according to the original design. He had also to contend with several financial depressions brought about by strikes of coal miners, many of whom were his parishioners. By his energy, supported by the generosity of his people, Father Kuhn succeeded in greatly reducing the debt, and, at the same time, in completing the interior of the splendid church. It was dedicated on August 21, 1892, Bishop Horstmann, assisted by a large number of priests, performing the ceremony. A few years later the present temporary high altar, together with statues and bells were placed in position. They were paid largely by the parish societies. With the exception of two towers, which will be built in the near future, and the three marble altars which are contem- plated, the church is now complete. Following are the dimensions of the imposing stone edifice : length, 185 feet ; width at transept, 85 feet ; height to the apex of the roof (which is supported by 14 stone pillars), 94 feet. The style of architecture is pure Gothic. The church is one of the finest and largest structures in the diocese, and is the just pride of Massillon, of which progressive city it is the most conspicuous ornament ; it cost about $150,000.
On November 30, 1898, Father Kuhn died at Charity Hos- pital, Cleveland, after a few weeks' illness. due to overwork and worry, and perhaps in some measure to the unsanitary condition of his residence-an antiquated structure that had been in use since the pastorate of Father Hamene, by whom it was built. Father Kuhn was succeeded in January, 1899, by the present pastor, the Rev. Henry Kaempker, who at once took measures to erect a new residence of modern design. He hopes to have it completed before the close of the year 1901.
The parish now numbers about 400 families and is composed chiefly of Germans. There are also some Irish, French and Poles (mostly descendants of old settlers) identified with St. Mary's. As nearly all the parishioners speak English Father Kaempker has found it necessary to have part of the extra liturgical services in that language.
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ST. JOSEPH'S CHURCH (1st and 2nd), MAUMEE.
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IN THE DIOCESE OF CLEVELAND.
MAUMEE, LUCAS COUNTY ST. JOSEPH'S CHURCH.
The town of Maumee, nine miles southwest of Toledo, has the distinction of having enjoyed a variety of names. First, and for many years, it was known as Maumee, next as Maumee City, then, until March, 1887, as South Toledo, and since that time again as Maumee. It was platted in 1817, and was the county seat of Lucas county until 1847. It is situated along the Miami and Erie Canal, opposite Perrysburg, on the west bank of the Maumee river.
About the year 1835 the Rev. Emmanuel Thienpont, who was the assistant of the Rev. Edmund Quinn, at Tiffin, paid an occasional visit to Maumee and the neighboring Missions. Father Quinn also visited these about the same time, but soon after fell a victim of the so-called "Maumee fever," then prevalent in that section of Ohio, and died in September, 1835.
Between 1836 and 1839 there is no record of Catholicity in or around Maumee; nor is there any mention of priestly attendance in that vincinity, with the exception that Father Thienpont, sta- tioned at Dayton, came again to Maumee in 1838, to attend to the Catholic laborers along the above mentioned canal, then in course of construction.
The Rev. Joseph McNamee, pastor of St. Mary's church, at Tiffin, and his assistant, the Rev. P. J. Machebeuf, attended to the spiritual wants of the Catholics at Maumee and along the Miami canal, between 1839 and 1841. In the spring of 1841 Father McNamee bought from the Episcopalians of the town, for the sum of $400, a frame meeting house (35 by 65 feet), which they had partly finished .* To complete it, and make the necessary changes so as to adapt it to its new purpose, required an outlay of $1,000. When finished, the neat structure was dedicated to St. Joseph.
In September, 1841, Father McNamee was succeeded by the Rev. Amadeus Rappe, who was stationed at Toledo until 1847. and for nearly five years had sole charge of all the Missions and
*Catholic Telegraph, July 31, 1841. See page 44 of this volume.
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Stations in Northwestern Ohio. In January, 1846, he received as his assistant the Rev. Louis De Goesbriand, who attended Mau- mee as a Mission, until January, 1848. His successor was the Rev. Sebastian Sanner, also of Toledo. He had charge of Mau- mee, from 1848 until 1852, and was the first resident pastor of that place, from 1849. Father Sanner also built the present pastoral residence, a frame structure, later considerably enlarged. Maumee was again made a Mission for some months, in 1852, and thus attended from Toledo by the Rev. N. Ponchell. In July of the same year the Rev. Philip Flum was appointed resident pastor, with the Rev. James Monahan as his assistant, both also attending a number of Missions. Father Flum enlarged the church about 1853. His successor was the Rev. N. Roupp, (September, 1854, to June, 1858). He established the parish school in 1855, and engaged Mr. James P. Molony (present rector of St. Malachy's church, Cleveland) as its first teacher. The Rev. Seraphin Bauer succeeded Father Roupp in July, 1858, and remained in charge as resident pastor, until September, 1862, attending at the same time many Missions in the western part of the diocese. His successor was the Rev. J. Hamene, who, in turn was succeeded by the Rev. Henry Behrens in December, 1863. In October, 1865, he was relieved of the pastorate of Mau- mee by the appointment of the Rev. Bernard Quinn, who remained however only until July, 1866, when the Rev. John Marschal was sent to Maumee.
Following is a list of Father Marschal's successors: The Revs. Walter J. Gibbons, June, 1867, to September, 1870; Peter Becker, to May, 1879; John B. Bürkel, to July, 1882; Frederick Rupert, to April, 1885; John B. Mertes, to July, 1900; and the present pastor, the Rev. Francis J. Pfyl, since July, 1900.
During the pastorate of Father Behrens a second (frame) school was built at a cost of $500, Father Ponchel having secured the first at his own expense. Father Becker bought the present cemetery, comprising nearly seven acres. It is beautifully located. and at the time he left Maumee it was considered the finest and best kept burial grounds in the western part of the diocese. With its improvements it cost about $10,000. He also bought three fine bells, and at the time of his departure for Cleveland he left
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the parish in a flourishing condition. His successor, Father Bürkel, placed a large marble cross in the center of the cemetery, at a cost of $1,400.
Father Rupert engaged the Franciscan Sisters, of Tiffin, in September, 1882, to take charge of the school, which till then had been conducted by lay teachers. In 1883 he bought two lots for a new church site; they cost $700, and are located nearly op- posite the original church property. The frame house on the lots was fitted up as a residence for the Sisters. About this time Father Rupert also bought some of the stone for the foundation of the prospective church, besides collecting $1,600 for the same purpose. But, before he was able to begin the building he was transferred to another charge, much to the regret of his parish- ioners, whose confidence and esteem he had won. At an expense of about $500, Father Mertes, his successor, practically rebuilt the school, which was considerably out of repair. In 1888 he also put the pastoral residence in better condition.
On June 24, 1888, Bishop Gilmour blessed the corner-stone of the present very neat brick church, which was enclosed by December of the same year. Although not completed, services were held in the new church for the first time, on Christmas day, 1889. By degrees the altars, pews, etc., were provided, all of which made the interior very attractive. The church is 54 by 125 feet in size, of Romanesque architecture, has a tower 150 feet in height, and 550 sittings. It cost about $24,000 and is a credit to Father Mertes under whose supervision it was built, and to the parish whose generous aid never failed him. The church was dedicated by the Rt. Rev. Mgr. F. M. Boff, V. G., on June 11. 1892, and on "dedication day," the debt was nearly canceled.
In 1891 Father Mertes bought another lot, upon which he had the Sisters' residence moved. In September of the following year, Sisters of Notre Dame, from Cleveland, were placed in charge of the parish school, to succeed the Franciscan Sisters. In order to procure additional school facilities, especially for the more advanced pupils. the old church was remodeled for that pur- pose, which it serves admirably. With a new pastoral residence, whose erection is now contemplated, St. Joseph's parish, number- ing about 125 families at present, will be as fully and well equipped as any of its size in the diocese.
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MEDINA, MEDINA COUNTY.
'ST. FRANCIS XAVIER'S MISSION CHURCH.
Although Medina County, of which Medina is the County Seat, contains some of the most productive land in Northeastern Ohio, the Puritanic spirit, which is still very strong in this section, has thus far succeeded in preventing Catholics from settling there to any great extent. In conequence of this fact there are not over 100 Catholic families within the limits of the county and only two churches-one at Liverpool and the other at Medina. About the year 1860 the Rev. John Van den Broek, C. PP. S., then pastor of Liverpool, began to visit Medina; he was the first priest to do so He said Mass in the house of Patrick Feeney. In 1864 Medina was assigned to Grafton as a Station and so remained until 1871. The Rev. Thomas F. Halley bought a house and lot in the village, for $150. He remodeled the house as a temporary place of wor- ship; which purpose it served for nearly 15 years. From 1871 until 1876 Medina was again attended from Liverpool. In the latter year the pastor of Wakeman, Rev. F. X. Nunan, was com- missioned to attend Medina, which he did until January, 1878. An advantageous exchange of the church lot for one on the prin- cipal street of the town was offered to Father Nunan and readily accepted by him. The exchange was effected on August 20, 1877. He immediately took up a subscription to pay the balance due on the lot and to erect a frame church thereon. In this he was generously aided by the Protestants of the town. But before he was able to finish the building he had commenced, and on which about $800 had been expended, he was transferred to another charge in January, 1878. The Rev. G. F. Houck then attended the Mission of Medina, monthly, from Cleveland, until July of the same year. Meanwhile he finished the interior of the church, and fitted up the sanctuary. Bishop Gilmour dedicated the neat little structure to St. Francis Xavier, on July 18, 1878, and on the same occasion introduced the Rev. J. L. Galvin, of Wellington, to the Catholics of Medina as their pastor. Father Galvin attended Medina from Wellington until September. 1887, when the Rev. M. Philippart was appointed first resident pastor.
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During that year a frame house was built next to the church, for his residence; it cost about $900. Father Philippart was removed in September, 1889. Medina had no priestly attendance from that time until January, 1890, when the Rev. N. W. Horst was appointed pastor. In April, of the same year, he was directed by Bishop Gilmour to change his residence to Wellington, from which place Medina has since been attended.
MENTOR, LAKE COUNTY. ST. MARY'S MISSION CHURCH.
Mentor was attended from Painesville as a Station for up- wards of ten years-until 1867, when Bishop Rappe assigned it to Euclid, with the Rev. A. T. Martin in charge. He visited Mentor monthly, until 1875. The pastor of Painesville was then com- missioned to look after the spiritual interests of the few Catholic families living there. Since June, 1898, Mentor has been at- tended monthly from Willoughby.
The church is a small and very plain frame structure, 20x40 feet. It was built in 1868, and with the lot on which it stands. cost about $1,200. About 15 families are identified with the Mission.
MILAN, ERIE COUNTY. ST. ANTHONY'S CHURCH.
The Catholics at Milan were identified with St. Peter's parish. Norwalk, five miles distant, until 1862. The Rev. F. X. Ober- müller, pastor of that parish, then visited them at regular inter- vals, until October, 1865, and for a short time said Mass in pri- vate houses. He bought a lot on which stood an old frame house; this he changed into a temporary place of worship. The present church, a frame structure, 40 by 70 feet, was built in 1866. Bishop Rappe dedicated it to St. Anthony of Padua, on Novem- ber 16, 1866. The church fronts on Main street, and cost about $6,000. In the same year another lot, with a frame house on it, which fronted on Center street, was bought for $800. This served as the pastoral residence until the erction of the present handsome
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frame building, in 1875, by the Rev. J. P. Pütz; it cost nearly $2,200. The present school, also a frame structure, was built in 1872, at a cost of $1,200. It has always been in charge of lay teachers.
The cemetery (comprising about four acres, one of which had been bought in 1866) and a beautiful cemetery cross, of stone, were blessed on September 14, 1884, by the Very Rev. Vicar Gen- eral Boff. In 1885 two large bells were purchased to replace the small one which had done service for many years. In 1888, dur- ing the pastorate of Father Gocke, stained glass windows were put in the church, its interior was neatly frescoed and a furnace set up, the improvements costing nearly $1,000. :
On New Year's day, 1891, shortly after High Mass, fire broke ! out in the church, and destroyed its interior; the damage, amount- ing to about $1,500, was nearly all covered by the insurance. The fire was caused by a defective flue. While the church was being re- paired, services were held in the school house. A pipe organ, costing $735, was placed in the church in 1891; a beautiful set of Stations and a complete set of vestments were bought at that time. Since then many additional improvements and repairs have been made in the church, school, pastoral residence, and ceme- tery. The extensive grounds around the parochial buildings have also been beautified, thus making the parish property quite at- tractive in appearance. Electric lights were placed in the church, school, and pastoral residence in December, 1900. The congre- gation is composed of about 75 families, mostly Germans, and of the farming class. The parish is without debt, and, spiritually as well as financially, is in excellent condition. The following priests had charge of St. Anthony's parish as resident pastors: The Revs. G. Peter, from January, 1865, to October, 1868; C. Seltzer, to September, 1871; C. Barbier, to August, 1872; G. Ru- dolph, to January, 1875 ; J. P. Pütz, to June, 1885; J. J. Gocke, till his much lamented death, January 31, 1890; G. C. Schoene- mann, to September, 1897; and the present pastor, the Rev. A. J. Schwertner, since September 16, 1897.
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