Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 22, Number 160, Decatur, Adams County, 5 July 1924 — Page 3

KfEW SCIEOOIL ©OUFJLITE EK EWIEFY WAY

■<LVE MEN ■ formed first I CONGREGATION KncleiH Os St. Mary’s Par- ■ jUi Was I'ormed In 1837 ■ _(;rown Steadily ■ FIRST MASS IN 1838 B»resent Church Built In K is72 —School Was EsE tablished In 1881 H from small beginnings K,,b. rn veriti >ver and over |K. tin in Ih,. annuals of history, as ;h in i lie records of countless orKaiiiiations and establishments; in K n .- more forcibly than in the origin K.l vl „»ih of St. Mary’s CongregaDecatur, Indiana. n. Thl . t,,wn of Decatur in 1836 boastKi of five houses, in 1837, Henry ( ■ lrr k. Ibnry Minter. Joseph Smith, Knthonv Kohne and Bernard Kjthoti e arrived in Decatur, ] ■ IMIS. George Fetticb. John Ku. Iler. George Spuller, Timothy (’of K Daniel Coffee, John Close and Kb nn Will came as a welcome Ipnd Ks settlers and these twelve formed K nucleus of the present St. Mary’s ' \ The First Mass ■ In ’he spring of 1338. Rev. Louis] Kfu. il. r residing at Fort Wayn\ offKf'' ll| "’ fir ' ,t maM on r ** <,orti |n ,)e ' K'atiir. at the home of George Fettich. K,. *e.ond priest of St. Mary’s Con-' Kr' V.itiott was Rev. Joseph de Mutzig Ki.itmou The first Catholics leapt zed Kit Decatur were Minnie (Mrs. R. J I. Klolthouse and Mary (’loss. The first Ktarr I.e was that of Timothy Coffee end Mary Mueller. January 10, IS 11. First Frame Church The successor of Father Hamion was Rev .1 Rudolph who, assisted by Timothy Coffee, John Closs and Anthony Kohne, began to collect for a «•» church. Together they succeeded in raising 1275. M. In 1842 Fr. Rudolph purchased a cemetery in the south part of town. He dtd not see the completion of u.s- church, which he was ambitious to erect. The begin-' ling of the church was made by the Fpullers, who brought with oxen ftrough the then deep mud. the heavy timlw r for the first church, which was completed in 1344. Church Bell Purchased In the meantime, the charge of the parish had been shifted, first to the Rev. Alphonse Moncina. then to the Rev K M. Faller. The latter bought the first church bell for $60.00. It had to be shipped by canal from Citicitmati into Fort Wayne, and to be hauled from there to Decatur. At this time the church grounds consisted of six lota. The Succeeding Pastors The sixth priest. Rev. B. H. Rehill ties. w ., a the first one permanently stationed at Decatur. He built the first rectory In 1353 and remained until 1350. For almost a year Decatur •i« left without a resident pastor dying which time It was visited by Father Faller and Father Rudolph From June 1350 to May 1857 Father Sebastian Genies C. PP. ft. minister **' t<> the wants of the congregation After him came Father L. Schneider who remained but a few months. Father Jacob Greyer took charge of the parish in 1353 and remained un •II IMS. Again the parish was left without a resident pastor, and Father Heyers and Father Heitmann from St. Mary’s Church. Fort Wayne, visited Dr<atur from time to time

the CONTRACTOR AN!) CHAIRMAN OF TRUSTEES I j . *.< ¥ * .«y* T I Ja. 1 \ y & v j r Jbr \ ? * <| .*. 11 ' '♦' z y ■** < c N. CHittflTKN C. t. NIBMCK 1 Uaj* I '' ( h^ * , '‘ , ' •*• <h* K’H'Tbl cnultact for «hr .<>n»trurtk>n of »h«« nrtW ’ '“‘•■""M and Mr. Nlbllrk in ohairmnn of th« board of imatnoa of th" ' i *" ■" - <

The Corner Stone Os This Modern New Schoo! Building Will Be Laid Sunday. 8 1 m ’ IPWNJi Tjf ! if W. t - - . M.V '• ;

i Tlie shove pictur? taken from the prospectus prepared by Architect Herman J. Gaul of Chicago, shows the front elevation of the new St. ' Joseph Catholic school, facing Fourth I

Church Built In 1872 i Rev. Julius Becks came in January, 1865 and remained one year. The pastorate of Rev. Jno. Wemhoff extended from 1866 to September 1872. i The congregation had by this time outgrown its primitive place of worship. and Father Wemhoff-set to work to plan for a suitable church. He remained long enough to see the foundation laid for the present St. Mary's Church, which faces Fourth street. Father Von Schwedler was appointed pastor in 1872. and he finished the c hurch begun by his predecessor. He was succeeded by Father Jos. Nussbaum. »who remained until 1880. In the same year on the 23rd day of Father H. Theodore Wilken took charge of the parish and labored with j unremitting leal until death called him to his reward. October 20, 1913. Rev. Wilken's Noble Work When Father Wilken took charge of the congregation, it was burdened with a debt of (5.000.00. His first care was to provide a school for the children of the pariah. In 1881 the building, facing Madison street was completed, and three Sisters of St. Agnes came to take charge of the school of ninety pupils. The Sisters lived on Fourth street until 1893 when a Sisters' home was erected together with two new class rooms to accomodate the Increased number of pupils. These- latter buildings coat 87.5M.00 and were paid out of the bequest of Henry Darken. After thia.. Father Wilken turned his attention to a home for hinr-elf and his successors, which was completed In 1885. In 1888 Reverencl Wilken was made Irremovable pastor, as a token of ap predation of h!« unremitting anal In the care of his parish. In 1884. the congregation. In accord 1 ance with the advice of Father Wil-' ken. purchased a new cemetery west of the city which Is today one of the finest burial grounds In the state. First Assistant Appointed By this time. Ht. Mary's parish had grown to such an extent that It became necessary to provide an assistant for the pastor. Rev. Jno. Blum was the first priest to act In that capacity and he remained In this of-

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT. SATURDAY, JULY 5,1924

■tri't ants the side view facing Mon- 1 roe street. The rectory is shown on the left hand side. It is estimat!ed that the new building will cost I $300,000, fully equipped. It will

REALIZATION OE NEW SCHOOL BROVfJHT ABOUT IN 1921

During the feign of the Sovereign | Pontiff. Pope Pius XI, Bishop of ‘ Rome; Herman Joseph Alerding, B<sh- ’ op of Fort Wayne; Rev. Julius A. Sei- ’ mats, pastor of St. Mary’s Parish, Do I catur. Indiana; Rev. Otto A. Peters, assistant; Sr. M. Vera. Sr. M. Sophia, ’ Sr. M. Juliana. Sr. M. Winifred, Sr. M. Beata. Sr. M. Annette. Sr. M. An- ’ tonita, Sr. M. Luella, Sr. M. Almeda. Sr. M. feathers; during the II

i f flee from Nov. 1. 1896 to Nov. 1. 1900.' ‘ He- was succeeded by Rev. Jno. B. 1 Steger who labored hete from August 1 24. 1905 to September 15. 1906. He in turn was succeeded by Rev. George Angermaier, who served as assistant from the last-mentioned date to April, I 1910. From the time- of his removal U to July. 1912 Rev. Wm. Flaherty fill*l ed that position. '! Rev. Hermann Theodore Wilken laI I Icored here with unremitting zeal un- • til his death. The parish in which he spent his best .years sincerely mournli ed his unexpected and untimely death. 1 He planted the seed of genuine, ster*i ling faith In the hearts of his flock. ’I for which generations to tome will -1 blogs his memory. i| g REV. 0. A. PETERS IS ASSISTANT I Succeeded Rev. Kroeger As Assistant Pastor In June, 1920 Rev. Anthony Kroeger was appointrd asslstnnt July. 1911, He very ably seconded the efforts made by the pastor until forced by Illness to resign. February, 1920. The present assistant. Rev. Otto A.I ■ Peters, was born Sept. 28, 1888, nt ' Brookville-. Indiana. In 1899, his par-. : ents moved to Tipton. Indans. where! ■ he attended the parochial school and Catholic High School, graduating in 1 1905. In 19U7, he pecan his Classical Course nt St. Joseph's College. Col-' legeville. Indiana, completing his work j there In 1911. lie thm entered H» ! Melnrad's Hemlnary. St Mdnard. In-' dlsna. from which hr was ordained on the 16th of June. 1916. His first appointment was as Matotaont at HR. Peter and Paul. Huntington. Indiana, where he remained from July 6to Hepiemlter 6. 1916. Hr was then transferred to the Immaculate Conception Cathedral. Ft Wayne, Indiana. where hr labored until 1920. On June 17. 1920, he was appointed assistant nt St. Mary's. Daeatur, Indiana. which parl«h hr has blessed with his prrnrm e up to the present date. Hr Is an enthusiastic; supporter nt every move made for the benefit of the parish, and hag especially earned the grateful retard of the hoya and girls of the school liy hla wholehearted efforts to improve the retards of the school in the athletic field. In the vernacular of the athletes we vote "Fifteen Rale l--r Fill I era I"

have a frontage of 175.4 feet on Fourth i street and 128 feet on Monroe i I street. Besides the 14 or 15 class ' rooms, the building contain/• 2 re- ; citation rooms. 3 general meeting

11 administration of Calvin Coolidge, f president of the I’nited States, War- ■ ren McCray, governor of Indiana, su- - perceded by Emmet Branch. Lieuten-ant-governor; Huber DeVoss, mayor ■ i of the city of Decatur. Indiana; in the . year of Our Lord Nineteen Hundred .. and Twenty-four, this St. Joseph’s - School and Decatur Catholic High . School was erected on the corner of >i Monroe and Fourth streets in the cityi

' Congratidattions. Belter schools mean better education and in the erection of the new St. Joseph Catholic school, a ’ dnam and ambition, not oniv of the pastor, but of the entire congregation is realised. Modern facilities will offer better opportunities for education and great good will result. The Decatur Daily Democrats joins with the community in expressing congratulations to the members of St. Mary's Parish in realizing one of their foendest dreams in erect 'ng the beautiful and modern new ! school building, the corner stone of which will la- laid Sunday afternoon. July Gth. 1924 at three ■ --'clock. The school will stand for years as a monument, not only to 'hos, who h -Iped build It. but to the community as a whole and •vldi n< e that we all believe in Hvlng our children and the future generations the best facilities for a ' complete education. Facta and Dates Dec. 27. 1t22->-corner lot purchased .from Christian church, price |fo,ooo. July 9. 1923 —(’• ..tract for basemeat and foundation awarded to MedI land Urns.. SI9.6<H). July 19. 1923—Ground broken for lne w school building. | Jan. 28. 1924 —Campaign launched for voluntary subscriptions for school. Feb. 11. 1924— <’. H. Niblick anASSISTANT PASTOR K*' REV OTTO I'KTKKH

| looms, office, lest room, a physicians i i room in addition to the large gym- ' nasium, and auditorium, w hich will ] i seat nearly 1.500 people. It will be modern in every respect, fire-proof

of Decatur, Indiana. Architect Herman J. Gaul, of Chicago; General contractors, Charles N. Christen and Co., Decatur; heating contract, Hipskind Heating and Plumbing Co.. Wabash; Plumbing contract. P. J. Hyland. Decatur; Electric wiring and wiring contract. Meier Electric Co.. Indianapolis. Foundation contractors, ty-dland i Bros., Logansport. Indiana.

nounces trustees will build school. Subscriptions total SBO,OOO. .Marc h 31. 1924—Bids received and general contract awarded to C. N. | Christen and Co. Decatur for school, price. $178,000. April 16. 1924 —Contract for electric wiring awarded to .Meier Electric Co.. Indianapolis, price-, $1,587. > April 17. 1924 —Contract for heat ! ing system awarded to Hlpskind j Heating and Plumbing Co.. Wabash. . price $17,943. May 1. 1924. —Contract for plumb- i ing awarded to P. J. Hyland. Decatur. 1 price. $|0599. June 17. 1924 —Construction work started on new school building. July 6, 1924 —Corner stone* laying , ceremony held. AMPLE GROWTH PROVIDER FOR Future Is Bright For New School; Trustees Work In Harmony Without neglecting any of the other duties of his sacred ministry. Rev. Julius A. Relmetz ever placed the pel vancement of the school, spiritually ami materially, first anti foremost among the parochial concerns, and cared fc»r It with paternal foresight. In September 1915, a Commercial Course was added to the regular Eighth Grade Course, which in 1919. to nceet the demands of the time, wa* supplemented by a Four-Tear's Classical High School "ccnrse, Decatur Catholic High Sc hool, as It is officially called. Is nt present the only purely paroc-htoi high school in the Diocese of For* Wayne, To give the school the necessary prestige. It was thought advisable to aMltate H with the Catholic University of Amer! ca. Washington. D. C. In the fall of '1922. During the scholastic year; 1923 1924. It numteored fifty three- stu 1 deals. With the building of the new school, prejspects are bright for the. growth and progress nt D. <’. H S. ! which will stand as a monument to the providence of a wise father and a prudent building committee. I Thfs history would certainly he I" , complete did It not contain some mention of those generous men who worked hand In hand with the pastor durng the past years to mohe the erection of the necessary hulldln •» possible. Home years ago. It was determined that the- erection of a new church won Imperative. The trustees: -

I throughout and will serve as a comI munity center not only for the members of the congregation, but for the , public as well.

Charles S. Niblick. Bernard Smith. I the late Henry Bremerkamp. superseded by John H. Bremerkamp, Nicholas Miller and the late John Moran.' Htiperseded by John Fisher, together] with a finance committee, on which Michael Miller. Jesse Niblick. Henry' Eiting. Joseph Heimann. Fred Steigmeyer. the* late Martin Laughlin. John Schurger. Fred Schurger. Leo Kohne served, wen* elected to make arrangements for the building. A subscription was started, and funds were raised for a new churc h. Before this project could be execrated, civil authorities condemned the old school building and plans had to Ih* entered into at once for a new school. The school now under c onstruction is the result j of these well-laid plans. The present status of St. Mary’s, Congregation offers an encouraging! prospect for the future. Societies and sodalities for every walk of life arc* i flourishing; St. Joseph’s Society numI bers 95 memlcers: St. Mary's Sodality. ' 257 members; St. Agnes* Sodality. 113 members; Children of Mary. 153 members; Third Order of St. Francis. i 563 memlcers; Holy Name* Society, 314 i members. There are 261 Knights of I Columbus, and 98 Catholic Ladies of I Columbia. AH these* members are ! whole heartoc| supporters of every , move made for the betterment of the* parish. At the present time, the achodl. ! which during the scholastic year I 1923-1921 had :m <*nrollm«*n: of 386 puI plls. is taught by twelve .’L ers of I St. Agnes. Tlie bulldinc which is now under construction will afford ample I opportunity for expansion, and will i meet every demand of th civil as I well as the* ecclesiastic-ill ; . horities in the realm of education.

BELOVED PASTOR OF CONGREGATION i 4 ■ w W.I ■- ' fcjly > MSV. J A KEIMKTZ - " ■ -

REV. SEIMETZ BECAME PASTOR TEN YEARS AGO Assumed Charged On Jan. 9, 1914, Succeeding The Rev. Theo. Wilken LABORS WITH ZEAL Rev. Otto Peters Is The Aide Assistant Os St. Mary’s Congregation During the time intervening between the death of Rev. Father Wilken and the appointment of Rev. Julius A. Seimetz a s Irremovable pastor, Rev. Edward Freiburger ministered to the needs of the congregation. He had been assistant to Rev. \\ liken since July 6, 1913, and remained until Jan. 7, 1914. Rev. J. A. Seimetz was born April 17. 1871 at Michigan City, Indiana. He attended the parochial school, and later St. Ambrose Academy in the place of bis birth. In September, 1889, he entered St. Joseph’s College, Rensselaer, Indiana, from which institution he was graduated in 1894. He then taught for a year at St. Joseph’s College, after which he entered St. Charles’ Seminary, Carthagena, Ohio, which he attended for two years. He completed his studies for the priest- ' hood at the Provincial Seminary, Mil- ’ waukee, Wisconsin: at which place he ’ received the orders of suledeacon and ■ deacon at the hands of the late Archi bishop Katzer in 1801. On June 21st 1 of the same year, he was ordained priest by Bishop Alerdlng, and for the ’ first lime offered up the holy sacriI flee of the Mass on June 30th at Mlchi- ' gan City. ' His first appointment was as as- ■| sistant to the Rev. Henry Meisner, ’ Peru, Indiana, which position he fill.ed from July. 1901. to July. INS. He ■| was then appointed pastor of St. Jo- • seph’s Church. Reynolds, Indiana. Af- ’ ter a pastorate of two years and sevI I en months, he was transferred to St. 1 Joseph’s Orphan Asylum, March 1908, of which institution he was director J fofalmost six years. Here Ten Year* 1 On Jan. 9. 191’4. Rev. Julius A. Sei- ' metz came to Decatur to bless St. Mary’s parish with his truly aposto- . lie zeal. From that date to this, his endeavors to make the parish under ; his charge an ideal one in every re- ■ spect, have never ceased. Fervent 7 prayer and unremitting labor have been the weapoaa by which he has accomplished an incalculable amount of ’ good advance the temporal ami spiritual interests of the congregation. • When the Recording Angel opens his book of revelations on Judgment Day. ■ astounding will be the record of the • merits of the esteemed pastor of St. - Mary’s Church. Decatur. Indiana Is 1 it to Ih* marveled at. then, that he is ■ reverenced by every meml>er of his • fleck ; is it to Ih* wondered at. that I a unanimous appeal rises to the Al- < mighty that He may bless the pastor • ami preserve him in the l>rst of health I for countless days to come?