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 25
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and hopes to erect a larger and finer school thereon within the next year or two.
The parish and school are in a flourishing condition and their best interests are safe-guarded by pastor and curates.
In conclusion it may perhaps be worthy of note to state that St. Mary's. is the parent parish of St. Peter's, Sacred Heart, St. Anne's, and St. Michael's.
TOLEDO. ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH.
In May, 1897, the Rev. L. Nougaret, pastor of St. Joseph's church, Toledo, organized a Society under the name of "Associa- tion of Catechists, of St. Joseph's Church." Its object was to instruct in the Faith the Catholic children living in the outlying district of North Toledo. Quite a number of young people gener- ously gave their services to this charitable work. They rented Wheeler's Hall, at the corner of Columbus street and Summit avenue, and there taught Catechism every Sunday afternoon. Their efforts helped at the same time to direct attention to the necessity of establishing a parish in that part of Toledo. Accord- ingly, in 1898, a petition, signed by many Catholics in North Toledo, was sent to the Rt. Rev. Bishop, asking him to appoint a priest to organize the new congregation for them. The Bishop could not grant their petition, owing to a scarcity of priests, until June, 1900, when he directed the Rev. W. A. Harks to organize the new parish, which was to be placed under the patronage of St. Michael the Archangel. Father Harks arranged the hall above mentioned as a temporary place of worship and said Mass in it for the first time on the feast of St. John the Baptist, 1900. Shortly after he rented the old Methodist meeting house on Albany street and had its interior changed to serve as a Catholic church. In July, 1900, eight lots were bought, on which to erect the parish build- ings; the lots cost $4,200. Plans were adopted for a three story combination brick church and school (73 by 88 feet in size), and a pastoral residence, the cost of both buildings being estimated at $20,000. This sum had to be borrowed, as the people were un- able to raise the necessary means at once. The buildings were
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ST. PATRICK'S CHURCH, (1900) TOLEDO.
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IN THE DIOCESE OF CLEVELAND.
commenced in October, 1900, and will be ready for use in the spring of 1901.
The parish is composed of Germans, Irish and French, its members having been formerly affiliated with St. Mary's, St. Francis' and St. Joseph's churches. As yet there is no school, but that too will be organized in the near future.
TOLEDO. ST. PATRICK'S CHURCH.
Until 1862 St. Francis de Sales' was the only English-speaking parish in Toledo. In April of that year the Rev. Edward Hannin was commissioned by Bishop Rappe to organize St. Patrick's parish, in the southern portion of Toledo. In the following month Father Hannin bought three large lots, located at the junction of Lafayette and 13th streets. Two months later, July 4, the corner- stone of the new church was laid by Bishop Luers, of Fort Wayne, Bishop Rappe being in Europe at that time. The church, a brick structure, 55 by 125 feet, was enclosed before winter, and, although its interior was not finished, divine services were held in it for the first time on February 1, 1863. Archbishop Purcell dedicated the new edifice on St. Patrick's day, 1864, Bishop Rappe, Bishop Luers, of Fort Wayne, and many priests being present at the ceremony. With furnishings, organ and bell, the church cost about $27,000.
In the summer of 1863, a temporary school was erected in the rear of the church, and attached thereto; the school was opened in October of the same year. The present three-story school building, next to the church, and fronting on Lafayette street, was commenced in 1864, and completed in 1865. It is a brick struc- ture, 50 by 60 feet, and has eight rooms, and a full equipment of school furniture; it cost about $20,000. The former school being vacated, the present building has been used in its stead ever since. About 400 children are enrolled and they are taught by four Ursu- line Sisters and four lay teachers. The Sisters have had charge of the girls' department since the opening of the parish school, in 1863. St. Patrick's school, or Academy, as it is called, has always taken high rank with the public and parochial schools of Toledo,
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Father Hannin devoting much attention to the proper training of the children.
In 1866 Father Hannin erected a fourth brick building in the rear of and adjoining the school. It is also three stories high, part of it serving as the rectory.
When Bishop Rappe resigned the See of Cleveland, in August, 1870. Father Hannin was appointed administrator of the diocese. He filled that responsible and trying position from September, 1870, until the appointment of the Rev. Richard Gilmour as Bishop Rappe's successor. in April, 1872. Meanwhile, however, Father Hannin retained the pastorate of St. Patrick's parish, with the Revs. J. F. Gallagher, E. M. O'Callaghan and F. J. Henry suc- cessively in temporary charge. After the installation of Bishop Gilmour, Father Hannin resumed his former post of duty at St. Patrick's as pastor, and has retained it ever since.
In June, 1873, Father Hannin commenced the erection of St. Patrick's Institute, which was finished in March, 1874. Its open- ing on St. Patrick's day of that year, by Bishop Gilmour, was attended by much ceremony, in the presence of Gov. Allen and a large concourse of people. The building is a four-story brick structure and fronts on three streets, the main facade being towards Lafayette street. Besides a gymnasium and society rooms it has a well-appointed parish hall. The building cost about $30,000.
Between 1874 and 1891 nothing out of the ordinary occurred in the parish in the way of improvements. In the latter year, how- ever, the first steps were taken towards the erection of the present splendid church. The condition of the old church had become such that its further use was considered unsafe. Hence Father Hannin was obliged to commence the new church sooner than he had intended. As a preparatory step, therefore, the parish hall was fitted up as a temporary place of worship and the old church was torn down in the spring of 1891. The foundation of the new church, occupying the site of the old edifice, was commenced and finished in 1892, at a cost of $9,500, but the cornerstone was not laid until July 15, 1894; the ceremony was performed by Bishop Horstmann. Work on the new structure was now continued steadily. At present (December, 1900) it is near completion, and Father Hannin hopes to have it dedicated in the spring
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of 1901. It was used for the first time on Christmas day, 1900. When finished, St. Patrick's church will take undisputed rank with the finest and largest churches in the diocese of Cleveland, if not in the country. It will cost upwards of $150,000. Follow- ing is a brief description of the imposing temple: It is built of cut stone and its architecture is pure Gothic. Its length is 181 feet, and its width 78 feet. It has two transepts, one in front and the other well to the rear; the former is 88 feet, and the latter 112 feet in width. It is richly ornamented with pediments and sharply pointed gables, and the graceful spire, 242 feet high, rises from the front transept. Two rows of columns, ten in number, support the richly ornamented groined ceiling. The bases of the columns are of dark red granite, octagonal in form; the shafts, 20 feet in one piece, are of bright red granite color and cylin- drical in form; all of the exposed surfaces of the base and shaft are highly polished. The capitals are of white marble, bold in design and beautifully carved. Most of the columns were donated by non-Catholic friends of Father Hannin. The stained glass windows and ornamental plastering are in keeping with the beauty of the church.
In the rear of the church will be five altars-one in the sanc- tuary, one opposite each aisle, and one in each arm of the transept. The church has five exits-three in the front and two in the rear. Five aisles will run the entire length of the church, and two additional ones in the transept. There will be eight rows of pews the entire length of the edifice, besides two rows in the tran- sept, each accommodating four persons. The seating capacity of the church is 1400.
Father Hannin was obliged to contract a large debt in erect- ing the church, and it will take years of careful management on the part of the pastor, as well as great generosity on the part of his parishioners, to cancel it.
St. Patrick's parish is one of the largest in Toledo, and num- bers about 400 families. In the Diocesan Synod of January, 1889, it was made a rectorate, and Father Hannin was at the time appointed its irremovable rector.
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TOLEDO. ST. PETER'S CHURCH.
St. Peter's, an off-shoot of St. Mary's, was the second German parish established in Toledo. Its history dates back to July, 1866, when the Rev. Peter Danenhoffer was appointed its first pastor ... Four lots were secured on South St. Clair street, and on one of them Father Danenhoffer erected a two-story brick structure, 40 by 80 feet, to serve as a temporary church and school. St. Mary's, the parent parish, gave $1,500 to assist the new con- gregation. Its growth was so rapid that in 1873 a permanent church had to be commenced. Bishop Gilmour laid the corner- stone on August 24, of that year. The handsome brick edifice, 70 by 145 feet, was finished within two years, at a cost of about $34,000. Bishop Borgess, of Detroit, dedicated the church to St. Peter the Apostle, December 12, 1875, Bishop Gilmour being then ill in Europe.
The church was renovated from time to time, and especially so between 1888 and 1891, when Father Danenhoffer expended nearly $10,000 for that purpose. This also included new altars, a fine set of Stations, and artistic frescoing. In 1899 a steam- heating apparatus was installed at a cost of about $6,000; it heats all the parish buildings.
After the new church was dedicated, the combination church and school was remodeled, making the entire building serve the latter purpose; six rooms are now in use. Almost from the date of its organization the school has been in charge of the Franciscan Sisters, from Rochester, Minn.
Father Danenhoffer built the pastoral residence in 1870, at a cost of about $4,000. All the parish buildings are of brick; they, as well as the church and school grounds and the parish cemetery, are now in good condition. There is practically no debt on the fine property.
Father Danenhoffer's health failing, he had as his curates, for a short time in 1896, his brother, the Rev. A. Danenhoffer, and later the Revs. W. S. Kress, J. P. Haupert, and H. Wichmann. After Father Danenhoffer's death, April 20, 1898, Father Wich- mann had temporary charge of the parish, until the appointment of the present pastor, the Rev. W. Müller, in June, 1898.
The parish numbers about 360 families.
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TOLEDO. ST. STEPHEN'S (MAGYAR) CHURCH.
Catholic Magyars began to settle in Toledo, especially east of the Maumee river, about the year 1888. As they had no priest of their own nationality, they attended divine services in the churches nearest to their homes. The Rev. C. Böhm, of Cleve- land, came at stated periods to attend to their spiritual wants, from 1892 until September, 1898, when his assistant, the present pastor, the Rev. R. Paulovits, was sent to East Toledo, to organize a Magyar parish. He rented a hall, which he had fitted up as a temporary place of worship. He then secured a church site of ten lots, at the corner of Genesee and Consaul streets. On two of these lots he built a neat frame church, 45 by 90 feet, at a cost of about $3,000. Mass was celebrated in it for the first time on New Year's day, 1899. During that year its interior was taste- fully furnished, and brought to completion by the following July. It was dedicated to St. Stephen, King of Hungary, on Sunday, August 20, 1899, by the Rev. Chancellor Houck, as the Bishop's delegate.
In November, 1898, Father Paulovits bought, at a cost of $1,200, a house and lot next to the church, and had the former fitted up for his residence.
In September, 1899, the parish school was opened in a frame building, erected at a cost of $2,000. It was placed in charge of the Notre Dame Sisters, of Cleveland.
The parish is growing steadily and has a promising future. It has now (December, 1900) about 125 families, all of whom contribute generously towards the support of the church.
TOUSSAINT, OTTAWA COUNTY. ST. JOSEPH'S MISSION CHURCH.
Toussaint (also known as "Frenchtown") is a French Cana- dian settlement. Between 1841 and 1883 Toussaint was attended from St. Francis', Toledo, Holy Angels', Sandusky, St. Ann's, Fremont, and finally, beginning with the year 1862, from Port -
Clinton. Until 1845 Mass was celebrated in the log cabins of the early settlers, who gained their livelihood by fishing and hunt-
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ing. A log chapel was then built on a half-acre tract of land. It served its purpose until the erection of the present frame church (35 by 50 feet) in 1861, by the Rev. L. Molon, then stationed at Fremont.
In June, 1881, the Rev. A. Vigeaut was appointed first resi- dent pastor of the congregation. His successors were the following priests: The Revs. J. McMahon from November, 1883, to March, 1886; A. Hamelin, August, 1886, to August, 1890; J. B. Primeau, August, 1891, to October, 1892; T. M. Kolb, for one month, ending November 16, 1892. During the interval between Father Hamelin's removal and Father Primeau's appoint- ment, Toussaint was attended from Oak Harbor, of which place it was again a Mission from December, 1892, until February, 1896. It was then made a Mission of Big Ditch, whence it has since been attended monthly. The pastoral residence, a plain frame build- ing, was erected in 1880; since 1892 it has been occupied by a tenant. The church was re-roofed and thoroughly renovated, and the adjacent cemetery put in good condition, in the summer of 1900.
In July, 1882, Mr. A. Valliquette, a member of the congrega- tion, donated 52 acres for the use and benefit of the Mission which receives the annual rent, as part of its support. At present about 35 families, all farmers, are identified with the Mission.
UPPER SANDUSKY, WYANDOT COUNTY. ST. PETER'S CHURCH.
Wyandot county, and Upper Sandusky, its county seat, are rich in historical lore concerning their aboriginal inhabitants, the Wyandotte tribe of Indians. Nowhere else in Northern Ohio are so many landmarks left to indicate what the habits and charac- teristics of these Indians were, so that, even now, thriving, bustling Upper Sandusky, with its $250,000 courthouse, fine business blocks and beautiful residences, is known as "The Indian Village." It was near the site of Upper Sandusky that the brave Col. Craw- ford was taken captive by the Wyandotte Indians, 1792, and burnt at the stake. But the narrow limits of a parish sketch will not permit a more detailed account of the early history of Upper
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ST. PETER'S CHURCH (1st and 2nd), UPPER SANDUSKY.
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Sandusky. Suffice it to say that the reservation of the Wyandotte tribe, which forms the present site of Upper Sandusky, was bought by the United States Government in 1843, its former owners then removing to the far West. Two years later the county of Wyandotte (now Wyandot) was formed, and in 1848 the town of Upper Sandusky was incorporated.
The Sanguinist Father, Peter A. Capeder, was the first priest to visit the few Catholic settlers in the town. He did so in 1847, and ministered to their spiritual wants for a short while. The Holy Sacrifice was offered for the first time in a public hall over Ayer's restaurant. Later on, and until 1857, Mass was celebrated in the residence of John Gaa, who, in April of that year, donated, for a church and school site, a lot on Guthrie street, then in the outskirts of the town. The foundation for a brick church, 30 by 50 feet, was commenced on August 19, 1857, and the cornerstone was blessed on the 15th of September, following. The Rev. Nicholas Gales, C.PP.S., was then in charge of the Mission. In a few months the church was ready for use; it cost about $2,600. It was a plain building, without any architectural pretense, but served its sacred purpose for twenty-three years.
Upper Sandusky was attended from New Riegel as a Mission, until 1865, by the following Sanguinists: The Revs. P. A. Capeder, J. Van Den Broek, N. Gales, E. Glück, P. Henneberry, A. Reichert, E. Ruff, M. Kreusch, A. Laux, C. Frensch and H. Drees.
Father Henneberry bought the present well-kept cemetery, covering about five acres; the deed was given on November 24, 1863.
The Rev. Bernard A. Quinn was the first resident pastor, from July to October, 1865. His successors were the following priests : The Revs. G. A. Spierings, from October, 1865, to April, 1867; Joseph Reinhardt, to February 22, 1868, when he was killed by the cars while on his way to Bucyrus, one of his Missions; A. Gerardin, to November, 1868; G. Peter, to March, 1873; C. Braschler, to November, 1888, and since then the present pastor, the Rev. Aloysius Huthmacher.
During the pastorate of Father Peter the congregation far outgrew its small church. He foresaw the need of a much larger church for the proper accommodation of his steadily increasing
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flock. Hence, to provide better and more spacious quarters, he bought in March, 1869, three lots at the corner of Findlay and Eighth streets-in the most desirable part of the town; the pur- chase price was $3,000. Father Peter had the dwelling on one of the lots, fronting on Eighth street, fitted up for his residence, and took possession of it in April of the same year. The former pastoral residence was then rented until 1875, when the property was sold. Father Peter, unable to commence the church, was obliged to resign his pastoral charge, because of illness. He was succeeded in March, 1873, by the Rev. C. Braschler, to whom fell the task of building the much needed church, for which plans were drawn at once and approved by Bishop Gilmour. With less than $600 in hand, Father Braschler commenced the foundation in the fall of 1873, and on August 2, 1874, the cornerstone was blessed by the Rev. E. Hannin, as the Bishop's delegate. Owing, how- ever, to the financial panic of 1873, Father Braschler found it very difficult to raise the required means for continuing the building as rapidly as he had hoped; hence its progress was very slow. He and his people struggled along with the burdensome debt, at times almost disheartened. Finally, in April, 1879, the church was in condition to be used, even though its interior was far from finished. Meanwhile that, too, was completed in the early fall of 1880. The church was dedicated to St. Peter the Apostle, by Bishop Gilmour, on Sunday, October 17, of the same year, and has been in use ever since. Its dimensions are 60 by 140 feet. It faces Eighth street, and extends along Findlay street. The architecture is Roman-Ionic, and the interior is handsomely ornamented with stucco work. The beautiful stained glass windows were all donated. With its furnishings the church cost about $30,000, and though there are many more expensive churches in the diocese, few excel it in architectural effect or beauty of finish.
In 1885 Father Braschler erected the present brick pastoral residence, next to the church, at a cost of about $3,000. It is a neat but small building.
On May 30, 1887, the beautiful spire, 200 feet in height, was struck by lightning during a heavy storm, the massive structure falling to the ground totally ruined. The insurance companies paid only a part of the loss, and not until after much pressure was brought to bear on them. The spire was not rebuilt, but, instead,
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the tower on which it stood was put in good repair, and it is in that condition at present.
Father Braschler was succeeded in November, 1888, by the present pastor, Father Huthmacher. He found a debt of only about $8,000 on the parish property-an eloquent evidence of the generosity of the people and the prudent financial management of Father Braschler.
In 1891 Father Huthmacher designed and secured two Gothic side altars, in harmony with the interior of the church; they were donated. An artistic array of statuary (nearly all donated) was also placed in position, thus adding much to the beauty of the church. The present splendid main altar of Gothic design, also a donation from a parishioner, was designed by Father Huth- macher, and built in 1892, and in December, 1900, a fine set of Stations was erected. During 1901 Father Huthmacher will have the church frescoed and otherwise embellished. When that is done St. Peter's church, for its size and cost, will rank second to few churches in the diocese.
The present school was organized in 1857, shortly after the first church was erected. The building was a small and very plain frame structure, and for many years stood on the old church lot. Until 1890 the school was taught by lay teachers. The old church was remodeled into a school, in 1880, shortly after the new church began to be used. Its out-of-the-way location, however, made it very objectionable to the children, many of whom had to . go a long distance to attend school. To obviate this difficulty Father Huthmacher purchased an excellent piece of property, diagonally opposite the church. It was deeded on March 6, 1897, and cost $3,800. The large brick residence on the acre of ground purchased was remodeled into four school rooms, and a part of the building is reserved as a home for the four Dominican Sisters, in charge since September, 1898.
The parish is now composed of about ninety German and ten Irish families and their descendants, and is a model in every respect.
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VAN WERT, VAN WERT COUNTY. ST. MARY'S CHURCH.
Van Wert was attended from Delphos as a Station, and then as a Mission, from 1867 to 1876. The Rev. F. Westerholt paid his first pastoral visit there in July, 1867. He continued his visits monthly until January, 1868, which his successor, the Rev. A. I. Hoeffel, continued to do for about seven years after. For nearly two years Mass was said in the residence of Peter Roach. In July, 1869, Father Hoeffel bought two lots fronting on South Chestnut street. On one of the lots stood a frame house, which he fitted up as a temporary chapel. This, however, soon proved too small, and hence Father Hoeffel was obliged to provide a larger as well as better place of worship. He therefore built the present brick church (30 by 55 feet), in the summer of 1874. The church, together with the two lots he bought in 1863, cost $4,000, most of which remained a heavy debt on the little Mission. Father Hoeffel did not lack courage, however, but with the kind assist- ance of his congregation at Delphos, and of many generous Protestants at Van Wert, he gradually reduced the debt, and finally cancelled it in 1876. In September of the same year (no record of date) Bishop Dwenger, of Ft. Wayne, dedicated the church, Bishop Gilmour being then ill in Europe.
In December, 1876, the Rev. J. H. Leddy was appointed first resident pastor of Van Wert, but four months later he was removed. Following is a list of his successors: The Revs. J. T. Cahill, from August, 1878, to January, 1879, (attended from Landeck for five months); P. Barry, July, 1879, to July, 1881; F. J. O'Neill, to March, 1886; E. F. Rohan, to January, 1888; M. J. Clear, to February, 1891; J. J. Clarke, to June, 1898; and since then the Rev. S. Weber.
Shortly after his arrival Father O'Neill built the spire, thus completing the exterior of the church. In 1881 Father Barry bought on credit a house and lot, in the rear of the church, and had it fitted up for his residence. Father O'Neill paid for the property during his pastorate. As it proved unsatisfactory it was sold by Father Clarke, in September, 1897, and the proceeds of
ST. MARY'S CHURCH, VAN WERT, and MISSION CHURCHI, CONVOY.
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the sale were applied towards paying for the new frame residence he built that year, on South Chestnut street.
Although Van Wert is the county seat of Van Wert county, and quite a business town, it has never attracted much of a Cath- olic population. This at no time exceeded thirty families, which is the present number. It has not been possible thus far to establish a parish school.
VERMILION, ERIE COUNTY. ST. MARY'S CHURCH.
Vermilion is a pretty village, with a fairly good harbor, on Lake Erie, about 25 miles east of Sandusky. Catholics began to settle there about 1856. They were visited by the pastors of Elyria, from 1857 to 1871, the Rev. M. Healy being the first priest to minister to their spiritual wants. Mass was said on week days, in private houses, until the erection of the present frame church (28 by 50 feet), in 1862, by the Rev. R. A. Sidley, who had bought two lots on Exchange street, for a church site, in 1861. Enclosed, the church cost about $600, but for lack of means its interior could not then be finished, and was used in that condition-with a dry goods box for an altar, and rough benches for pews. In 1865, the Rev. L. Molon raised a subscription and with the proceeds paid for the plastering and furnishing of the church. He also bought and paid for a lot next to the church property, to serve as a site for the 'uture parish house. In March, 1871, the Rev. J. Rouchy was appointed the first resident priest, and shortly after built the present pastoral residence, also a frame structure. In August, 1875, Vermilion was made a Mission of North Amherst, and thence attended monthly until May, 1878, when the Rev. F. X. Nunan was appointed resident pastor. His stay ended in March, 1879. Since then the following priests succeeded him: The Revs. J. Cullen, from April, 1879, to July, 1882 ; M. S. Smith, to October, 1889 ; J. C. Kenney, to December, 1889; I. J. Wonderly, to January, 1893; J. J. Powers, to November, 1893, since which time the present pastor, the Rev. N. W. Horst, has been in charge. During the pastorate of Father Wonderly the church was entirely renovated, and supplied with some beautiful statuary-all donated.
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