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 17
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Father Müller had a steam apparatus installed in the church.
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in 1890, at a cost of $2,100. Two years later an artistic set of Stations was placed in position at a cost of $2,200. In 1898 the temporary high altar was replaced by the present splendid altar, at an expense of about $3,000. The church is now fully equipped and its furnishings are of the best.
Shortly after the advent of Father Mertes plans were adopted for a fine brick pastoral residence, in keeping with the adjacent church. It will be built in 1901.
The children attend the District public schools and are taught by eight Catholic teachers. The schools are of the same class as- those mentioned in the sketches of Fort Jennings and Glandorf.
The parish is composed at present of about 275 families.
PAINESVILLE, LAKE COUNTY.
ST. MARY'S CHURCH.
The Rev. Peter Mclaughlin, resident pastor of old St. Mary's church on the "Flats," in Cleveland, was the first priest to minister to the very few Catholics in Lake county. Those that settled in the beautiful town of Painesville (the county seat of Lake), were visited by him about four times a year, from 1841 to 1845. In the following year the Rev. Maurice Howard, also of Cleveland, succeeded him, and visited Painesville at stated intervals, until 1848, when the Very Rev. L. De Goesbriand and the Rev. J. Monahan, both of the Cathedral, had charge until 1850. All these priests said Mass in the residences of P. McGarey, C. Mahony. or Patrick Shelby. In September, 1850, the Rev. Peter Peude- prat was appointed first resident pastor of Painesville. Shortly after his arrival he bought a lot on South State street. He transformed into a temporary church the old frame carpenter shop which stood on the lot. It served its new purpose for nearly seven years. The Rev. Charles M. Coquerelle succeeded Father Peudeprat in the fall of 1852 and remained until September, 1869, when he resigned, because of ill health, and returned to his native France. Father Coquerelle bought the present fine church property on North State street, in September, 1856, and in 1857 built on it the brick church, now in use ; it cost about $8,000. As soon as it was finished he moved to the new site the temporary
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frame church, above mentioned, and changed it into a residence for himself.
The Rev. John Tracy succeeded Father Coquerelle in October, 1869. He purchased, in June, 1872, the lot and residence occupied by the Sisters. It adjoins the church lot, on the north. In the following year Father Tracy bought six and one-half acres of land near the corporate limits of the town for a parish cemetery and had part of it laid out in burial lots. He also provided it with a public vault in 1879.
The present parish school, a two-story frame building, was erected during the pastorate of Father Coquerelle, between 1862 and 1863, at a cost of about $3,500. It was opened in September, 1863, and placed in charge of two lay teachers. Father Tracy replaced them by the Sisters of St. Joseph, in 1872. They were succeeded in January, 1878. by the Sisters of the Humility of Mary, who have taught it ever since ; four Sisters have charge of the school.
The present pastor, the Rev. E. J. Conway, succeeded Father Tracy, in August, 1887. Three years later, at a cost of nearly $9,000, he had the church considerably enlarged, thoroughly renovated, frescoed, and provided with new oak pews, which are models of comfort and elegance. The three altars were also re-decorated and the sanctuary, which is the original design, was much improved. When the work was completed the church was practically a new structure and presented, as it does still, a very attractive appearance. It was re-dedicated on July 30, 1893, by the Rt. Rev. Mgr. T. P. Thorpe, as the Bishop's delegate.
Father Conway has at all times paid much attention to the interests of the parish school, which is in a very flourishing condi- tion. About 200 are enrolled, and four well appointed rooms give school facilities equal to the best.
The parish is in excellent condition and now numbers about 165 families.
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PARMA, CUYAHOGA COUNTY. HOLY FAMILY MISSION CHURCH.
The Mission of Parma was organized in 1872 by the Rev. P. F. Quigley, at that time resident pastor of St. Mary's. Rock- port, and for a time he said Mass in the residence of Conrad Rohr- bach. During the spring of 1873 a frame church was built on a small lot, the deed for which was given in December of that year. The little church was dedicated to the Holy Family, on June 21, 1873, and was in charge of the respective pastors of Rockport for about seven years. It was then attended from the Franciscan Monastery, the Jesuit College, the Seminary, Independence and Brighton, between 1880 and 1900. Since September, 1900, it has been a Mission of Independence. About ten families com- pose the Mission. Most of them have at all times been very gen- erous in their support of the church, notably the family of Mr. C. Rohrbach.
The parochial school was organized in 1875, but for lack of means and attendance it was closed two years later.
PAULDING, PAULDING COUNTY. ST. JOSEPH'S MISSON CHURCH.
The flourishing town of Paulding is the county seat of Pauld- ing county, and is located on the Cincinnati and Northern Rail- road. Prior to 1892 the few Catholics then residing at Paulding were obliged to attend Mass at Latty, or at Cecil, the latter place being six miles distant. In April, 1892, Paulding was made a Station, and as such attended monthly from Payne, where the Rev. J. P. McCloskey was resident pastor. Mass was celebrated in private houses until 1894, when the Rev. M. O'Brien secured a hall, but it afforded poor accommodations. Meanwhile the question of securing a proper site and building a church was favorably discussed. A subscription was raised in the town and many of the Protestants gave substantial aid to their Catholic fellow citizens. On July 11, 1893, a one-acre lot, situated between Williams street, Garfield avenue and Main street, was purchased for $240. By June, 1896, a frame church, 28 by 82 feet, fronting
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on Williams street, was under construction. It was completed at a cost of $3,500 and was dedicated by Mgr. F. M. Boff, V. G., on Sunday, September 6, 1896. It was a joyful day for the Cath- olics of Paulding, and for Father O'Brien, under whose direction the church was built. In December following he was succeeded in the pastoral charge of the Mission by the Rev. J. G. Schaffeld, who greatly reduced the debt, secured a supply of vestments, etc., and bought the present organ and bell, the latter the largest in Paulding.
The Mission of Paulding has about 35 families and is still attended monthly from Payne. In the very near future. however, a resident pastor will be appointed.
PAYNE, PAULDING COUNTY. ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST'S CHURCH.
Payne is a thriving village, located on the "Nickel Plate" Railroad, about 4 miles east of the Indiana State line. Prior to 1882 the few Catholics near Payne (formerly known as Mallotts- ville) attended Mass at the Station of Flat Rock, 4 miles distant, where services were held in private houses. Finally, in 1882, it was determined to build a church at Payne, as the most centrally located place for all the Catholics in that vicinity.
A fine lot was bought in June, 1882, and under the super- vision of the Rev. A. E. Manning, of Antwerp, a frame church, 26 by 50 feet, was commenced in September of that year. It was finished in the summer of 1883, and dedicated on Sunday, Sept- ember 9, following, by the Rev. Chancellor Houck, whom Bishop Gilmour had delegated for that purpose.
In September, 1888, three acres of land were bought for burial purposes, and in June of the following year a house and lot, near the church, were bought to serve as the prospective pastoral residence.
In April, 1892, Payne ceased to be a Mission, by the appoint- ment of the Rev. J. P. McCloskey, as the first resident pastor. He found the house, above mentioned, unsatisfactory, and so asked and obtained permission to build a brick pastoral residence,
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more in keeping with its purpose. This was done before the close of the year 1892, at a cost of nearly $2,000.
The following priests have had pastoral charge of Payne since the departure of Father McCloskey, in March, 1894: The Revs. J. H. Hennes, from Marchi to September, 1894; M. O'Brien, September, 1894, to December, 1896; J. G. Schaffeld, December, 1896, to June, 1898, and since then, the present pastor, the Rev. J. M. Paulus.
Preparations are now being made for the erection of a brick church, to be commenced in 1901. Father Schaffeld had raised $1,200 for this purpose, at the time he left Payne.
The parish has a steady growth and now numbers about 60 families. It has not been found practicable as yet to establish a parish school, as most of the children live too far distant.
PENINSULA, SUMMIT COUNTY.
MATER DOLOROSA MISSION CHURCH.
Twenty-five miles south of Cleveland, on the "Valley" Rail- road, is located the picturesque hamlet of Peninsula. Catholics began to settle here as early as 1830, viz., three brothers, James, Patrick and John Cassidy. For nearly twenty years they and other pioneers of the faith in the Summit county valley of the Cuyahoga river attended Mass and received the sacraments in old St. Mary's church, on the "Flats," at Cleveland. They were also visited at long intervals by the various pastors of that church until about 1850. Then their spiritual wants were looked after by the pastors of St. Vincent's, Akron. Some of the families also became identified with the Missions of Independence and Royalton. In 1861 the first resident pastor was appointed for Hudson, from which place Peninsula has since been attended.
In May, 1882, a lot, 80 by 120 feet, was bought for $250, by the Rev. P. Barry, who at once built on it the present frame church, 25 by 45 feet. It was used for the first time, though unfinished, in September of the same year.
The church, erected at a cost of $1,800, was a great under- taking for the few Catholics of Peninsula. Its interior, owing to
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lack of means, was not finished until nearly five years after the church was built.
Whilst the Rev. J. J. Farrell had charge of the Mission (1885- '89) the church was provided with a stone foundation. He also had it plastered, painted, ornamented with stained glass windows, and provided with a neat altar and pews.
Bishop Gilmour dedicated the church on September 18, 1892, and placed it under the patronage of Our Mother of Sorrows.
The Mission now numbers about 22 families.
PERRYSBURG, WOOD COUNTY. ST. ROSE OF LIMA CHURCH.
Perrysburg is beautifully situated on the right bank of the Maumee river, opposite the village of Maumee. In the early part of the 19th century the surrounding country was the scene of many sanguinary conflicts between the Red Man and the white settlers. The ruins of Fort Meigs and Fort Miami are within the shadow of the town, and in their eloquent silence tell the deeds of other days.
The spiritual wants of the Catholics of Perrysburg were for many years attended to by priests from Toledo and Maumee. The name of the Rev. Amadeus Rappe, later the first Bishop of the diocese of Cleveland, and the pioneer priest of the Maumee Valley, is indissolubly connected with the history of Catholicity in this section, and his self-sacrificing labors are held in grate- ful remembrance by the old settlers.
. The congregation was organized in 1861, and Mass was said in private houses; but it was not until the following year that a place of worship was secured. The Universalist meeting house, in the village, was bought for $2,000, and remodeled and furnished with everything necessary for Catholic worship.
The Rev. S. Bauer attended Perrysburg from Maumee, from 1861 to 1862, and the Rev. J. Hamene, from 1862 to 1863. In July, 1863, Bishop Rappe appointed the Rev. Charles Griss the first resident pastor of Perrysburg. He remained till February, 1865, when he was removed to Elyria. For seven months the congregation had no resident pastor. During this period it was
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ST. ROSE'S CHURCH AND PASTORAL RESIDENCE, PERRYSBURG.
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attended from Maumee and New Bavaria. In September, 1865, Father Griss was re-appointed pastor of Perrysburg. He built a frame addition to the church, and in 1867 organized the parochial school, which he placed in charge of lay teachers. In 1865 he purchased the tract of land on which the present stately church stands. This tract comprises almost four acres, and is the most beautiful site in the town. As soon as the purchase was made, he began the erection of a handsome two-story brick pastoral resi- dence. He completed his material work in Perrysburg by the purchase, in October, 1872, of a seven-acre tract of land, which was laid out for cemetery purposes.
The long and active pastorate of Father Griss ended in February, 1885. He was an accomplished musician and delighted in devoting his talent to the chant of the Church; the choir was unto him as the apple of his eye. He died as pastor of Fostoria, on October 13, 1899. In compliance with his repeated request, his remains were interred in the Perrysburg Catholic cemetery.
In February, 1885, the Rev. G. H. Rieken was appointed pastor of Perrysburg, and in September of that year the school was placed in charge of the Franciscan Sisters, of Tiffin. A com- modious two-story frame building was erected and furnished at a cost of $1,200. As the old church had become too small to satisfy the wants of the growing parish, it was resolved to erect a new edifice. A building committee was organized, and after mature deliberation it was decided to build a stone church-the first stone church in the entire Maumee Valley. In May, 1889, the plough- share turned over the first sod, and on the following 8th of September the cornerstone was laid by Bishop Gilmour. In 1890 the church was enclosed, in 1891 the interior was finished and on May 29, 1892, divine services were held for the first time in the new building. The church is a beautiful Gothic structure, 55 by 132 feet, and 62 feet in the transept ; the steeple is 170 feet high. The church, including its elegant furnishings, cost about $30,000. It was dedicated by Bishop Horstmann on Sunday, May 28, 1893. Mr. John Burkhard, of Kenton, was the architect and builder.
In February, 1894, the Rev. G. H. Rieken was removed to Norwalk, and the Rev. J. A. Michenfelder was appointed his successor. Father Michenfelder administered to the spiritual
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wants of the parish until December, 1895, when he accepted the parish at Bellevue, and the Rev. G. H. Rieken was re-appointed to Perrysburg. The number of Catholic families had steadily decreased in town, and the result was especially visible in the school enrollment. which had decreased from ninety to forty children. The matter was submitted to the judgment of the Rt. Rev. Bishop, who approved of the pastor's plan, to dismiss the Sisters and place the school in charge of one competent lay teacher, which was done in September, 1899. The Sisters had charge of the school for fourteen years; they also took care of the sanctuary and church. They were competent, faithful and kind.
The four years between 1894 and 1898 were devoted to the payment of the debt, which amounted to $7,500. The Catholics of Perrysburg have always responded generously to the call of reli- gion. The church alone cost $30,000, and yet today the entire church property, complete in every detail, is without one dollar of debt.
The present membership of the parish comprises about 120 families.
PERU, HURON COUNTY. ST. ALPHONSUS' CHURCH .*
Catholics first settled in Peru township, Huron county, in the fall of 1828. They were the families of Peter Bauer, Anthony Philipp, Joseph Carabin and Clement Baumgartner. The present hamlet of Peru, located in the township of the same name, was then and for some years later known as Vredenbourg. In the summer and fall of the following year this number of families was increased by ten-all from the Province of Lorraine, France. In the fall of 1829 Bishop Fenwick visited these pioneers for the first time in their log cabin homes, built in the almost unbroken forest. The Bishop repeated his visit in the summer of 1830, and said Mass and administerd the sacraments in the log house of Joseph Carabin. About the same time Bishop Fenwick directed the Rev. J. M. Henni, resident pastor of St. John's, Canton, to visit the Station of Peru, which he did at long intervals between 1830 and 1832, when the Redemptorist Father, F. X. Hätscher,
*See this volume, pp. 29, 33, 40, 48.
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took his place. He had charge of Peru and of the Stations and Missions in Seneca and Sandusky counties until the latter part of 1833.
In 1830 Mr. J. Taylor, a Protestant farmer in the vicinity of Peru, donated to Bishop Fenwick two acres of land for church and school purposes. A frame church, or chapel, of simplest design, 34 by 40 feet, was begun in the fall of 1830. Although its interior was not finished, it was used for the first time in the spring of 1831. Almost all the labor and material were furnished free of charge, by the farmers composing the Mission. Four years later the church was enlarged by an addition built of logs. It was weather-boarded horizontally with rough boards, and was never painted. The interior was lined also with rough boards; the ceiling was flat and about sixteen feet from the floor. Altogether it was primitive in its construction and furnishings. The pews were made of logs, hewn flat on the upper surface, and wooden pins were their support. The first altar was made of unplaned boards and had the appearance of a long, high table placed against the wall. Father Henni was the first priest to offer up the Holy Sacrifice in this primitive church-in 1831. The Rev. F. Rese, later Bishop of Detroit, also visited Peru, from Michigan, occasion- ally between 1831 and 1833. Father Henni repeated his pastoral visits in the spring of 1833, remaining about one week, so as to enable all who so desired to fulfill their Easter duty. Later in the summer of 1833 the Redemptorist Father, the Rev. F. X. Tschenhens, arrived at Peru and remained some weeks. At that time he found about 100 families who had settled there and in the vicinity.
In June, 1834, Bishop Purcell gave full pastoral charge of Peru and the neighboring Stations and Missions to the Redemp- torist Fathers. Of these the Rev. F. X. Tschenhens was the second to take up the pastoral work at Peru, and his name is found enshrined in the annals of Catholicity in Northern Ohio as one of its devoted and self-sacrificing pioneer priests. His ministration extended from Huron to Seneca, Sandusky, Crawford and Erie counties, from 1834 to 1843. During most of this period he was resident pastor of Peru, viz., from 1834 to 1839, and again from 1841 to 1843. He had as his assistants the Redemptorist Fathers,
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Peter Czakert (September, 1835, to August, 1838), and Simon Sänderl, F. X. Hätscher, J. N. Neumann and Joseph Prost, at intervals between 1835 and 1841. They shared with him the arduous labors connected with the widespread Missions in the above named counties. Their first residence was a log hut, which was replaced in September, 1834, by a better and more com- modious log house. It was built next to the church and adjoined the sacristy.
In July, 1834 .* Bishop Purcell paid his first visit to Peru and dedicated the church, placing it under the patronage of St. Alphonsus, the founder of the Redemptorists. He was accom- panied by Father Henni, of Canton.
In 1837 the church was enlarged, but the addition (built of logs) although used, was not finished until the following year, for lack of means. With this difficulty, brought on partly by the refusal of many members to contribute their fair share towards the support of the church, began the troubles that led to the with- drawal of the Redemptorist Fathers in 1839. They felt dis- heartened to find so little response to their appeals for material assistance in parish work, and so little recognition of their labors. Father Prost bade farewell to Peru, in April, 1839, but Father Tschenhens remained until the following December. He was succeeded in November. 1840, by the Rev. J. Freigang, a secular priest, who had recently come from Germany. Father Freigang's stay ended in April, 1841, when he was dismissed from the diocese, and suspended for disobeying Bishop Purcell, who had forbidden him to organize a parish at Norwalk, to the detriment of that at Peru. The parish then remained without a resident pastor until June, 1841. Meanwhile, as also between December, 1839, and November, 1840, it was attended from Tiffin by the Rev. P. J. Machebeuf, and from Canton by the Revs. H. D. Juncker and M. Würz, of Canton. Father Tschenhens then again took pastoral charge of Peru, and for some time had as his assistant the Rev. L. M. Alig. They remained till November, 1843. In January, 1844, the Very Rev. F. S. Brunner, Provincial of the Sanguinists, was directed by Bishop Purcell to take charge of Peru and to found a residence there for himself and the Fathers of
*Catholic Telegraph, August 1, 1834.
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the Society who accompanied him the previous month from Europe. They remained at Peru and continued the good work begun by the Redemptorists, until Father Brunner established a convent at Thompson, Seneca county, in 1847. He continued however to attend Peru until the appointment, in December, of the same year, of the Rev. A. Carabin as resident pastor, who remained until September, 1850. From the time of Father Carabin's pastorate, to the present, Peru has always been in charge of secular priests. viz: The Revs. C. Evrard, from September, 1350, to January, 1854; J. Hamene, to April, 1855; J. P. Dolweck, to August, 1861; F. X. Obermüller, who attended Peru from St. Peter's, Norwalk (September, 1861, to September, 1862); A. Magenhann, September, 1862, to June, 1866; N. Moes, temporary resident pastor, from July to September, 1866; H. E. Hämers, November, 1866, to January, 1867; and F. C. Ludwig, to March, 1868. Peru was then again attended from St. Peter's, Norwalk, as a Mission, until August, 1868, when the Rev. C. Evrard was appointed a second time as resident pastor of Peru, and remained until November, 1978. His successors were the Revs. M. Dechant, from December, 1873, to January, 1888; J. Blaser, till his death. January 25, 1895; M. Becker, to May, 1897; L. Lentsch, to January, 1900; J. Rosenberg, to May, 1900; and the present pastor, the Rev. T. M. Kolb, since the resignation of Father Rosenberg.
During the pastorate of Father Evrard the present church, a stone structure, 42 by 95 feet, was built in 1851, at a cost of $5,000. In the following year he also built the present pastoral residence. at an outlay of nearly $1,800.
The church and residence were built on a four-acre tract of land, about one-half mile distant from the old church site. It was bought by Father Carabin in May, 1849. Part of the land is also used as a cemetery, which was enlarged by an additional purchase, in December, 1892.
When Father Blaser took pastoral charge of Peru he found the church greatly in need of repairs and too small to accommodate the increasing membership of the parish. Therefore, in the fall of 1889, he had plans drawn for its enlargement and thorough renovation. This work was begun during the following year and completed in the spring of 1891, with the result that the church
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was practically a new structure and greatly beautified. The expense amounted to about $7,000, and the debt incurred was cancelled in a short time. On June 16, 1891, the Rt. Rev. Mgr. F. M. Boff re-dedicated the church, which is justly considered one of the best of any country parish in the diocese. Father Blaser also remodeled and modernized the pastoral residence.
As early as 1832 a school was established at Peru. The first school was a very primitive looking log house. It was replaced by a more commodious structure during the pastorate of Father Tschenhens, in 1835. As the Peru district is almost entirely Catholic the school was supported out of the public funds, as is done in some parts of Putnam county. Hence the want of a separate parochial school was not felt at Peru for many years. But in the course of time the School Directors, though tenacious of their rights as officials, lost sight of their duties as Catholics. In consequence of this the harmony between them and their respective pastors in reference to school matters ceased, and with it the need of a distinctly Catholic parochial school became apparent. This need was supplied in 1854, during the pastorate of Father Hamene, who built the first parish school, at a cost of $800, and employed a lay teacher to take charge of it. It was replaced in 1878 by the present school, a two-story brick struc- ture, built by Father Dechant, at the expense of about $2,500. He engaged the Sisters of Notre Dame from Cleveland, as teachers. They remained in charge until 1884, and since then the school has been taught by two lay teachers. At a cost of about $1,500 Father Dechant built a second and fully equipped frame school, about four miles from the church, for the accommodation of the children in that part of the parish.
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