A history of Cleveland, Ohio, Volume I, Part 47

Author: Orth, Samuel Peter, 1873-1922; Clarke, S.J., publishing company
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: Chicago-Cleveland : The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1262

USA > Ohio > Cuyahoga County > Cleveland > A history of Cleveland, Ohio, Volume I > Part 47

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The Germans living west of the river were formed in November, 1854, as a congregation under the title of St. Mary's of the Assumption, and were given the use of the church on the "Flats," till the dedication of their present church, corner Carroll and Jersey streets, in 1865. The Revs. J. J. Kramer, F. X. Ober- mueller and J. Hamene had successively charge of St. Mary's congregation, till last mentioned year. From 1865 to 1879 old St. Mary's was the cradle of the following congregations ; St. Malachy's 1865; St. Wenceslas', (Bohemian) 1867; Annunciation, (French) 1870. The Poles of Cleveland were the last to occupy the venerable proto church of Cleveland, viz .: from 1872 to 1879, when they or- ganized as St. Stanislas' congregation. In 1879 the old church was practically abandoned, as the Catholics residing in its neighborhood were not sufficient in number to warrant the organization or maintenance of a congregation. On the feast of Epiphany, January 6, 1886, Bishop Gilmour directed his vicar general, the Right Rev. Monsignor F. M. Boff, to celebrate mass in it-the last divine service held within its hallowed walls. It was a typical winter's day, with plenty of snow and ice covering the interior of the building, open for long to wind and weather. Two years previous a ruthless storm had blown down its much decayed spire, and the cold blasts had full sway in the church through broken roof and almost paneless windows. The forlorn looking edifice was packed to overflowing with an interested audience, composed largely of the old Catholic settlers of Cleveland, who had worshiped within its sacred walls in earlier years, when they were in the prime of life and the church attractive in appearance. The old mother church of Cleveland's Catholics then looked tattered and torn, while her daughters, decked in splendor, were carrying aloft in every part of the city, the Sign of Redemption on lofty tower or graceful spire. After mass a general desire was expressed to have the old church repaired and put in as good condition as it was when built- thus to be preserved as a relic for future generations of Catholics of Cleveland. An opportunity was offered to put into execution this laudable sentiment, by con- tributing the money necessary for the proposed expenditure, estimated at about

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two thousand dollars; but the project failed. Hence, the tooth of time was al- lowed to still further gnaw at the venerable church. Meanwhile the heirs of the original grantors of the lots, on which the church had so long stood, sued for reversal of title to said lots, owing to the nonfulfillment of conditions, mentioned in the deed of transfer. They based their suit on this fact, that now, and for some years past, the church had not been used, and that there was no Catholic church in use in the part of the city known formerly as "Cleveland centre." The suit was heard in the court of common pleas at its session, in the spring of 1888. A compromise decree was issued ordering the sale of the lots, the proceeds to be divided equally between the diocese of Cleveland and the heirs of the original grantors. To clear the lots preparatory to their sale Bishop Gilmour had the church torn down in September, 1888.

In 1854 Bishop Rappe established St. Patrick's congregation, to accommodate the large number of Irish Catholics living west of the Cuyahoga river, in that part of Cleveland, then known as Ohio City. Their church, a brick edifice, was located on Whitman street, and has since been replaced by the present large and handsome structure on Bridge street. Two years later another Irish congregation was organized in the eastern section of the city, under the patronage of the Immaculate Conception. Their first house of worship was a frame building which stood in the rear of the cathedral. It had been used for a time as a "chapel of east" and as a parochial school. Bishop Rappe had it removed out Superior street near McHenry street. Later it was replaced by the present splendid stone church, corner of Superior and Lyman streets. In 1858 St. Bridget's parish was organ- ized on Perry street, its first church being a very primitive looking brick building, since replaced by the present imposing structure. The Irish Catholics living on the south side were clamoring for a church of their own, as they found the dis- tance too great to St. Patrick's or to the cathedral. Hence Bishop Rappe granted their petition, and the result was the organization of St. Augustine's parish, which erected a frame church on Jefferson street in 1860. There they worshiped until 1896, when they secured a splendid church property on Jennings avenue, for- merly owned by the Congregationalists. A like petition was granted in 1862, to the English speaking Catholics living in Newburg, who were organized as a parish under the title of the Holy Rosary, which was changed to the Holy Name when they built their second church, in 1881.

The Germans belonging to St. Peter's church, living south of Euclid and west of Erie were organized in 1862, as a separate congregation, known as St. Joseph's. Their fame church was located on Woodland avenue, corner Chapel street, and was replaced in 1873 by their present brick church which ranks among the largest and handsomest in the city. The rapid growth of the English speaking Catholics of the west side (Ohio City) necessitated the formation of another parish, which was done in 1865, their chosen patron being St. Malachy. For a time they had services in the old church on the Flats, until 1869, when they moved into their own church, located on Washington street.

The Bohemians began to settle in Cleveland about 1865. Among them were many Catholics. They became sufficiently strong in numbers to organize a con- gregation, which was done in 1867. They secured lots on Arch street, where they built their first church under the patronage of St. Wenceslas. They are now wor-

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shipping in their second church-a fine structure located on Broadway, near For- est avenue. The large increase of Germans living in the western part of the city made the formation of a new parish a necessity. This was done in 1869, by divid- ing St. Mary's parish and organizing St. Stephen's, whose first church, a plain brick building, was located between Courtland and Scott streets. It was replaced in 1876 by the present splendid stone church, located on Courtland street (West Fifty-fourth). In 1870 three parishes were established : The Annunciation ( Hurd street) for the French; St. Columbkille's (corner Superior and Alabama), and Holy Family, now known as St. Edward's (Woodland avenue), for the English speaking Catholics.

In August, 1870, the Right Rev. Amadeus Rappe resigned as bishop of the dio- cese of Cleveland, to the great regret of his people who loved him, and of the non-Catholics who respected and admired him for his grand work in behalf of reli- gion and public morals. His name is held in benediction to this day and will live in the history of the Catholic church in the United States.1 Pending the appoint- ment of his successor, the Very Rev. Edward Hannan had charge of the diocese from August, 1870 till April, 1872, when the late and lamented Bishop Gilmour took up the arduous work so well done by his saintly and apostolic predecessor.

The Poles, who had been worshiping in St. Mary's church on the Flats for several years (from 1872 till 1879), built their first church, a frame structure, in 1879, on lots they had purchased on Tod street, in South Cleveland. Two years later they began their present church-the largest, and ranked among the finest in the country. It is under the patronage of St. Stanislas, their national saint.

The second church (St. Procop's) for the Bohemians, was built in 1875, on Burton street. It was replaced in 1907, by the present large and beautiful church. Another Irish parish was organized in 1880, in the then extreme west end of the city. The church, known as St. Colman's, is located on Gordon avenue (West Sixty-fifth street). During the same year the Germans, east of Willson avenue, built a frame church for themselves under the title of Holy Trinity-replaced in 1907 by the present stone church, and considered an architectural gem. In 1883 the Bohemians established two parishes-St. Adalbert's, on Lincoln avenue, and Our Lady of Lourdes, on Randolph street. The latter parish built its second, present and much larger church in 1892. In 1882 St. Michael's (German) con- gregation was organized. Their first church was a small wooden structure. They grew so rapidly in numbers that soon they were obliged to build a second and much larger edifice. It was finished in 1891 and is admitted by all who have seen it to be one of the finest in Ohio, if not in the United States.

In 1887 the old Turner hall on Central avenue was bought by Bishop Gilmour and fitted up as a church for the Italians of the city, and served them as such until the erection of their present brick church, in 1904. During the same year a new parish of Germans was established in the east end. Their first church, a frame structure, was dedicated to St. Francis. In 1905 it was replaced by the present splendid stone church, located at the corner of Superior and Becker avenues.

The Slovaks of the city were organized as a congregation in 1888. They built a frame church on lots purchased on Corwin avenue, and had it dedicated to their

1 He died at St. Albans, Vt., Sept. 8, 1877. His remains rest in the crypt of the Cleve- land Cathedral, which he built.

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national patron, St. Ladislas. Two years later the Poles organized a second par- ish. Their combination church and school, a frame structure, is located on Mar- celline avenue, in South Cleveland, and is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. A third Polish parish was established in the northeastern section of the city, in 1891, under the patronage of St. Casimir. In the same year a second Italian par- ish was organized in the east end. Its first church ( frame) was replaced in 1908 by a fine stone edifice. It is dedicated to Our Lady of the Holy Rosary.

April 13, 1891, the Right Rev. Bishop Gilmour succumbed to a long siege of se- rious illness, after having successfully governed his diocese for nineteen years. He was recognized as a public spirited man by those not belonging to his flock. He was acknowledged by his people as a prelate watchful over his charge, and looked to as a leader by the members of the Catholic hierarchy of this country. His death was deplored by Catholics and Protestants as a distinct loss to the church and to society, as was testified at a mass meeting held in Music hall, shortly after his demise.

The Right Rev. Monsignor F. M. Boff was then appointed administrator of the diocese, acting as such until the advent of the Right Rev. Ignatius F. Horst- mann, who succeeded Bishop Gilmour in March, 1892. On his arrival he was welcomed by thousands of Cleveland's citizens, and soon gained the good will and respect of all who came in official or social contact with him.

A second Slovak parish was organized in 1893, under the patronage of St. Martin. Their first place of worship was the German Reformed meeting house, located on Henry street, and bought by them. It was replaced by the present splen- did church, in 1908, and fronts on Scovill avenue, at the corner of East Twenty- third street. In 1893 the Catholic Hungarians (Magyars) were formed into a parish under the patronage of St. Elizabeth of Hungary. They have a neat brick church on South Woodland avenue. Their example was followed a year later by the United Greek Catholics, whose first church was built on Rawlings avenue, and dedicated to St. John the Baptist. They now have a handsome brick combination church and school on Buckeye road, near Woodland Hills avenue.

Between the years 1892 and 1908 there was a wonderful increase in the Catho- lic population of Cleveland. It is evidenced by the fact that it necessitated the formation of thirty parishes during that period, and composed mostly of the Slav race, with its variants of Slovaks, Poles, Bohemians, etc., who came from "father- land" to better their condition in Ohio's metropolis. Following is a list of the par- ishes organized between 1892 and 1908: Blessed Sacrament, Immaculate Heart of Mary, Nativity, Sacred Heart of Mary, St. Agnes, St. Aloysius, St. Andrew, St. Barbara, St. Boniface, St. Catharine, St. Elias, St. Elizabeth, St. Emeric, St. George, St. Helena, St. Hyacinth, St. Ignatius, St. John Baptist, St. John Can- tius, St. John Nepomucene, St. Lawrence, St. Marian, St. Martin, St. Nicholas, St. Paul, St. Philomene, St. Rose, St. Thomas, St. Vitus, St. Wendelin.

At present there are fifty-nine Catholic parishes in Cleveland. Classified ac- cording to languages spoken (thirteen) in their respective churches, there nine- teen English speaking, and Irish parishes; nine German; eight Polish; five Bo- hemian ; five Slovak; three Italian; two Magyar; two Slovenian; three Uniate- Greek Slovak; one Croatian; one Lithuanian; one Rumanian; and one Syrian.

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According to the diocesan census published in 1908 there are upwards of one hundred and twenty-five thousand Catholics in Cleveland. Of these the vast ma- jority belong to the laboring class, who cheerfully and generously support the cause of religion, as the many large, fine, and even splendid church and school edifices attest. At least ten of the churches rank in size and beauty with the best in the country-in large measure the result of the laborer's pittance and the widow's mite. Truly, the acorn planted in 1826, by Father Thomas Martin has developed into a mighty oak of sturdy and healthful growth.

The grim messenger of death summoned almost suddenly the third bishop of Cleveland-the gentle, generous Ignatius Frederick Horstmann. He died at Can- ton, Ohio, after less than a day's serious illness, May 13, 1909. His death was deeply mourned, not only by his own flock, whose devoted chief pastor he was for sixteen years, but also by non-Catholics generally. His obsequies, attended by an immense concourse, were most impressive. The remains of the lamented prel- ate repose in the cathedral crypt, near those of his three predecessors. Mon- signor F. M. Boff was then given temporary charge of the diocese, until the in- stallation of the Right Rev. John Patrick Farrelly, D. D., as fourth bishop of Cleveland, June 16, 1909.

PART II-SCHOOLS AND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS.

In 1848, shortly after the advent of Bishop Rappe to Cleveland, a frame build- ing was erected back of the cathedral, on the site now occupied by the bishop's residence on Superior avenue. It served as a "chapel of ease" for the Catholics living east of Erie street. On week days the sanctuary was closed by folding doors and the nave of the little structure served thus as a school-the first parochial school in Cleveland. Since that time the parochial school system has been ex- tended to every Catholic parish in this city, with only five exceptions, the mem- bers being too poor to support schools of their own. Every effort was made by Bishops Rappe and Gilmour to perfect the system. There are now fifty-four pa- rochial schools in Cleveland with an attendance of upwards of fifteen thousand pupils.

Nor has the higher education of the young been neglected. As early as 1850 Bishop Rappe invited a number of Ursuline Sisters, from France, to establish an academy for girls, which they did in a building purchased from Judge Cowles and located on Euclid avenue. For nearly sixty years they have trained thousands of girls who bless their Alma Mater, as the place wherein they received a solid Chris- tian education, and who in later years sent their children to the same painstaking sisters for a like training. The alumnae of this institution, now located at the corner of East Fifty-fifth street, and Scovill avenue, are to be found among the most influential Catholic and Protestant families in Cleveland.

In 1874, Bishop Gilmour had a colony of Sisters of Notre Dame come from Germany, to establish an academy for girls. Their flourishing institution is lo- cated at the corner of Superior avenue and East Eighteenth street. They also have a branch academy and boarding school on Woodland Hills.

A third academy was opened for girls, on Starkweather avenue, in 1889, by the Sisters of St. Joseph, and a fourth, in 1891, by the Sisters of the Humility

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of Mary, on Lorain street. The former is now located at West Park, and the lat- ter on Franklin avenue, and both are meeting with well deserved success.

Besides the Theological seminary, located, since 1850, on Lakeside avenue, but founded near Bond street, in 1848, for the training of young men for the priest- hood, is the very flourishing college of St. Ignatius, on Jersey street. It was es- tablished in 1886, by the Jesuits. In 1906, they also opened Loyola high school, on Cedar avenue. Like all institutions conducted by these model trainers of boys and young men, these two institutions have thus far realized the highest expectations of friends and patrons. As most of our Catholics are poor, or only in moderate circumstances, financially, and hence unable to afford their sons more than a common school education, it accounts for the fact, that Catholics have but two institutions in this city, where their sons can enjoy the advantages of higher education.

Bishop Gilmour was also a firm believer in the press as a public educator. He put his belief into practical effect by establishing, at great personal sacrifice of money and time, a journal to expound Catholic doctrine and defend Catholic rights. He named it "The Catholic Universe," whose first issue appeared on, July 4, 1874. In line with its founder's idea of Catholic journalism, it has ever since continued the course marked out for it.

PART III-CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS.

The orphan, the sick, the wayward, and the aged poor have also been cared for by the Catholics of Cleveland, to the fullest extent of their limited means. Bishop Rappe, who justly earned the title of "Father of the orphans," estab- lished two orphan asylums in 1851, viz .: one on Monroe street, for boys, under the name of St. Vincent's, and placed in charge of the Sisters of Charity, a relig- ious community founded by himself; the other, on Harmon street, for girls, and known as St. Mary's, which he entrusted to sisters, known as the Ladies of the Sacred Heart of Mary, who had come from France at his invitation, and in our city established their first home and asylum in the United States. They have since founded asylums and other charitable institutions in many of our large cities, notably in the east.

As the number of orphans steadily increased, it was found necessary, in 1862, to build a second asylum for orphan girls. It is located on Woodland avenue, and is known as St. Joseph's asylum. It was modernized and greatly enlarged in 1894-5, so that now it accommodates all the Catholic orphan girls in the city, St. Mary's asylum, on Harmon street no longer serving its original purpose.

Up to 1873 Cleveland had no shelter for waifs, disowned by their unnatural and criminal parents. So Catholic charity came to the rescue. Under the direc- tion of Bishop Gilmour a frame house was secured on Garden street (now Central avenue) near Charity hospital. It was fitted up for the reception of these worse than orphaned children, and placed in charge of the Sisters of Charity, who have since then given them a mother's care. A brick building was erected in 1874. It was located on Marion street, in the rear of Charity hospital, and known as St. Ann's Foundling asylum. Under the same roof and management, but in sep- arate quarters, was the Lying-in hospital, where the victims of man's perfidy

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were sheltered before confinement, and for a reasonable time thereafter, secure against the world's uncharitable tongue. Respectable but poor married women were also received in private rooms, and given every attention by a competent staff of physicians who, daily, and at call, visit both these institu- tions. A radical change in the location and equipment of St. Ann's asylum and Lying-in hospital was made in 1901, when Bishop Horstmann purchased the Sev- erance property, with its frontage of one hundred and fifty feet on Woodland ave- nue, and nearly three hundred feet on Long street. The fine large mansion on the property was remodeled and additional buildings erected to accommodate the growing need of this excellent, but for long, much misunderstood institution of charity, transferred in 1904 from its cramped quarters to its present healthy and very desirable location.

In 1852 the Sisters of Charity opened a hospital on Monroe street, in a small frame building, near St. Vincent's asylum. It was known as St. Joseph's hos- pital, but for want of support its existence was of short duration. In fact, Cleve- land had not as yet reached the period when the need of a hospital was felt. But during the Civil war this need was most keenly felt, when many of our sick and wounded soldiers were brought here from Southern hospital or battlefield, for medical or surgical care, and no hospital, public or private, to receive them!

It was then Bishop Rappe, always on the alert to do good where it should and could be done, offered to erect a hospital and furnish efficient nurses, if the citi- zens of Cleveland would give him financial assistance. His offer was promptly accepted, and the result was that in August, 1865, Charity hospital, located on the spacious grounds, bounded by Perry, Garden and Marion streets, was opened to the public, Governor Tod presiding at the opening ceremonies. The only pass- port to be shown by those desiring its benefits is: Need of medical or surgical attendance. Neither race, creed nor color, was then, or since, a barrier to admis- sion. From the day the hospital doors were opened for the reception of patients, down to the present time, the Sisters of Charity have ministered to many thousands of Cleveland's sick and maimed. And well equipped St. Vincent's Charity hos- pital, with its faithful nurses and excellent staff of physicians and surgeons, takes front rank with the hospitals of this country.

The city's rapid growth necessitated more hospitals. This want was gener- ously met by public and private funds, so that Cleveland is now well supplied in that respect. Since the opening of Charity hospital, two more have been estab- lished under Catholic auspices, viz .: in 1884, St. Alexis' hospital, under the care- ful supervision of the Franciscan Sisters, on Broadway, corner of McBride street ; and, in 1894, St. John's hospital, a large frame building, located on Detroit street, near Lake avenue, also in charge of the Franciscan Sisters. This was the last work originated by the late Bishop Gilmour. Both these hospitals are most fav- orably known to Cleveland's citizens. irrespective of creed, conducted as they are, on the same lines as Charity hospital.

As a safeguard for wayward girls, and fallen but penitent women, the Home of the Good Shepherd was founded by Bishop Rappe, in 1869, and placed in charge of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd, whose life work it is throughout the world to rescue the unfortunate outcast of their own sex. They began this work in Cleveland under very adverse circumstances, in a house secured for them on

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Lake street. A few years later they transferred the home to the large brick building which they erected at the corner of Sterling avenue and Sibley street. They are now in prosperous condition and have been the means of untold bless- ings to those committed to their care. And let it be recorded here, that many of Cleveland's non-Catholic and wealthy citizens have been and are still their bene- factors. Among them the late Wm. J. Gordon, Joseph Perkins, John Huntington and J. H. Wade were the most conspicuous.

Until the advent of the Little Sisters of the Poor, in 1870, Cleveland's aged poor had no home excepting the "Poor House," known also under its better sound- ing name of "City Infirmary." As many of them were in poverty or reduced circumstances, through no fault of theirs, often "proud, but honest and poor," they keenly felt what they considered a disgrace, to be obliged to seek food and shelter at public expense. To spare their feelings and provide them a comfortable home, with no stigma attached, the Little Sisters of the Poor opened a temporary asylum for them on Erie street, in 1870. Two years later the present home on Perry street gave them welcome. As the number of inmates increased, the buildings were remodeled or enlarged, the last addition having been completed in 1894, so that now the Home for the Aged Poor ranks with the largest and best appointed in the country. Here, as in our hospitals, no distinction is made as to race, creed, or color, the only requisites for admission being, that the applicants are at least sixty years of age, and poor. The Little Sisters are exceedingly popular in Cleve- land, and acknowledge with gratitude the many benefactions they have received, and are continually receiving from its citizens. Among their special benefactors were the late Wm. J. Gordon, John Huntington and Joseph Perkins.

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A history of Cleveland, Ohio, Volume I, Part 47

Author: Orth, Samuel Peter, 1873-1922; Clarke, S.J., publishing company Publication date: 1910 Publisher: Chicago-Cleveland : The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 1262

Author: Orth, Samuel Peter, 1873-1922; Clarke, S.J., publishing company
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: Chicago-Cleveland : The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1262