USA > Pennsylvania > Allegheny County > Pittsburgh > A history of the Catholic church in the dioceses of Pittsburg and Allegheny from its establishment to the present time > Part 16
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The growth of the congregation, though fair some years ago, is now tardy ; which is in part due to the financial de- pression of the times, and in part to the recklessness with which the city has been plunged into debt in the course of a few years by the construction of suburban avenues. These needless improvements have so increased the taxes that people seem rather to be renting their homes from the tax-collector than owning them. But the congregation must continue to increase, notwithstanding the difficulties against which it has to contend. It numbers at present about two hundred families.
ST. AUGUSTINE'S GERMAN CHURCH, PITTSBURG.
St. Augustine's congregation is the last of those formed from St. Philomena's. So large a number of German Catho- lics were found in the rapidly increasing. population of this part of the city that the formation of a parish and the erec- tion of a church were comparatively easy. The congregation was organized in the spring of 1860, and in April lots were purchased on Butler Street, between Thirty-sixth and Thirty- seventh streets. Being Germans, the first care of the people was to open a school, which they did in a rented room. The foundation of the church was begun in the spring of 1862 ; and the corner-stone was laid by Fr. M.Mahon, V.G., June 22d. Rev. Philip Schmidt, from St. Mary's Church, Alle- gheny, organized the congregation and built the church,
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DEATH OF REV. PHILIP SCHMIDT.
which was finished in a year, and dedicated by the Bishop on Thanksgiving Day, November 26th, 1863. Fr. Schmidt now withdrew, and returned, it would appear, to St. Mary's. From there he retired to the Mercy Hospital, and died after a short illness in the summer of 1866, in the 48th year of his age. He was interred in the German cemetery, Allegheny. He was a native of Freiburg, Germany ; and having studied and been ordained, he exercised the duties of the sacred min- istry for some years in his native land. Coming to this country, he entered the Diocese of Pittsburg a few years before his death.
Rev. John N. Tamchina was now appointed resident pastor. The church, which, as will be seen, has since been enlarged, was a brick structure, and was then about 100 feet in length by 60 in width. It has a tower rising to the height of about 150 feet in the centre in front, and is approached by a flight of stone steps owing to the inclination of the ground upon which it is built. The ceiling is about 50 feet high, and approaches the tunnel vault in the manner in which it is arched. The elements of the Romanesque style of architec- ture predominate in the whole edifice, although it is not after that style in all its purity.
The next care of the congregation was the erection of the pastoral residence, a brick house standing a little distance to the rear of the church. The increasing congregation soon filled the church at two Masses, which was formerly too spacious for them at one ; and in 1868 an assistant priest be- came necessary. In the same year the school-house, which had been built before the church, was enlarged. In October Fr. Tamchina withdrew, and was succeeded by Rev. Geo. Kircher ; but he returned in September, 1871. The Sisters of St. Francis then took charge of the schools, which had from the commencement been taught by laymen ; and came daily for that purpose, as they still do, from St. Francis' Hos- pital, not far distant from the church. St. Joseph's congre- gation, Bloomfield, had been cut off in 1870.
The congregation continued to increase rapidly and to em- brace within its limits many of the leading German Catholics of the city, so that a second assistant priest became necessary in
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" THE LAZY MONKS."
1872. In other respects it witnessed little change until April, 1874, when Fr. Tamchina was succeeded by a colony of Capuchin friars, exiles from Prussia, under the leadership of Rev. Hyacinth Epp, the present pastor of the church and guardian of the community. The church became once more inadequate to the accommodation of the people, and plans were prepared in the fall of 1874 for its enlargement. This addition is in the form of a transept, with an extension of the nave, giving the ground-plan of the church the form of a cross. The new part is of the same style as the original building, but develops its leading characteristics to a greater extent. Although not yet finished in the interior, the church was dedicated by the Bishop July 4th, 1875.
The church at present is about 175 feet in length by about II0 feet in width in the transept and 60 in the nave, and is the same height to the ceiling as was the original building. The apse at the head of the nave forms the sanctuary of the high altar, and this one only is enclosed within the altar-rail- ing. To the left stand two altars side by side, and one at the end of the transept; while on the right there is but one and the baptistery. All the altars are of wood, but are very artis- tically carved and finished. The high altar especially is a masterpiece of artistic skill, and contains three life-size statues. What is most remarkable, however, is that the altars and the pulpit were planned and built by the skill and labor of one of the lay brothers of the community. I had the pleasure on two occasions of entering the workshop of this humble son of St. Francis and witnessing the skill with which he executed his difficult work. And yet we never hear the last of " lazy monks," " drones," etc., while in our midst-did our Protes- tant friends but open their eyes-is presented a most ir- refragible refutation of these threadbare calumnies. The Redemptorists, the Benedictines, the Passionists, the Carmel- ites, the Capuchins, all have united in erecting monuments that give the lie to popular prejudice; yet men "have eyes, and see not ; have ears, and hear not."
A brick monastery was about the same time built against the rear of the church and connected with the existing pas- toral residence which forms a part of it. This new building
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ST. JOSEPH'S CHURCH, PITTSBURG.
fronts on Thirty-seventh Street, and is spacious, comfortable, and well ventilated-the home of the community, the silent witness of their toil, their studies, their devotion, their auster- ities and repose.
A more spacious school building is necessary, and will soon be undertaken.
Besides ministering to the congregation, one of the fathers has charge of the community and patients of St. Francis' Hos- pital. They had charge of St. Joseph's Church also until the beginning of 1877, at which time a resident pastor was ap- pointed.
The congregation will continue to increase both in num- bers and wealth, although it is at present the third in popu- lation of the German congregations, and by far the wealthiest for its size. It bids fair to be ere long the leading German congregation in this part of the State.
ST. JOSEPH'S GERMAN CHURCH, PITTSBURG.
The suburb of Bloomfield, which forms a part of the north- east of the city and has not changed its name since its annexation, is about a mile distant from the Allegheny River and three miles from the Point. The first Catholics who settled here were Germans from the more central parts of the city, who in the days of our prosperity purchased lots and built humble residences, and they are principally those in moderate circumstances. In the beginning they heard Mass at St. Augustine's Church, but they were soon desirous of having a church of their own, and more especially a school. Admirable instinct of our German Catholic friends! A Catholic school -who can tell the blessings it brings with it! Fr. Tamchina, who was at that time pastor of St. Augustine's, seeing the flattering prospects of the growing suburb, favored the under- taking, and in 1867 lots were purchased by the united efforts of twenty of the heads of leading families, for school and church purposes, at a cost of $2200. A small frame building about 26 by 35 feet and two stories high was erected, and in the following year a school was opened in the lower story by a lay teacher. The pastor of St. Augustine's had now an
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THE POLES.
assistant ; and as the number of Catholics had considerably increased, the second story was fitted up for a church in 1870, . and Mass was celebrated every Sunday. But the church was soon unable to accommodate the increasing throng. To remedy the defect an addition was built across the end of the existing church in 1872, making it about 65 feet in length by 40 in width in the transept and 26 in the nave. An humble belfry surmounts it, and the interior is neatly finished. The church was dedicated by the Bishop November 3d of the same year.
Rev. Ed. Hanses was now appointed resident pastor, who continued to exercise the duties of his ministry until succeeded by Rev. Julius Kuenzer, in the fall of 1873. But in the follow, ing July he was transferred to another parish, and St. Joseph's was again attached to St. Augustine's. The church, however, regained its independence early in 1877, when the present in- cumbent, Rev. John Staub, was appointed pastor. A brick residence was built in the fall of 1877, before which time the pastor had occupied a rented house.
After the school had been for some time in the hands of a lay teacher it was committed to the care of the Sisters of St. Agnes during the pastorate of Fr. Hanses. But after a short time they were succeeded by the Sisters of St. Francis, who continue to the present time, and who walk daily from St. Francis' Hospital, half a mile distant.
The congregation will number at present perhaps two hundred families, and, being in the outskirts of the city, must continue to increase. It will be but a few years before a larger church will be demanded.
ST. STANISLAUS' POLISH CHURCH, PITTSBURG.
When the good people of Pittsburg were informed, in the fall of 1875, that the Fourth Presbyterian Church, on Penn Avenue, between Fifteenth and Sixteenth streets, with the large lot upon which it stands, had been purchased for $10,000 and was converted into a Polish church, they first began to realize that there were Catholics of this nationality among us. They reside principally in the eastern section of the South
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ST. STANISLAUS' CHURCH.
Side, and near their present church; but it would be difficult to determine the time at which they came to this city. The manner in which they were formerly ministered to is almost equally mysterious. During the lifetime of Fr. Stiebel, who died in January, 1869, they could have found a confessor in him. Soon after his death the Bohemian church was opened, the pastor of which, Fr. Videnka, was also master of the Polish language. A priest capable of conversing with them may also have sometimes been found among the Redemptorist fathers at St. Philomena's, or at the Passionist Monastery. But they felt the inconvenience of their situation, and accord- ingly wrote to their native land, about the year 1874, asking for a priest. They did not, however, succeed.
But in April, 1875, Rev. Anton Klowitzer, a Polish priest, entered the diocese and lodged for a time with the pastor of St. Michael's Church, South Side. He visited his fellow- countrymen in the different parts of the city, and said Mass for them in the basement of that church. Believing that the greater part resided near St. Philomena's-which is now known to have been an error-he purchased the church, as has been said, in the autumn of 1875. After undergoing the necessary alterations it was dedicated by the Bishop October Ioth of the same year, and is the only Polish church in the two dioceses.
The building has stood perhaps twenty years, and shows signs of age. But it is still substantial, and is about 60 feet in length by 40 in width, and has no steeple. The interior has a gallery over the entrance and along the sides. The style of finish is chaste and simple but not expensive. But the colors are too striking to please an American taste. Here our Polish friends indulge on certain festivals in devotions and ceremonies that appear novel to us, but which have been brought from Fatherland and serve to carry the memory and affections back to it. A part of the basement, which is half beneath the surface, has been fitted up for a school, and here the good father himself taught the children till after some months, when a teacher was employed. Another small portion was made to answer the purposes of a pastoral residence, where the zealous priest, like the prophet Elizeus, rested after
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RECAPITULATION.
his labors. But a brick house was built in 1877. Toward the end of that year Fr. Klowitzer withdrew to a Polish colony in the north-west, and was succeeded by Rev. E. Bratkiewicz. But he withdrew in December, 1878, and the church was without a pastor for some months. One of the Fathers of the Holy Ghost from the Catholic College offered up the Holy Sacrifice for the people on Sundays, and one of the Passionist fathers, acquainted with their language, visited their sick. At length, in August, 1879, Rev. John Gratza came to Pittsburg and was appointed pastor of the congregation.
The congregation comprises about two hundred families, all of whom belong to the poorer class; but they are possessed of a faith and piety quite unusual in our day. There is little probability that any material change will take place for years to come in their numbers or condition. Besides these there are no other Polish Catholics in the two dioceses, with the exception of a dozen or more families at Natrona, twenty-three miles up the Allegheny River.
RECAPITULATION.
To recapitulate. We have seen that the Catholic population of Pittsburg and Allegheny was so small and insignificant in the early years of the present century that the place was visited as a station from Brownsville. In 1810-but seventy years ago-the first priest, Rev. F. X. O'Brien, had just taken up his residence here, and had undertaken to build the first church, a diminutive edifice. There were no more perhaps than a dozen Catholic families at that time. But mark the change. In the two cities there are now, instead of one priest, a Bishop and sixty-two priests. Instead of an unfinished church and one Mass perhaps once, or at most twice, in the month- for, as Very Rev. Felix de Andreis remarked in a letter, al- ready quoted, Father O'Brien had a parish as large as ten dioceses-there are now two Cathedrals, fourteen English, eleven German, one Polish, and one Bohemian church, and nine large chapels, in which eighty-seven Masses are celebrat- ed every Sunday. Where there was then no religious order there are now seven orders of men and nine of women. To
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RECAPITULATION.
this must be added seven charitable institutions, one college, two large and a number of smaller academies, with twenty- four parish schools taught by religious and three by laics. The Catholic population, which did not at that time exceed seventy souls, may now be fairly estimated at 70,000. " And the mustard seed grew and became a great tree."
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CHAPTER XII.
CHURCHES IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY.
St. Joseph's Church, Verona-Chapel of the Sacred Heart, Plum Creek-St. James' Church, Wilkinsburg-Braddock's Field-Chapel at Tarra Hill-St. Thomas' Church-Death and sketch of Rev. Peter Hughes-St. Joseph's German Church-M'Keesport-St. Peter's Church-Death and sketch of Rev. M. Hærer-and of Rev. Cajetan Kloker-St. Agnes' Church, Bull's Run-St. Patrick's Church, Alpsville-St. Michael's Church, Elizabeth- Death and sketch of Rev. M. J. Brazill-Transfiguration Church, Mononga- hela City, Washington County.
THE congregations of Allegheny County, being in many cases offshoots of those of the two cities, are now to engage our attention. And first of those that lie east of the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers and belong to the Diocese of Pitts- burg.
ST. JOSEPH'S CHURCH, VERONA.
Verona is situated on the eastern bank of the Allegheny River, ten miles above Pittsburg. At first it was known as Verner Station, Allegheny Valley Railroad, but in process of time it grew and was incorporated as Verona borough in 1871. The first Catholic settlers of the vicinity were Ger- mans, who came to Pittsburg, and later to Sharpsburg, to hear Mass and comply with their religious duties. But as early as 1840 one of them, Adam Wirtz, bought fourteen acres of land and settled upon it, and when the number of Catho- lics had sufficiently increased fitted up a room in his house for a chapel. Here Mass was offered up at irregular inter- vals ; but it is impossible to determine at what time or by whom it first began to be celebrated. At length Mr. Wirtz died, leaving his property to the German Orphan Asylum on condition that it should build a chapel upon it. Sufficient
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ST. JOSEPH'S CHURCH, VERONA.
ground for the site was given, but the chapel was not built. After the completion of the railroad, in 1855, the congregation increased. A native and Irish element was also introduced ; for up to this time it was exclusively German. Mass was now celebrated more frequently ; but the church was not under- taken until 1866. The Redemptorist fathers from St. Philo- mena's, who were ministering to the people, then took it in hand, and the corner-stone was laid by the Bishop July 23d of that year. The building was finished before the winter, and dedicated under the patronage of St. Joseph by Father Stiebel, but upon what day I have not been able to learn. It occupies a most ineligible site on the side of the hill, about half a mile from the river ; and is a frame building about 55 feet in length by 38 in width, with a belfry over the entrance. It is chaste in appearance and finish, but without architec- tural pretensions. Mass was now celebrated once a month each by the Redemptorist and Passionist fathers, until August, 1870, when Rev. Joseph Suhr was appointed pastor of Verona and Wilkinsburg, with his residence at the latter place. For three years he celebrated Mass at both places every Sunday, riding from the one to the other, a distance of six miles, between the Masses. Finding the church too small he built an addition to it consisting of a recess for the altar and a sacristy, and had the interior otherwise improved and frescoed. There were then about sixty families, some of whom resided several miles distant.
But in time the two congregations became too heavy a charge for one pastor, and in June, 1873, Rev. W. A. Burke was appointed to Wilkinsburg and Father Sühr was sta- tioned at Verona. A pastoral residence now became neces- · sary, and he purchased lots on the hill near the church, where a part of the town is built, and erected a neat brick house. Lots are reserved in the same place for a new church when it becomes necessary. The building of the railroad-shops here has induced a number of families to settle in the town, among whom are a few Catholics.
In the middle of May, 1878, Father Suhr was transferred to the Church of Sts. Peter and Paul, Pittsburg, and was suc- ceeded by Rev. J. Rittiger, the present pastor.
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CHAPEL OF THE SACRED HEART.
The congregation numbers at present about eighty fami- lies, but the German element is so far merged in the English that, although confessions are still heard in the former lan- guage, and the pastor is required to be familiar with it, there are no longer sermons preached in it.
The small number of Catholics, and the distance especially at which many of them live from the church, have prevented the opening of a parish school, and will for a few years at least. But the prospects for the future growth and impor- tance of the congregation are flattering.
CHAPEL OF THE SACRED HEART, PLUM CREEK.
In the autumn of 1873 Father Suhr turned his attention to the spiritual welfare of a body of Catholic miners, about twenty families in number, that had settled on Plum Creek, about eight miles east from Verona. To this point the Allegheny Valley Railroad had lately laid a branch track for the purpose of shipping coal. Having visited the place a few times, he purchased a lot and determined to built a chapel. It was soon done, and in this simple little frame building Mass has since been celebrated at regular intervals. It can- not be doubted that this outpost will increase and become in time an independent congregation. But its growth and pros- perity will depend on the traffic to which it owes its rise.
With this exception there are no Catholics in the north- eastern part of Allegheny County east of the river, nor in the western part of Westmoreland County, except in the imme- diate vicinity of Freeport, about eighteen miles above Verona, and a family here and there along the railroad.
ST. JAMES' CHURCH, WILKINSBURG.
The village of Wilkinsburg is situated on the Pennsylvania Railroad, seven miles east of Pittsburg by that thoroughfare, although near the boundary of the city. It was founded some time prior to the year 1840, and was successively known as M Nairsville, Rippeysville, and Wilkinsburg, the last of which was bestowed upon it in honor of Hon. W. Wilkins, at one
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ST. JAMES' CHURCH, WILKINSBURG.
time U. S. ambassador to Russia. When the city limits were extended, in 1867, it became one of the eastern wards; but after a protracted litigation it was permitted to withdraw, and so it remains.
The number of Catholics is small, and the principal part of the congregation resides at certain coal-mines about a mile to. the north-east. At first the people formed a part of the con- gregation of Sts. Peter and Paul, East Liberty ; but being English they were at a disadvantage, and under the direction of Rev. J. M. Bierl, then pastor of that church, undertook the erection of one for themselves. A very eligible lot was pur- chased near the railroad, consisting of about an acre of ground, and work was commenced on a church. Upon its completion it was dedicated, under the invocation of St. James, by Father Hickey, Administrator, November 29th, 1869. The church is a frame building, about 55 feet in length by 30 in width, is simple in architectural style, and is surmounted by a belfry. But no resident pastor was appointed, although Mass was celebrated in the church, until August, 1870, when Rev. Jos. Suhr was stationed there, as we have seen, with the additional charge of Verona. He lodged at Wilkinsburg, and celebrat- ed Mass every Sunday, although as yet no residence was built. He continued to minister to the two congregations until June, 1873, when he confined his labors to Verona alone, and Rev. W. A. Burke was appointed to Wilkinsburg. The first care of the newly appointed pastor was to build a resi- dence, and the elegant brick house which he now occupies- for he is yet pastor of the church-is the fruit of his labors. No school has yet been opened, nor will be until the congrega- tion shall have grown larger. Like all the parishes depending upon mining or manufacture, St. James' suffered from the financial depression of 1873 ; but it is slowly recovering, and must continue gradually to increase in the future. At present it will not exceed eighty families, if it will reach that number.
BRADDOCK'S FIELD.
The reader will remember that Braddock's Field is on the castern bank of the Monongahela River, about ten miles above
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BRADDOCK'S FIELD.
Pittsburg and a short distance below the mouth of Turtle Creek, and that it derives its name from General Braddock, who was there met and defeated by the French and Indians, after an engagement of three hours' duration, July 10th, 1755, as we have stated more at length in a previous chapter. But the town is of a much more recent date. The first white set- tler in the place was one John Frazier, an Indian trader. Washington speaks of him as having been driven from Ve- nango by the French, and it is probable that he came to Turtle Creek in the spring of 1753. He established a trading post on the bank of the river, immediately below the mouth of the creek, where he was visited by Major Washington on his mis- sion to the French. His name does not occur after the defeat of Gen. Braddock .*
A village began to spring up on the historic spot early in the present century, but it was not until the completion of the Pennsylvania Railroad to this point, in November, 1851, that it began to attain to any importance. The ground rises gently from the river, and the railroad passes through the back of the town ; while the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad runs near the river. The Edgar Thompson Steel Works, built a few years ago and now being constantly enlarged, have added con- siderably to the size and importance of the place. The town was incorporated in 1867, and has at present a population of about 3500.+
CHAPEL AT TARRA HILL.
But Catholics were not among the first settlers at Brad- dock's Field. On the opposite side of the river, however, a few farmers and miners located themselves, and a small brick chapel was built for them on the brow of the hill by one of the priests attached to the Cathedral. The place was called Tarra Hill, or Green Springs, and was usually visited on one Sunday in the month until after the church had been built at Braddock's Field and a regular pastor appointed, about the year 1863. From that date Mass was not celebrated, and the
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