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 6
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to direct the building of a church for its use. Plans were drawn for a neat frame edifice, to cost about $5,000. As soon as the con- tract was let the work was rapidly pushed to completion. Mean- while the Poles had separate service in the Immaculate Concep- tion church every alternate Sunday, Father Wozny coming from Cleveland for that purpose. The church was blessed on August 25, 1895, by Mgr. F. M. Boff, V. G., under the title of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin. In January, 1896, Father Wozny was succeeded in the pastoral charge of the congregation by the Rev. W. J. Horak, who was also appointed resident pastor of the Immaculate Conception church, Grafton, thus giving the Poles divine service every Sunday and Holyday. To the great grief of the two congregations Father Horak was removed to Cleveland in January, 1898. The Assumption church was then given as a Mission to the Polish pastors at Lorain, viz., first to the Rev. A. L. Swierczynski from January to June, 1898, and then to the Rev. Charles Ruszkowski, who is still in charge of the Mission, attending it every Sunday. This involves a drive across the coun- try of twelve miles-a task by no means easy when roads are bad or the weather inclement. In September, 1900, Father Ruszkowski established the parish school, with an attendance of seventy-five pupils, taught by a lay teacher. The building with its desks, etc., cost nearly $1,500. The parish is composed of about seventy families.
GRAFTON, LORAIN COUNTY. IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CHURCH.
Grafton is a village twenty-five miles southwest of Cleveland. and in its early history was known by the name of Rawsonville. Most of the villagers depend for a livelihood on the stone quarries. Because of these a number of Catholic families settled at Grafton in the early sixties. In August, 1862, the Rev. Thomas J. Halley was appointed first resident pastor of Grafton, whence he also attended a number of neighboring Missions. Among them was La Porte, where a small frame chapel had been in existence for many years. Previous to the advent of Father Halley the Catholics at Grafton attended Mass at La Porte. However, as they now far
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IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CHURCH, GRAFTON.
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outnumbered those who lived in or near that place, Father Halley, with Bishop Rappe's approval, bought (September 5, 1863), four lots in Grafton, fronting on Erie street. On one of the lots there stood a frame house which he made his residence, and on the lot lying farthest south he had the La Porte chapel moved-a dis- tance of two miles. At that time the congregation at Grafton numbered about thirty families, most of them only in moderate circumstances. Neither Father Halley nor his people were satis- fied with the chapel ; it was too small and quite "weather worn." He therefore determined that it should be replaced by a stone church, as that material was within easy reach and would cost no more than brick. The matter was submitted to the congregation; they consented to assume the burden and subscribed liberally, considering their means-ready cash, promises of money and free labor, amounted to about $3,000. Work was begun on the church at once, but it had not proceeded far before it was found that the means in sight were not even half of what would be required to complete the church. Finding it impossible to raise more money at home Father Halley, with the consent of Bishop Rappe, sought aid elsewhere. He visited Cleveland, Cincinnati, and even New York City, but the response to his appeals for assistance did not satisfy the demands on him for the work he had begun chiefly on hopes, which, it must be said, were not soon realized. Much discouraged, he asked for his removal to another field of labor. The Rev. A. R. Sidley was appointed his successor in Jan- uary, 1868. During that year the walls and tower of the church were built to the square; during Father Halley's time the walls were built but a few feet above the water table. In 1869 the church was enclosed, the tower brought to completion, and the floor laid. In the following year the church was plastered, by November the stained glass windows were placed in position, and in December the contract for the pews and communion railing was let. At this time, December, 1870, the Rev. John Daudet was appointed Father Sidley's successor. The church with its incomplete outfit * had cost about $8,000 when Father Daudet took pastoral charge of Grafton. By degrees he reduced the debt, which was finally can- celled about 1890. In the spring of 1871 the new church was ready for occupancy and dedicated by the V. Rev. Administrator
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Hannin. The old chapel was then turned into a school and served as such until 1889, when it was closed, because there was not a sufficient number of children who could attend, owing to the long distance to be traveled by many. No notable improvements were made on the parish property during Father Daudet's pastor- ate, as he felt that he could not impose any further burden on the generous few who had contributed so well, many even beyond their means, towards paying for the church. On October 26, 1884, he completed his fiftieth year in the priesthood-a rare event indeed, and the first that occurred in the diocese of Cleve- land. Father Daudet had no intention of celebrating it, but was forced to do so on the following day by a large number of clerical friends who had come from Cleveland, and presented him with a number of appropriate and costly tokens of their esteem for him.
Father Daudet remained in charge of the Immaculate Con- ception parish till his death, February 10, 1892. A few weeks later the Rev. M. J. Clear was appointed his successor. Two years later the church was frescoed, supplied with new altars and pews and otherwise thoroughly renovated. The tower was also finished in harmony with the church. The cost of all the improvements amounted to about $7,000.
In 1895 the Polish members separated from the parish and erected a church of their own, thus leaving to the other members, about one-half of the original parish, the obligation of meeting the comparatively large debt. This they did, and year by year it was diminished until, in 1900, it was entirely cancelled.
The Rev. M. J. Clear was succeeded by the Rev. Wenceslas J. Horak in January, 1896, with charge of the Assumption (Polish) church, at Grafton, as a Mission. This arrangement, however, lasted only until January, 1898, when the Rev. P. C. N. Dwyer was appointed pastor of the Immaculate Conception parish, and that of the Assumption was made a Mission of Lorain, as stated in the preceding sketch.
When Father Dwyer, the present pastor, took charge he · found that the parish debt amounted to about $3,500. He made every effort towards reducing the debt, which was finally cancelled during the year 1900, as above stated. This he was enabled to do only by extraordinary efforts, as the parish was reduced by
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degrees from fifty paying families in 1898, to thirty-six in 1900. This is indeed a most creditable showing for the parish as well as for its pastor. At present the total number of families does not amount to more than about sixty, and all are in full accord with their pastor in his efforts to raise and maintain a high spiritual tone in the parish.
GREENSPRING, SANDUSKY COUNTY. ST. JOSEPH'S MISSION CHURCH.
Greenspring is situated partly in Seneca, and partly in San- dusky county. It is noted for its Sanitarium and Water Cure, located near the mineral spring, from which the pretty village has its name. As far back as 1841 a few Catholics had settled there, for in that year they were visited by the Redemptorist Father, F. X. Tschenhens, then stationed at Peru, Huron county. There . is no record of any other priest having visited Greenspring until 1854. In that year the Rev. Michael O'Sullivan, pastor of St. Mary's, Tiffin, said Mass there in the house of Thomas Kinney. This he continued to do at long and irregular intervals, on week days, until 1859, when for two years Greenspring was attended from St. Joseph's, Fremont. In April, 1861, it was attached to Bellevue as a Station, and so remained until July, 1872. Since that time Greenspring has been attended from Clyde. Three lots, at the corner of Morgan and Kansas streets, in that part of the vil- lage of Greenspring located within Sandusky county, were bought for $475, by the Rev. E. Mears, pastor of Bellevue ; the deed was given on June 28, 1872. Father Mears had also raised a sub- scription of $1,600 for the lots and a church. When the Rev. J. D. Bowles, pastor of Clyde, took charge of Greenspring, in July, 1872, he at once began the erection of the present church, a frame structure, 25 x 50 feet. A considerable portion of the subscrip- tion above mentioned was not paid when due, hence there remained on the little Mission (at that time numbering twenty fam- ilies) a debt of about $800. It was not cancelled until 1886-and then only by means of collections raised in response to appeals made between 1878 and 1886 (especially by the Rev. A. E. Man- ning, in 1885) to the two congregations at Fremont and Defiance ; also to St. Mary's, Tiffin; St. Mary's, Norwalk, and Crestline. In
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May, 1888, Father Manning replaced the temporary altar-a very primitive affair-by the present neat oak wood Gothic altar.
Since 1892 the Mission of Greenspring has been steadily losing membership, as the village could not offer employment for gaining a livelihood. In consequence of this fact no Catholics have settled there for many years past and nearly all of the few that were there have sought employment and homes elsewhere. At present but two families belong to the Mission. For some years they have had Mass only on week days, and that but at long intervals.
HAMLER, HENRY COUNTY. ST. PAUL'S MISSION CHURCH.
In 1866 Catholics first settled at Hamler and in its imme- diate vicinity, and were identified with the parish at New Bavaria. When the church at New Bavaria was destroyed by fire in 1886 quite a number of the Hamler members refused to contribute towards rebuilding the church, believing the time had come when they should no longer be obliged to go to New Bavaria, seven miles distant, but should have a church in the village of Hamler. Their petition to Bishop Gilmour to this effect was granted. At once a subscription was raised for the desired church. A fine site was bought in August, 1886, at First and Cowan streets. The church, a plain frame structure, 36 x 60 feet, and costing about $2,000, was completed and nearly paid for by December, 1886. Although the good people of Hamler felt happy, now that they had their own pretty church, they had no priest; and the Bishop was unable to send them one until December, 1SS8, when the resi- dent pastor of Holgate was given charge of Hamler as a monthly Mission. This arrangement continued until January, 1893, when Hamler was made a Mission of North Baltimore, and it has remained so since. In September, 1894, the Rev. I. J. Wonderly purchased one and one-half acres for a cemetery. It was blessed by Mgr. F. M. Boff, V. G., on September 11, 1898. In 1898 the church was repainted and in the following year a neat altar was provided. A subscription was raised during 1900 for the erection of a $2,000 residence for their prospective pastor; it will be built in 1901. The Mission is steadily increasing and now numbers about fifty famlies, nearly all Germans.
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HARRISBURG, STARK COUNTY. SACRED HEART OF MARY CHURCH.
A number of Catholic French families settled in and near the village of Harrisburg about 1833. They were attended from St. John's, Canton, until 1838; then from Louisville, until 1848; next from St. Vincent's, Akron, until 1850, and from Randolph, until 1851. A plot of land, comprising one and one-half acres, was bought by the Rev. C. Mouret, in July, 1848, and a small brick church (30 x 40 feet) built on it about that time. It served its pur- pose until replaced by the present brick church (40 x 70 feet). It was built in 1876, by the Rev. L. Hoffer, of Louisville, at that time in temporary charge of the Mission. The second church cost about $3,000, and was paid for when completed. A parish school was organized in 1862, but had a fitful existence. At first it was taught by lay teachers, and then for a number of years by the Sisters of the Humility of Mary. The school was closed in 1899.
The first pastoral residence was a log house. It was bought by Father Mouret, who had it moved near the first church, where a frame addition was built to it. When the present church was erected the pastoral residence was removed near the school and fitted up as a residence for the teachers. The present (second) pastoral residence, bought about 1870, also originally a log house, Father Senner had weather-boarded and neatly fitted up. Dur- ing the pastorate of Father Sauvadet the present fine bell was bought at a cost of $450. In 1891, during the second pastorate of Father Kunnert, the church was thoroughly remodeled and supplied with new pews and a hot air furnace.
At present the parish has a membership of about fifty famil- ies, most of them belonging to the farming class.
Since 1851 the following priests have had pastoral charge of Harrisburg: The Revs. P. Weber, 1851-54; L. F. D'Arcy, 1854- 55; L. Grevin, 1855-58; J. A. Frere, 1858-60; (attended as a Mis- sion, from Alliance and Louisville, in 1861); J. A. Heimo, April, 1861, to March, 1863; (attended from Louisville, March, 1863, to February, 1864); J. E. Martin, March, 1864, to May, 1865; F. Moitrier, 1865-66: J. Rouchy. May, 1866, to February, 1871; J.
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B. Buerkel, 1871-78; F. Senner, September, 1878, to March, 1884; A. Sauvadet, March, 1884, to January, 1886; J. P. Kunnert. August, 1886; to December, 1888; J. Hetet, December, 1888, to January, 1890; T. F. McGuire, February to April, 1890; J. P. Kunnert (a second time) April, 1890, to September, 1899; T. M. Kolb, September to December, 1899; M. Philippart, December, 1899, to June 1900; and the present pastor, the Rev. Charles H. Gardner, since June, 1900.
HICKSVILLE, DEFIANCE COUNTY. ST. MICHAEL'S MISSION CHURCH.
The Rev. Amadeus Rappe was the first priest to attend the few Catholic families at Hicksville. He visited them twice from Toledo, during the year 1846, saying Mass and administering the sacraments, in the house of Patrick Smith. Hicksville was a Sta- tion for many years-until 1880. From 1846 to 1851, it was attended from St. Francis', Toledo; from St. John's, Defiance, 1851-67; from Antwerp. 1867-88, and since August, 1888, from Delaware Bend.
On December 13, 1879, the Rev. Frederick Rupert, at the time resident pastor of Antwerp, was given a fine lot in the village of Hicksville. It extends from Edgerton street to Dixon avenue, and was donated by Mr. A. R. Edgerton, a Protestant. Under Father Rupert's direction the present very neat frame church 30 x 50 feet, was built at a cost of about $1,800. As he had but a very few families on whose assistance he could rely it was no easy task for him to erect the church and pay for it. But he succeeded in doing so, in the face of many difficulties, the principal of which was lack of means. Among the benefactors of the Mission is Mrs. Hicks-Lord, of New York city. She donated $500 to the church. Mass was said in it for the first time on May 27, 1880 (Feast of Corpus Christi) ; Father Rupert was the celebrant.
In August, 1888, Hicksville was made a Mission of Delaware Bend, as above stated, and has thus remained. Since that time the Rev. L. Heiland had charge of the Mission until July, 1900. and attended it monthly, as did his predecessors. During his
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pastorate a number of improvements and repairs were made in and about the church. He also bought an organ, a set of Sta- tions and other needed church furnishings, all of which have made its interior quite attractive. The Mission has but thirteen fam- lies, according to the last diocesan census report published in 1900.
HOLGATE, HENRY COUNTY. ST. MARY'S CHURCH.
Prior to the organization, in 1886, of St. Mary's congrega- tion at Holgate, a thrifty town located at the crossing of the Balti- more & Ohio and the Toledo & Kansas City railroads, the Cath- olic families living there and in the immediate vicinity belonged to the Sacred Heart church, at New Bavaria, four miles distant. For several years they had petitioned for a resident pastor, or at least to have a church of their own, as they found it too inconvenient to attend Mass at New Bavaria.
In 1886 Bishop Gilmour directed the Rev. John A. Michen- felder, then pastor of New Bavaria, to secure a suitable site at Hol- gate for a church. This was done on August 10 of the same year, when by deed three lots, with a frontage of 198 feet on Keyser street, were secured. Two of the lots were donated and for the other the sum of $100 was paid. Immediately after the purchase of said lots Father Michenfelder arranged for the erection of a frame church. Two months later it was ready for dedication. The ceremony was performed by Monsignor F. M. Boff, V. G., on Sunday, October 31, 1886. The church is 33 feet wide and 67 feet long. The ceiling has a triple arch, the center being 32 feet in height. The handsome interior, tastily frescoed, is furnished with neat pews and a high altar, the latter a gift from St. John's parish, Defiance. The windows are of stained glass and the entire structure, one of the prettiest in the town, presents a very attrac- tive appearance. Exclusive of a 1,300 pound bell, the church cost $1,700.
Holgate was attended from New Bavaria as a Mission until January, 1889, when the Rev. Francis T. Moran was appointed first resident pastor. He remained but two months when Bishop Gilmour directed him to take temporary charge of the Immaculate
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Conception parish at Toledo. Holgate was again attended froni New Bavaria until the following June, when the Rev. W. A. Pan- uska succeeded Father Moran as resident pastor. He remained in charge until March, 1892. In January, 1891, a lot adjoining the church property, and having on it a small but neat frame house, was bought for $1,450. The house has served since as the pas- toral residence.
The Rev. John Gastager succeeded Father Panuska in March. 1892, but ill health forced him to resign in September of the same year. He died most edifyingly at St. Joseph's Hospital, Lorain, on December 4, 1892. Since September, 1892, the following priests have had pastoral charge of Holgate: The Revs. George F. Murphy, D. D., September-November, 1892; Thomas M. Kolb, November, 1892, to January, 1895; and the present pastor, the Rev. John A. Tennissen, since January, 1895.
During the pastorate of Father Kolb an acre of land was pur- chased (January, 1893), for a cemetery. He also made a number of needed improvements on the church property, which is in excellent condition and free from debt. The congregation has a membership of about thirty-five families. It has not been found practicable thus far to establish a parochial school.
HONEY CREEK, CRAWFORD COUNTY. MATER DOLOROSA MISSION CHURCH.
In 1879 about thirty-five families, belonging to St. Bernard's parish, New Washington, but living in and near the settlement of Honey Creek, formed an independent parish. In October, 1879, they bought two and one-half acres of land and on it built a frame church, at a cost of about $2,000, and a small frame pastoral resi- dence. The title to the property was vested in self-constituted "trustees." All this was done without the consent of Bishop Gil- mour, and under the plea that they lived too far from New Wash- ington. The real reason, however, for their unlawful action was their refusal to obey the laws of the diocese, and the dislike they had for their pastor. In consequence of this, Bishop Gilmour ignored them and their church, and refused to give them a pastor. until they would first submit to lawfully constituted authority, and
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promise to obey the laws of the diocese governing church organ- ization and the holding of property. This they finally did in the summer of 1880. In September of that year the Rev. A. Dam- bach was appointed their pastor. He found an unfinished church, which was soon fitted up for divine service. Owing to a lack of priests the Bishop was obliged to withdraw Father Dambach in June, 1881, and send him to a larger parish which had no pastor. Honey Creek was then made a Mission of New Washington, whence it has been since attended every Sunday and Holyday. Two side altars and a set of Stations were secured in 1887, thus making the interior outfit of the church complete. Bishop Gil- mour dedicated the church on June 4, 1888, and in the fall of the same year Mgr. F. M. Boff, V. G., blessed the cemetery, which is located in the rear of the church. In 1890 the church was painted and frescoed and in 1899 it was supplied with stained glass win- dows.
In 1883 a parish school was organized and has since then been taught by a lay teacher. The Mission has about forty-five fam- ilies, all Germans, and of the farming class.
HUBBARD, TRUMBULL COUNTY. ST. PATRICK'S CHURCH.
Hubbard is a small town seven miles southeast of Youngs- town, in the coal mining district of Trumbull county. Catholics first settled there in 1863 when the Mahoning Valley railway was built through Hubbard to the coal mines near by, which were opened during the following year. In these mines also a consid- erable number of Catholics found employment. The Rev. E. M. O'Callaghan, pastor of St. Columba's, Youngstown, attended Hubbard as a Station from 1864 to 1867, and during this time said Mass in the house of Mr. M. Pigott. In January, 1866, he bought the present church lot, which fronts on North Main street. After considerable exertion Father O'Callaghan succeeded in collecting funds with which to pay for the lot and, in 1867, he built a small frame church, 30 x 50 feet. In 1868 Hubbard was assigned to Warren as a Mission and as such attended by the Rev. E. J. Con- way, for about one year. The Rev. Peter Becker, pastor of St.
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Joseph's, Youngstown, was given charge of the Mission in March, 1869. He had the church plastered and provided with pews. In July, 1870, the Rev. John T. Schaffeld was appointed first resident pastor of Hubbard. He remained until May, 1880. Following is a list of his successors: The Revs. J. Klute, to August, 1883; N. Pfeil, to February, 1SS4; F. M. Scullin, to May, 1889; J. J. Clarke, May, to July, 1889, and the present pastor, the Rev. N. J. Drohan, since July, 1889.
With the exception of the lot on which the original church stood and the private right of way to the cemetery, all of the fine property of the parish was purchased during the pastorate of Father Schaffeld. The church property covers five lots on North Main street, and the cemetery, three and one-half acres, located on the outskirts of the town. The present pastoral residence was built in 1871, and enlarged in 1890. In order to accommodate the increasing membership of the parish, Father Schaffeld had an addition built to the church in 1873. The church was dedicated by Bishop Gilmour, to St. Patrick, on July 13, of the same year. In 1887, during the pastorate of Father Scullin, the church was frescoed and all the parish buildings were repainted at an expense of nearly $800. In 1898 the church was re-roofed with slate, and the parish buildings, including the school and the Sisters' resi- dence, were again painted and tidied up, at an outlay of about $600.
The parish school was organized by Father Schaffeld, in 1870, in a small frame building (24 x 32) which he had erected shortly after his arrival in Hubbard. The school was taught by a lay teacher until 1874; it was then put in charge of the Sisters of the Humility of Mary. They remained until June, 1878, when, in September of the same year, they were succeeded by lay teachers. In September. 1880, during the pastorate of Father Klute, the Sisters of the Humility of Mary were recalled. In 1882 he bought a frame house and had it moved on the parish lot for the use of the Sisters, as their residence. They continued in charge of the school until June, 1894, when, owing to lack of means, and de- creased attendance of children, they were replaced by a lay teacher.
The parish is composed almost entirely of coal miners, faith- ful to their duties as Catholics, and, although for the most part
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poor, they are generous in their support of the church. Hub- bard, like all mining towns, had much to suffer from the effects of the financial crisis in 1873, as also later on from the strikes in the coal district. As a result the only rolling mill in the town was closed, which forced many families to seek homes elsewhere. The membership of the parish decreased over one-half since 1876, and now numbers only about sixty-five families.
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