USA > Washington > Spokane County > An illustrated history of Spokane county, state of Washington > Part 24
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103
In 1864 Father De Smet passed through Spokane on his way to St. Louis via Portland and California. This was his last visit to the inissions.
Father Camana, who at the time was re- siding at the "Old mission," used to visit Peon Prairie, pitching his tent and remaining two or three weeks at a time. It was here in 1864 that he baptized Baptist Peon, chief of the camp located at Peon Prairie, together with his wife and children and a few others of his camp.
During the winter of 1866-67 Rev. J. M. Cathaldo was appointed to missionary work among the Spokanes. At his arrival he found shelter under the roof of Chief Peon's cabin, but his first care was to have a cabin put. up for himself. This served as church and resi- cence. and it may be called the first Catholic chapel in Spokane county. It was very primi- tive in style, being nothing more than a rude log cabin, withont other floor than the bare ground, cold and damp as it must have been.
Still it was not without difficulty that this shanty could be reared. as the head chief. who was known to be ill-disposed to the new re- ligion, was absent and the petty chiefs feared to incur his displeasure by allowing it to be put up. But Father Cathaldo was not to be deterred seeing that so many were eager to be instructed, and accordingly got permission to put up the cabin until the chief's return, which would be in three months, agreeing that if after that time they wished him to do so, he would destroy the building. But long before the time had expired the little camp determined to brave all opposition and keep both the cabin and the priest. By that time all the members of the camp were baptized.
Owing to a mistake the orders calling an- other Fathier to St. Ignatius mission came to Father Cathaldo, who, in May, 1867, left for that mission. Father Joseph Bandini, who died here in Spokane in 1898 and who is buried at old St. Michael's mission, succeeded Father Cathaldo, but made no considerable stay. The same may be said of Father Tosi. who succeeded Father Bandini, and who died but a few years ago in Alaska.
For the next few years the Spokane In- (lians had no resident missionary. but were visited from time to time from either the old Cœur d' Alene misson or from Colville.
In 1875 Fathers Giorda. Tosi. Cathakdlo and one other Father were sent to give a mis- sion, which had the happy effect of reviving and increasing the fervor of the Catholic
145
HISTORY OF SPOKANE COUNTY.
Spokanes. But it became more and more ap- parent that no lasting good could be done un- less a priest would be permanently stationed here. Still this could not be accomplished until 1878, when Father Cathaldo returned and put up the little chapel which is still standing. about eight miles from town. At that time the Spokane Indians numbered about six hun- dred, about one-half being Catholics.
For a few years past white settlers had be- gun to gather around the Falls, awaiting the coming of the Northern Pacific Railroad. Yet they were few in number. But in 1878 Spo- kane and its vicinity became somewhat promi- nent. through the exertions of a few energetic settlers, some of whom, as J. J. Browne and J. N. Glover. are still alive. Among the early settlers there were of course Catholics to be found, who hearing that there was a priest among the Spokane Indians, soon availed themselves of the opportunity to visit them. But St. Michael's was quite out of the way. and yielding to the reiterated petition of the white Catholics, Father Cathaldo, then su- perior of the Rocky Mountain mission, in the fall of 1881 purchased the lot and small build- ing. 15x22 feet, on the corner of Main and Bernard streets. This building, which is still standing, was used temporarily for church purposes. At the Christmas mass in 1881 there were but twelve persons present. Rev. Aloysius Jaquet, who arrived in Spokane April 12. 1882, and said mass in this little chapel the following Sunday, had a congregation of fourteen persons, five of whom I believe were Protestants. This Father, who resided at St. Michael's, was given charge of the outlying districts and visited, besides Spokane, Cheney, Sprague, the Big Bend country. Forts Spo- kane and Sherman and the Cœur d' Alene district.
During the winter of 1881-82 a temporary building was erected just at about the present crossing of the Spokane & Northern and Union Pacific tracks, on the property purchased from
the Northern Pacific railroad. This building served as residence for the Fathers until Gon- zaga College was completed in 1886. Beside attending to the little parish in town, the Fathers continued their work at St. Michael's mission, where Father Joset had a congregation of between one hundred and one hundred and fifty Indians.
On April 9 1884. Father Ruellan arrive.l at St. Michael's mission, and, after spending Holy Week there, came into Spokane with Father Cathaldo, who appointed him resident priest for Spokane Falls. He began work among the whites with great zeal and his ef- forts met with good success. for soon the little chapel was wholly inadequate for his ever-in- creasing congregation. The want of a church able to accommodate the congregation was keenly felt, and to meet this want Father Ruellan opened a subscription list for a new brick church. But in December. 1884. he was appointed superior of the Colville mission and went there on the 21st of December, but he died a few days after arriving.
He was succeeded at Spokane Falls by Rev. Aloysius Jaquet, who at once exerted himself to gather the money necessary for the new church. This was no easy task, as the Catholics were few and just starting in life. However they did what they could. The Father moreover found great generosity on the part of non-Catholics: in fact everybody was willing to contribute to the erection of the new church, which they looked upon as destined to be an ornament to the rising town as well as a house for divine worship. At last the money required was gathered and before long the church of Our Lady of Lourdes, which stands on Main street, between Washington and Bernard, was completed. On Sunday. . July 4. 1886, the church was dedicated by the late Bishop Junger. A few days afterwards Father Jaquet was sent to DeSmet mission to replace Father Tosi, who was setting out for Alaska, and Father Rebmann, who was al-
·
10
146
HISTORY OF SPOKANE COUNTY.
ready in charge of Gonzaga College, assumed the charge of the church and parish also.
On October 6, 1887, the Catholics of Spo- kane had the pleasure of paying their respects to Cardinal Gibbons. Hearing that he was to. pass through the city, they sent a committee to meet him at Rathdrum, and when the train arrived at the Spokane depot, quite a crowd, not merely of Catholics, but of other citizens as well, greeted the Cardinal, who was ac- companied by Archbishop Gross. Bishop Bundel of Helena, Montana, and Dr. Chappel of Washington, District of Columbia.
In reply to an address of welcome on the part of the Catholics of Spokane, delivered by Rev. J. Rebmann, the Cardinal in a short, pithy address thanked the people for the reception, and in conclusion said : "Ffity years hence when you have a population of forty thousand or fifty thousand, you will look back with thoughts of reverence for the pioneers of your civilization and invoke God's blessing upon them." Yet even the sagacity of this typical American could not forsee the rapid growth of our noble city, which in thirteen years has achieved what the Cardinal gave us half a century to accomplish.
It was during the pastorship of Father Rebmann that the Sisters of Providence came to found the hospital, which has been such a blessing to Spokane, and where many a sufferer has found more than a mother's care when stricken down by an accident or by disease. But of this I will speak in the third part of my article, when I will treat of the charitable in- stitutions which the Catholics are conducting in Spokane.
In March, 1887, Father Jaquet was recalled to Spokane to raise money to put up the pa- rochial school which stands next to the Main street church. Work was begun soon after · and the building was opened in 1888, with the Sisters of the Holy Names in charge.
August 4, 1889, is a day that will long be remembered, especially by those who saw
themselves burned out of house and home by the great conflagration which swept away al- most all the business portion of Spokane Falls. Happily, fire did not destroy any of the build- ings that the Catholics had erected at the cost ot so much labor.
The Catholic population had so much in- creased that even the church of Our Lady of Lourdes was not sufficient, so during the pas- torship of Rev. Charles Mackin the church of St. Joseph, situated on Dean avenue, was built by the Jesuit Fathers and was dedicated by Bishop Junger May 15, 1890. Father E. Kanten attended it together with the Main street church for about a year and a half, when its present pastor, Rev. J. De Kanter took charge.
In 1890, Rev. J. M. Cathaldo, then superior of the Jesuits of the Rocky Mountains, turned over both the church of Our Lady of Lourdes and that of St. Joseph's to the secular clergy. Rev. Emile Kanten was on May 1, 1890, as- signed by the bishop as pastor of the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes, where he lias re- mained ever since. endearing himself to his flock by his untiring zeal.
Rev. J. De Kanter came in January, 1891, as assistant to Father Kanten and, as has just been said. later on assumed charge of St. Joseph's church, where he is at present, de- voting himself to the welfare of his people.
On October 4. 1891, an event of great in- terest in the history of the Catholic church in the Northwest was celebrated at Gonzaga Col- lege, the golden jubilee of the founding of the Rocky Mountain missions. What a change has come over the country since the 4th of October, 1841, when Father De Smet began his great work at St. Mary's mission, in the Bitter Root valley, Montana.
On November 16, 1891. another Catholic church, that of the Sacred Heart, situated on Fifth avenue, was dedicated by Rev. Father Joeren of Uniontown, who was delegated by Bishop Junger to act in his stead, as the Bishop
147
HISTORY OF SPOKANE COUNTY.
lay sick at the time at the Sisters' Hospital in this city. This church was bought and re- moved to its present site by Rev. Barnabas Held, O. S. B., who had come to Spokane August 17, 1890, as an assistant to Father Kanten. The site upon which this church and the parochial school house attached to it are located, was bought by the Jesuit Fathers and donated to the diocese for church purposes. At present Rev. L. Kusters is in charge of this church and school.
After turning over the two churches to the secular clergy the Jesuits confined them- selves to their new parish and college work; and as quite a few Catholic families lived near the college, the college chapel was opened to them as a place of worship. But the num- ber of students as well as the number of Catholics on the North Side increasing, it was deemed necessary to build a church on the college grounds, especially as the Bishop had lately erected the new parish of St. Aloysius, with the college chapel as its church.
Accordingly work was begun in the sum- mer of 1892 by Rev. J. B. Rene, now vicar- apostolic of Alaska, on a new church and on November 20, 1892, it was dedicated by our late Bishop Aegidius Junger. D. . D., and named St. Aloysius church. Last fall it was removed to its present site, corner of Boone avenue and Astor, and at present writing is being enlarged to more than twice its capacity.
When, in 1893, the Great Northern Rail- road established its yards at Hillyard, the Jesuit Fathers bought ground and erected thereon a small church at their own expense; and on its being completed it was blessed, as had been the other Catholic churches of Spo- kane, by Bishop Junger under the title of St. Patrick's church. It has since then been at- tended by Fathers stationed at Gonzaga college.
I can draw this first part of my sketch to a close by stating that a new stone church is soon to be erected in. Spokane, by the congre-
gation of Our Lady of Lourdes. Land has already been purchased, but as the plans have not yet been accepted, I can only state that it will be a church that will be an honor to the Catholics of Spokane, an ornament to our city, and one more proof that the Catholic church is ever alive to the great work its divine founder gave it to do.
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN HER EDUCATIONAL WORK.
Having rapidly traced, in the first part of this article, the history of the Catholic church in Spokane county in its spiritual work of ministering to the souls of men, I will now sketch briefly the history of her work of edu- cation.
It has ever been the practice of the Catholic church to rear, beside the church wherein she offers her daily sacrifices and prayers to God, a school for the education of her children, and this sight of church and school rising simul- taneously, side by side, represents the Catholic idea of education; which believes that, while training the mind in the precepts of human wisdom, the heart too must be trained in the precepts of God, that is in its duties to God. to country and to its fellow beings. The little child learning with difficulty the letters of the al- phabet has imprinted in its young, impression- able heart a sense of its duties to God, to par- ents and to its companions; and while the mind expands with years and advances step by step along the rugged path of knowledge, the heart is all the while being impressed with the sacred duties of religion; so that when school days come to a close, and the child now advancing to manhood, leaves school to take his place in society, he is not only trained in the several branches of business knowledge, but he goes forth with a deep sense of the sacred obligations which bind him to be faith- ful to God, loyal to his country, just and up- right in his dealings with his fellow man. That the Catholics of Spokane have not been .
148
HISTORY OF SPOKANE COUNTY.
backward in educational work will be shown by a short sketch of their educational estab- lishments.
Gonzaga College .- As stated in the first part of this article the Jesuit Fathers bought land from the Northern Pacific Railroad Company on the north side of the river, intending it for school purposes. But is was not until 1884 that work was begun on what was to be Gon- zaga College. Work progressed very slowly, the bricks being made on the spot in a very primitive manner. In consequence the rest of the work was correspondingly delayed, so that it was not until 1886 that the building was completed. It was first opened to students in the fall of 1887 under the presidency of Rev. J. Rebmann. Its beginning was quite modest. only eighteen students appearing on its roll for the first scholastic year and these were mostly small boys in the lower classes. The following year, however, the number of stu- (lents was doubled and the course of studies advanced from that time until the scholastic year of 1892-93, when the college had one hundred students ; its progress was steady not only in increase of students, but in a continual raising of the standard of studies.
The following scholastic year, 1893-4, Gonzaga College, in common with all other in- stitutions of its kind, suffered from the busi- ness depression and failures which marked that year and the number of students dropped to sixty-nine. But it was only a temporary set- back, and that, too, merely in numbers, as the high sandard of the classes was kept up. On April 22, 1894, this college was incorporated and empowered to confer such degrees and literary honors as are usually conferred by similar institutions of learning, and on June 28, of this same year, the degree of Bachelor of Arts was conferred on two students, who had completed the prescribed course. From that time on the success of Gonzaga College was assured. It soon became apparent that a new building was necessary and on July 29,
1897, ground was broken for the new Gonzaga College building, situated on the beautiful site overlooking the bay and facing Boone avenue, near the old college building, which it now has replaced. The new building, which is one of the ornaments of our city, is one hundred and eighty-nine feet in length, with a depth of ninety-five feet in the two wings. However, the complete plan contemplates a front exten- sion right and left. with a church at one end and a college hall at the other. Every atten- tion has been paid in its construction to make it not only a solid and handsome structure, but one in every way fitted for the uses for which it was built. Besides the commodious building the students have extensive grounds for athletic sports, in which they have been remarkably successful in the past.
Now that the faculty find themselves 110 longer cramped for room and in a position to carry out their plans, they intend leaving nothing undone to keep the college apace with the best institutions of learning in the country. by following out that course of studies which has rendered the Jesuit order world-famous as instructors.
Gonzaga College has already sent forth some fine young men who have reflected honor on their Alma Mater, among them Ensign Robert J. Monaghan, that young hero who gave up his life in the distant Samoan Islands while defending a fallen brother officer and whom Spokane proudly claims as her hero.
To render my article complete it will be well for me to append to this brief account of Gonzaga College. a few words on St. Ignatius School, since it was under the same manage- ment as the college during its short term of use- fulness
St. Ignatius School .- In 1889 Rev. Charles Mackin, S. J., then President of Gonzaga Col- lege, turned the little frame building, situated on Main street, near the Catholic church, into a day school, under the direction of the college authorities. It was intended to prepare chil-
149
HISTORY OF SPOKANE COUNTY.
diren residing in the city for the higher classes of the collegiate course, and was started prin- cipally to meet the want of a school for those Catholic boys who were too large to remain longer in the mixed school of the Sisters. This school in 1889-90 had forty boys on the roll and was taught by Mr. Thomas Purcell. now a priest in charge of Cœur d' Alene City and surrounding missions. He was succeeded in his charge by Professor W. Orndoff, who conducted the school until the close of June. 1892, which date marks the quiet end of this school, both Professor and most of the pupils entering Gonzaga College the following Sep- tember.
School and Academy of the Sisters of the Holy Names .- What the Jesuits have been do- ing for the education of young men and boys, the Sisters of the Holy Names have been doing for the young ladies and girls.
These excellent teachers are conducting two educational establishments in our city, the parochial school, attached to the church of Our Lady of Lourdes, and the Academy of the Holy Names, situated on Superior street in Sinto addition. Of both of these schools something must here be said.
In March, 1887. Rev. Aloysius Jacquet. who had collected the greater part of the money for the erection of the church of Our Lady of Lourdes, was recalled to Spokane and given the task of collecting money for the parochial school, which stands on Main street between Washington and Bernard, to the west of the church. Work was commenced soon after this Father's arrival, and the building was fin- ished in 1888.
Rev. Mother Baptist, general superior of the Sisters of the Holy Names, who was then visiting the different houses of her order, had in the meantime been invited to visit Spokane. with a view of accepting the school, which was then being built. The Rev. Mother saw at once the great amount of good that could be done, and gladly accepted the proffered
school. On July 25. 1888, when the three Sisters arrived to take charge of the new school, they were agreeably surprised to find a large three-story brick building which had cost about thirteen thousand dollars.
The building was blessed on August 28. 1888. by Rev. J. Rebmann, and on September 3rd classes were organized, and it was not long before the energetic superioress, Sister Michael of the Saints, had the school properly graded and in excellent running order. It was opened as a school for girls and small boys, and aimed at implanting that thorough educational train- ing for which the Sisters of the Holy Names are noted. Besides the ordinary English branches, there were classes in vocal and in- strumental music, drawing and sewing. It was not long before the increased number of pupils rendered necessary the addition of new class rooms, and the assistance of additional teachers, the number of pupils increasing from one hundred and ninety-five to three hundred.
On March 3. 1889. Sister Michael, who had put the school on such an excellent foot- ing and was conducting it so successfully, was called to Canada, and was succeeded by Sister Mary of the Assumption, who ably carried on the work so well begun by her predecessor.
In less than two years after the opening of the Convent of the Holy Names on Main street, it was found that the building would no longer accommodate the many pupils who applied for admission. Besides the Sisters felt the need of an academy for more advanced pupils, of classes for young ladies desirous of enjoying all the advantages of a complete course such as the Sisters are well capable of imparting. A beautiful site on Sinto addition, near the river. was donated by the Jesuit Fathers, and on September 14. 1890, the cor- ner stone was laid of what has since proved to be one of the finest educational institutions in the state.
The building is of brick, three stories high with a mansard roof, has a frontage of one
150
HISTORY OF SPOKANE COUNTY.
hundred feet and a depth of fifty-four feet throughout ; it is supplied with all modern im- provements in heating, lighting, as well as those of a sanitary nature.
In July, 1891, the Sisters moved into their new academy, and had everything in readiness for the reception of pupils at the opening of the school year.
The Sisters while conducting this new academy have not abandoned the parochial school, but still continue to conduct it with marked success.
On August 31, 1891. classes were formed at the new academy, but only twelve pupils presented themselves, six being boarders and the other half-dozen day-scholars. It was rather a disheartening opening, but was not wholly unexpected. It was a new school, as yet unknown outside the city, besides too far for most of the children living in town, for then it was on the suburbs. Moreover, it was at a time when money was scarce, on account of the state of business. But the old adage, "small beginnings are good omens of future success" has been singularly verified in the case of the academy, for to-day there are over two hundred pupils in attendance.
The object of the academy, like all similar institutions conducted by the Sisters of the Holy Names, is to impart to girls a Christian education, at once solid, useful, and cultured ; in a word to impart to them all that forms the curriculum of the most approved academies.
The music and art departments are under able management and meet the demands of the most exacting. By its charter the academy enjoys all the rights and privileges granted to first-class institutions. Gold medals and di- plomas are conferred on those who satisfac- torily complete the course of studies in the scientific course. Owing to the increase of pupils, especially boarders, more room is needed and plans for an addition, to be one hundred and twenty feet long and seventy-four feet deep, are now in the hands of the architect.
When completed the Academy of the Holy Names will be one of the best equipped schools for young ladies in the Northwest.
The present superior of the academy, Sister M. Geraldine, has occupied that position since 1894. when she succeeded Sister Mary of the Assumption.
Sacred Heart School .- This school, situated on Fifth avenue. near Bernard, was opened by Rev. Barnabas Held, O. S. B., in 1891, being blessed November 21, 1891. The school build- ing, which had formerly been a district school, was bought and removed to its present loca- tion. The Benedictine Sisters came to teach the girls, while secular teachers taught the boys' department. This is the parochial school for German Catholics, and aims at imparting a thorough grammar-school education.
CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS.
The third field of labor which the Cathi- olic church has cultivated with marked success, to the great benefit of humanity as well as religion. is that of succoring the needy and afflicted by means of charitable institutions.
Taught by her divine founder to insepara- bly unite love of the neighbor to love of God, the Catholic church has ever made it her earn- est endeavor to relieve the wants of those on whom the hand of affliction lays heavily. It is well nigh incredible how many orders of men and women have been instituted in the Catholic church for works of charity. There is hardly a class of sufferers, hardly a common source of misery for whose relief some order of religious men or some sisterhood has not been instituted. For the special care of the aged, the poor, the insane, consumptives, lepers, both physical and moral, orphans, and for all other classes of sufferers, orders have been instituted. the sole aim of whose miem- bers is to render to God the service of their chaste lives and to alleviate that particular class of sufferings which is the special aim of their charity. For this work young men and
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.