Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 23, Number 246, Decatur, Adams County, 17 October 1925 — Page 9

SECOND SECTION

TO DEDICATE SCHOOL BUILDING SUNDAY

I local catholic I CONGREGATION FORMED IN 1838 I st Marys Congregation Or- ‘ ganized By Twelve Men; Has Large Growth I CHURCH NOW HAS I ABOUT 1,500 MEMBERS I The St. Marys Catholic church con- ■ gregatlon, organized in this city in I 1837 and 1838, is one of the oldest I religious organisations in the county. I Twelve men organized the congregaI tion which now numbers about 1.500 I souls, ami owns property estimated I at nearly one-half million dollars, inI eluding the new school which is paid I for by members of the parish. The town of Decatur in 1836 boast* I ed of five houses. In 1837, Henry I Derkes. Henry Minter. Joseph Smith. I Anthony Kohne and Bernard HoltI house arrived in Decatur. In 1838, I George Fettich. John Mueller, George I Spuller. Timothy Coffee, Daniel CosI fee. John ('loss and Henry Will came I as a welcome band of settlers and I these twelve formed the nucleus of I the present St. Mary's Parish. The First Mass. | In the spring of 1838, Rev. Louis I Mueller, residing at Fort Wayne, offI ered the first mass on record in Decatur. at the home of George Fettich. The second priest of St. Mary's Congregation was Rev. Joseph de Mutzig Hamilton. The first Catholics baptized at Decatur were Minnie (Mrs. R. J.) Holthouse and Mary Close. The first marriage was that of Timothy Coffee and Mary Mueller. January 10, 1841. First Frame Church. The successor of Father Hamilton was the Rev. J. Rudolph who. assisted by Timothy Coffee, John Closs and Anthony Kohne. began to collect for a new church. Together they succeeded in raising $275. In 1842, Fr. Rudolph purchased a cemetery in the south part of town. He did not see the completion of the church, which he was ambitious to erect. The beginning of the church was made by the Spullers, who brought with oxen through the then deep mud, the heavy timber for the first church, which was completed in 1846. Church Bell Purchased. In the meantime, the charge of the (Continued on Page Twelve) ENTIRE COST OF BUILDING PLEDGED St. Marys Congregation Has Able Men On Finance and Building Committees The congregation of St. Marys Catholic church has been fortunate in having able and sincere men as members of the finance comm'ttee and on the board of trrstees. whose duty it was to look after the financing of the new school building and letting contracts. These men have served with untiring efforts in bringing about the success of the building and have given much of their time in disposing of the many details connected with such a large building undertaking. Tlie building, modern in every respect, and large enough to accomodate the needs of the congregation for many years, represents an expenditure of approximately $300,000. This buge sum has been paid or pledged ■by members of the congregation. The members of the building cotnmttee are: 8. Niblick, general chairman. Jesse G. Niblick. Henry kiting, Joseph Heiman, Fred Steigtnyer, Hen J. Smith, Nicholas Miller, •I H Bremerkamp, C. N. ihiristen, John Fisher and Fred Schurger. J. C. ■Moran, Michael Miller and John T. Schurger, deceased, were members of the board at the time of its organization. The trustees of thr church are: the Rev. J. a. Seimetz, pastor and chairn ’an; C. S. Niblick. B. J. Smith, J H Bremerkamp, Nicholas Miller and John Pisher. The general contract for the hew school building was awarded -March 31, 1924. ami the corner r.tone was laid on July 6, 1924.

To Preside At Dedication & , -A -<■ ■ ■'■-■.■;■' ■ ■ si W YWSr k 1 x. J *• / t w ■■ 's'j r-, ||F / # A* k . / z , ; . JP ■ aft***"’ \ fC ■/ * r ’ r- 1 RT. REV. JOHN F. NOLT. Rt. Rev. John F. Noll. Bishop of the Catholic diocese of Fort Wayne will have charge of the ceremonies at the dedication of the new Catholr school building here Sunday.

“THE TATTLER" GROWS RAPIDLY Catholic High Annual Makes Great Improvement During Last Five Years From a very humble beginning “The Tattler” has improved and progressed until today this school organ is one of the main and most successful enterprises of the school and one of the best publications of its class. Just as the high school attendance has advanced from ten students to more than sixty, just so has “Tlie Tattler” improved from a twenty-eight page publication to a -seventy-page book. Looking back five years to tlie beginning of “The Tattler,” one sees a small group of students working hard and endeavoring to publish a first class book. The result was a unique, hand bound, typewritten 'copy, containing no advertisements, a few jokes, several cartoons individually drawn, a short but interesting article by the Rev. .1. A. Seimetz, and little else. The stepping stone to today's magazine is indeed, an interestipg booklet that does credit to its makers. Today' the result of the combined efforts of the entire student body is a peppy up-to-date book, cont fining the advertisements of all the important business houses of Decatur, complete write-ups of all school activities, appropriate cartoons, cuts of all the different classes, a faculty department. an editorial department, a section devoted to hoys’ and girls' athletics. an exchange department, an alumni and a society section, a literary department, and many other matters of interest, both to the students and to the general public. The difference between the first and the last book is amazing, but is merely the result of the friendly co-oparative spirit that exists in the school, and of a generous increase in attendance. During this interval, different editors have taken up the reins and have continually improved “The Tattler” until today it is rapidly approaching the limit of improvement. A publication only five years old. the size of “The Tattler," and having as much real worth is unusual in a school of sixty students, and speaks well of the school spirit of such a small group of students. The Christmas edition this year will have a bine and gold cover with an appropriate cover design and will contain the usual matters of interest together with an ad fron. every progressive merchant of Decatur. It will go to press some time in November.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Decatur Finns Play Big Part In Construction Work Besides C. N. Christen and company, of this city, who had the general contract for the construction of the building, several local concerns furnished material and supplies required in the construction of the Decatur Catholic school building. Yager Brothers Furniture store furnished all the school seats, desks, tallies and folding chairs in tlie auditorium and gymnasium. Niblick and company furnished the window shades throughout the school building. The Krick-Tyndall company furnished the hallow tile and inside brick required in the construction of the building. F*. J. Hyland and the Hy land Heataing and Plumbing company installed the general plumbing and furnished all the plumbing fixtures in the building and in the domestic science loom. Herman J. Gaul, of Chicago, was the achitect on the building and separate contracts were awarded for the heating. roofing and the material required in the construction. A system of mathematics was evolved hy the Maya tribes of Mexico at least 2,000 years before the first system recorded in India.

Auditorium In-New Building Has Large Stage . > —Li— I J' am | * 11 1 " ' ' 1 i i ' i A bi’iiiililul auditorium with a large stage is included in the new Catholic school building. Tlie auditorium, pictured above, will seat several hundred persons and tlie stage is one of the largest in this part of the state, outside of theatre;. The stage is 70 feed wide and 21 feet deep. It has an opening 12 feet wide and 18 feet high. Tic stage was not completed and the curtains had not been hung when the above picture was taken so the photographer took a view of the auditorj'mn proper, showing the balcony in the rear.

Decatur, Indiana, Saturday, October 17, 1925.

FARO SEIMETZ ZEALOUSWCRKER Pastor Os St. Marys Church Works Untireingly To Advance School The Rev. J. A. Seimetz. untiring and beloved pastor of St Mary's Catholic .church, was assigned to the pastorate l on January 9. 1914. Since his appointj inent. he has worked zealously for the j advancement of the Catholic school 'and soon after his appointment here started to create sentiment in favor of building a modem high school and grade! building, rea'izing his ambitions in the dedication of th beautiful new building which will take place Sunday afternoon. I During the time intervening between the death of the Rev. Father Wilken and the apointment of R-zv. Seimetz as irremovable pastor, tlie Rev. Edward Ffeiburger ministered to the needs of the congregation. He had been assistant to Rev. Wilken since July 6. 1912. and remained until January 7, 1914. | Rev. Seimetz was born April 17, 1871 at Michigan City. Indiana. He attended the parochial school, and later'St. Ambrose Academy in tlie place of his birth. In September. 1889. he entered St. Joseph's College. Rensselaer, Indiana, from which institution lie 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 priesthood at the Provincial Seminary. Milwaukee, Wisconsin; at which place he received the orders of sub-deacon and deacon at the hands of the late Archbishop Katzer fn 1991. Un June 21 of the same year, he was ordained priest by Bishop Alerding, and for the ! first time offered up the holy sacrifice of the Mass on June 30 at Michigan City. His first appointment was as assistant to tlie Rev. Henry Meisner, Peru. Indiana, which position he filled from July. 1901, to July. 1903, He was then j appointed pastor of St. Joseph's Church, Reynolds. Indiana. After a pastorate of two years and seven months, he was transferred to St. Joseph's Orphan Asylum. March 1908, 'of which institution he was director for almost six years. Here Eleven Years On Jan. 9. 1914, Rev. Seimetz came to Decatur to bless St. Mary’s parish I with his truly aposteiic zeal. From that date to this, his endeavors to 'make the parish under his charge an ideal one in every respect, have never Iceased. Fervent prayer and unremit- | ting labor have been the weapons by which he has accomplished an incalculable amount of good advance the temporal and spiritual interest of the congregation.

Beloved Pastor of Congregation WWh®' REV. .1. A. SEIMETZ

Fire-Proof Construction Os Building Is Tested The resistance of (he fire-proof construction of the new Catholic school building was tested on August 4. when fire broke out in a toilet room on the third floor at about 5:39 o'clock in the evening. Although the fire gained headway, the flames were confined to the room where it started Although the origin of the fire was not definitely determined, it is thought that the blaze started when workmen threw a lighted cigarette in the straw packing around plumbing fixtures stored in the room. Approximately $1,009 worth of plnmbing fixtures, belonging to the P. J Hyland Plumbing company, were ruined by the fire. The window sash in the west window was burned and tlie walls of the room were blackened by the smoke, causing a loss to the contractor. The city firemen extinguished the blaze with the aid of chemicals and although the flames caused an intense heat, no other damage was suffered from the fire and the fact was proven that the building was as near fire-proof as possible. A heavy surf along oceanic shores causes vibrations in the earth that are Egyptian mummies shows that decay of the teeth, pyorrhea and other forms of dental disease ocurred 5,009 years ago as much as they do today.

GIRLSHAVE A GLEE CLUB I). C. H. S. Proud Os Her ' Musical Talent; Fine Progress Made By Club j In looking back over the first years of D.C.H.S., her students can be seen * engaged not only in acquiring the essentials of an education, but env I bel'ishing their education with the knowledge of the fine arts. DC.U.S. has a right to feel proud of its musical talent, here are few schools of its size in Indiana that can boast of a Girls' Glee Club as accomplished as 1 that of D.C.H.S. In 1929, when the high school was little more than a year old, the' Girls' Glee Club was organized, j Under the splendid supervision of Sr. Mi Odelia it advanced with rapid | strides. Its members made their first public appearence at the K. of C. hall on St. Patrick's day. in 1921. Later, they gave an operetta, “The College Girl and the Milkmaid.” for the benefit of St. Agnes’ Society. Both of these entertainments proved to be successful and were a great encouragement to the Glee Club. Fired with zeal and enthusiasm, the Glee Cub advanced rapidly. By the end of the third year of its . existeni/'l a musical entertainment was given which was a success from every point of view and realized a sum of $139.29. This entertainment was followed by a musical number of high note. “Peer Gynt Suite.” by Gr'eg. It was a proof to the public of the musical ability of the Girls’ Glee Chili. At this time. Sr. M Odelia was forced to leave Decatur because of il'ness and her work was nobly continued by Sr. M. Esther. Under her ( supervision, the Glee Club continued to advance and grow and several sue-1 cessful appearances wore made. In 1924. the Girls’ Glee Club began , work under the direction of Sr. M. Claude, who proved herself a capable teacher. Besides its other accomp- j lishments, the Glee (Tub helped to cheer tlie debaters in their hard-1 fought batt'e against Fort Wayne and succeeded admirably. It also contributed its share to the Commencement exercises in the new auditorium, last June. The Glee Club of this year has organized under the supervision of Sr. ■ John Berchtnanns, and is now working deligently to gain recognition. They will give a lively musical entertainment on Dedication day.

RAGES 9 TO 14 |

FITTING PROGRAM IS ARRANGED BY CATHOLIC PARISH New Building Represents Realized Dream Os Local Congregation MODERN STRUCTURE COSTS $300,000 The beautiful new Catholic school building located at the corner of Fourth and Monroe streets, which will be dedicated at 2:30 o'clock Sunday afternoon with fitting ceremony by the Rt. Rev. John F. Noll, bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Fort Wayne, is a building that the entire community can well be proud of. The big fireproof structure is the realized dream of the congregation. The construction of such a building has been made possible by the contributions of the Decatur Catholic congregation. and the cost, complete, is more than $300,000. After strenuous efforts on the part of the Rev. J A. Seimetz. pastor, and the congregation, the first chapter of the long awaited dream came true and on July 19. 1923, the first ground was broken for the construction of the school. Construction Started June, 1924 On January 28. 1924, a campaign was launched for voluntary subscriptions for the school and a total of more than SBO 000 was raised in short order. C. N. Christen, of Decatiw, was given the general contract for the building on March 31. 1924. The plumbing contract was awarded to the P. J. Hyland Plumbing company, of this city. May 1. 1924. On June 17, 1924. actual constnretion ■ began, and on July 6. 1924. the cornerstone for the school was laid with" appropriate services. The building is now completed and furnished and, at present, more than 300 pupils are receiving education from the fine instructors in the new building. Building Strictly Modern Those who have studied school buildJngs say that the local Catholic school lis one of tlie finest and most modern in tlie state and a visit to the local building will substantiate this asser- ' tion. In constructing the liirjlding, ; more than 1,100,000 bricks were used, j together with thousands of tons of | steel and concrete. The walls of the (Continued on Page Eleven) REV. PETERS IS SCHOOL BOOSTER Assistant Pastor Os Parish Is Popular Amons Boys And Girls Preceding the Rev. Otto A. Peters, as assistant pastor of St. Mary's Cathlolic Parish, the Rev. Anthony Kroeger served in that capacity from July. 1914, until February, 1920. 11l health caused Rev. Kroeger to ask for a leave of absence and Rev Peters was appointed. The present assistant. Rev. Peters, was born Sept. 28. 1888, at Brookville, I Indiana. In 1899, ills parents moved to Tipton, Indiana, where he attended I the parochial school and Catholic high school, gradual ng in 1905. In 1907, he began h's Classical Course at 'St. Joseph's College, Collegeville. !ndi(ana, completing his work there in 1911. I He then entered St. Meinard’s Semini ary, St. Meinard. Indiana, from which .lie was ordained on the 16th of June, 191(1. I His first appointment was as assistant at SS. Peters and Paul. Huntington. Indiana, where he remained from jjuly sto September 6. 1916. He was I then transferred to the Immaculate .Conception Cathedral, Fort Wayne, Injdiana, where lie labored until 1920. On I June 17. 1920, he was appointed assistant at St. Mary's. Decatur, which parish he has blessed witli his presence to the present date. He is an. enthusiastic supporter of every move made for the benefit of the parish, and has especially earned the grateful regard of the boys and girls of the school by his whole-heart-ed efforts to improve the records of the school in tlie athletic field.