Chickasaw County Iowa
Churches


St Joseph Catholic Parish
New Hampton, Iowa
 1870 - 1995
 By Miss Luane Frank


In his book Historical and Reminiscences of Chickasaw County, Captain J.H. Powers, an 1857 settler in Chickasaw County, wrote the area "was occupied by a tribe of Indians bearing the name Chickasaw". The county and the town of Chickasaw were named after this Indian tribe and the town of Bradford after its chief.  Settlers began arriving in numbers after the area became a state in 1846, by which time the Indians had departed or had been driven out.

Catholics had begun settling in the area around 1854 and were served by neighboring priests until St Joseph Church was organized on 3 Apr 1870.  The history of St Joseph’s actually begins when services were held in the homes and business places of the few Catholics living in the area.  Most of these settlers had moved from the East, the Ohio Valley or Europe, especially Ireland, Germany and the Scandinavian countries.

Captain Powers records a story of "a Catholic family living in Bradford, one of their children dying, and there being no other consecrated ground in the county, they took the child on a sheet which was attached to two poles, like a stretcher, and carried the same the whole twenty-seven miles on foot. It took them two days to go, and a little less to return.  As they laid the dead body on the ground while they rested, it was as pathetic a scene as I had ever seen.  I must say that outside of that church I have never seen such devotion to the traditions of the church.  I have been in hopes that some one who was present at the building of this first church would give a history and a full record of its birth and death registers, together with its marriage record, for nothing would throw a clearer light upon the early history of that part of the county than would such a record."  Unfortunately, the early records of baptism, confirmations, first communions, weddings, and deaths are missing from St Joseph’s records and their whereabouts are unknown.  Other early documents are lost because of two courthouse fires in New Hampton.

Eventually parishioners were served by Father Harrison of the former St Rose’s Parish near Waucoma, Father F.J. Probst of North Washington, and the pastor of the Charles City Parish.

By 1868 about forty Catholic families had settled in the area and it was decided to build a Catholic Church.  The first Catholics were the John P. DEMUTH, the John SCHEUTZ and the E.T. RUNION families.  Among those listed as raising funds for the building of the church were:

Patrick DORGAN, for whom the familiar Dorgan's Bridge is named, even returned to his own home in Massachusetts to collect funds for the building.  Some of the members mortgaged their farms and paid twenty percent interest per year for the lots and building.  Many direct descendants of these original parishioners attend St Joseph’s at the present time.

The original church property was acquired on 10 Jun 1870 from E.T. RUNION, a prominent local business and community leader. The north one-fourth of block twenty-one of Railroad Addition was purchased for $100 plus taxes.  Transfer of the title for the remaining three-fourths of the block was made on 4 Jun 1875, for $400.29.  At the time, only Mrs RUNION and the children were Catholics, but Mr RUNION later converted to the faith.  The present-day Runion Park, adjacent to St Joseph’s is named for Mr RUNION.

With the purchase of the land completed, the settlers contributed the rock and labor for the foundation; and a frame church was erected in 1870 on the corner of Hale Street and Broadway.  Although money was scarce and the cost of the structure was $4000.00, notes were issued to pay the override on the cost.  The church property was not mortgaged during its first forty-two year history.  The church was dedicated 16 Dec 1870, by the Rev J. Michael Famming of St Donatus.  Father Probst, the pastor of Immaculate Conception Church at North Washington, served the parish until Father Patrick Burke was appointed the first pastor in 1877. A rectory was built during Father Burke’s two-year stay and the original two-acre cemetery site northeast of New Hampton was purchased in 1876.

On a lighter note, the following story, entitled "An Imposter," appeared in the New Hampton newspaper of 18 May 1876: "A gentleman in black impersonating a Catholic priest, made his appearance in town last Saturday and said Mass in St Joseph’s Church on Sunday to a full congregation.  He represented himself as having been sent by the Bishop to inquire into the welfare of the church.  He was an expert in the litanies, heard confessions, and although he was not begging, took up a collection amounting to some twelve or thirteen dollars.  During the afternoon some suspicions arising that the fellow was a wolf in the garments of virtue and he getting wind thereof, he made himself scarce by taking the railroad track in the direction from whence he came.  Doubtless he was a silenced priest.  The Catholics here are chagrined at the imposture practiced upon them."

During the period from the building of the first frame church until the erection of the present structure, six priests served the parish:
By 1883, the parish had grown to over 200 families. In 1897, Father Slattery approached the parishioners regarding the erection of a new church. A fund was begun with $500 contributed by nine parishioners. A canvass of the parish raised enough money to finance the building project. The architectural design of Buechner and Jacobson of St Paul, MN was chosen. The contract for the excavation and foundation work was awarded on 2 Dec 1897 to W.J. Zitterell of Webster City, IA. In April of 1898, the grounds were staked out and the excavation and structural work started using common field rock and limestone from Stone City.

The firm of Zitterell and Atkinson submitted the low bid of $16,000.00 and was awarded the contract for building the superstructure of the church. Work began in April 1899, and the cornerstone was laid on Sunday, 14 May 1899. State Senator John Foley, a member of the parish, and Rev Edmund Heelan, later to become bishop of Sioux City, spoke at the accompanying ceremony. Services were first held in the new church on 23 Dec 1900, and it was dedicated on Sunday, 28 Apr 1901.

Father Slattery also supervised the building of the school and convent, which were built at a cost of $15,000 and dedicated 15 Aug 1904. The school was staffed by the Dominican nuns until 1911, the Franciscans until 1917, and the Sisters of Charity, B.V.M., from 1917 until 1985. The School Sisters of Notre Dame came in 1987. A four-year high school was also operated for a time. Since school records were destroyed in a fire, this period is difficult to document. An additional three acres of cemetery land were also purchased during Father Slattery’s stay in New Hampton.

In 1913, a group of sixty-six active Catholic men of New Hampton banded together to organize the New Hampton Knights of Columbus. The New Hampton Council was the 1,697th Council to be organized in the United States and Canada and is known by that number. The New Hampton Council has been actively engaged in worthwhile activities, notably contributions to the education oaf Catholic youth, the annual Tootsie Roll Drive for the benefit of the mentally retarded, donations for public relief at home and abroad, and charitable assistance in Chickasaw and surrounding counties.

After Father Slattery left the parish in 1912 and retired to his native Ireland, Reverend Michael H. Carey became the pastor of St Joseph’s. During his tenure, the pipe organ was purchased with a grant from the Carnegie Foundation, a new rectory was built, the old rectory was converted into a convent, and the cemetery was officially named Calvary Cemetery. Father Carey also served as dean of the newly created New Hampton Deanery with twelve member parishes.

On 7 Sep 1919 fifty women were initiated into Joan of Arc, Court No. 288, Daughters of Isabella. The name was later changed to Catholic Daughters of the Americas. The Catholic Daughters is the largest Catholic women’s organization in the world and their contributions have ranged from national CDA projects to local charities such as CROP Walk, the Chickasaw Emergency Response, SADD, New Hampton High School, the Heritage Residence, and the Band Shell Restoration Project. In 1995, the Catholic Daughters began to participate in a national project which supports Alzheimer research.

In November of 1921, St Joseph School was destroyed by fire and students temporarily attended St Mary’s School which had been organized in 1890 to serve German-speaking Catholics. In the spring of 1922, work began on a new school. C.O. Emery Construction Company built the older wing of the present school at a cost of $6,731.67 including six classrooms and the gymnasium/auditorium. The cornerstone was laid on May 1, 1922. The teaching staff was composed of the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Father Carey served the parish until his death on 1 Jan 1925. His assistants were Fathers H. Felder, Laurence Craney, Michael P. Early, J.J. McElliot, John J. Hennessey, Joseph J. Klott, and John R. Bowen. After Father Carey’s death, the following pastors served St Joseph’s Parish from 1925 to 1969:
During Father Casey’s stay at St Joseph’s, the church was redecorated by George Satori, a well-known decorator, and a gold monstrance was presented to the parish by J.J. Wandro. When Father Casey left St Joseph’s to become rector of St Raphael’s Cathedral in Dubuque, Father Dowling continued the renovation work. The pews and floors were refinished; the windows were reset and repaired; the kneelers were padded; a new roof was put on the school and auditorium; and the gold cross was placed on the church spire. Father Dowling also purchased a Christmas crib and statues for the church while on a trip to his native Ireland.

In 1955, the parish, under the leadership of Msgr Kelly, an authority on liturgical music from Loras College, purchased the quarter block across the street from the school. This land, added to a quarter block given earlier to St Joseph’s by Mrs Catherine Norton, became the school play ground. Msgr Kelly also supervised the remodeling and modernization of the convent. In April of 1950, the parish celebrated the Fiftieth Anniversary of the building of the church and Msgr Kelly’s twenty-fifth anniversary with a double celebration. Msgr Maurice Sheehy of Washington D.C., a native of New Hampton who had been ordained from St Joseph Church, preached the sermon.

The exact date of the formation of a Ladies’ Auxiliary or Rosary Society is unknown. It is believed that one time there may have been two organizations: the Ladies’ Church Auxiliary and the Rosary Society, but early documents have never been found. When the all-male, Holy Name Society was formed in 1923, a Ladies’ Church Auxiliary was already in place. The first officers were the following: The Auxiliary later affiliated with the National Council of Catholic Women. Father Kelly organized the group into the Rosary Society in 1948 with Mrs Dan McGrath serving as president. Since the foundation of the Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women (ACCW), the members of the Rosary Society have been active on the Archdiocesan level with financial support, participation in various programs, and service as officers.

Today the Rosary Society raises funds to benefit the school, the rectory, the church building and other charitable projects. The Society also organizes the cleaning of the church and rectory, recites the rosary at wakes, serves funeral dinners, provides hospitality after masses and serves as hostesses for various parish functions.

During Mgsr Barrett’s tenure, an addition was built to the school, including classrooms, library, kitchen and lunchroom, now known as the Rose Room. The new addition was occupied in January 1958. Msgr Barrett also supervised the installation of a new heating system and central air conditioning in the church and the complete redecoration of the church in 1958-1959.

In 1966 during Father Spahn’s pastorate, St John’s School of Religion was built and incorporated. The school was financed by the six Catholic parishes that lie within the New Hampton Community School District. Today, St John’s is staffed and supported cooperatively by St Joseph Parish and other area congregations. Father Spahn also carpeted the church as a personal gift to the parish on the occasion of his Silver Anniversary.

Following Father Spahn’s departure, the following priests served the parish: In addition, the parish has been served in recent years by the following: Since 1969, a parish council, board of education, and various committees have assisted in the administration and leadership of the parish. Robert Baltes currently serves as deacon. Alice Conlon is principal of St Joseph Community School, and Gladys Christoph serves as religious director. Parish secretaries include Rose Baltes (1979 – 1993) and Becky Schoenfeld, the present secretary.

A major spiritual growth opportunity came with the RENEW program, which ran from 1987 through 1990. Parishioners and friends gathered in small groups, usually in homes, to reflect, pray and apply the Gospel to daily living. Several hundred parishioners participated in each of these sessions over the three-year period.

Over the years many improvements were made on the buildings belonging to St Joseph’s Parish, and numerous gifts were presented to the parish. The Italian marble statue of the Blessed Virgin was presented to the school by the children of James and Ellen Carr; and the statue of St Joseph which stands near the school entrance was a gift of the Lawrence Pitzenberger Family. During Father Irwin Matt’s pastorate, a new roof was put on the church and the steeple was shingled and repaired. In 1984, the Wangerin pipe organ was rebuilt and enhanced at the cost of $75,000. The organ restoration was financed by many special gifts including a $25,000 gift from the Clemens and Ramona Smith foundation. Volunteers from the parish installed much needed insulation. In 1994, the families of Gerard and Lester Glaser donated a beautiful hand-made oak altar, lectern, and baptismal font to the parish.

During 1991 through 1992, the former convent was converted to Sunrise Preschool. Most of the work, furniture, equipment and supplies were donated by parishioners and friends. Start-up grants, the Raskob Foundation and the R.J. McElroy Foundation helped fund building renovations and equipment purchases. The McElroy Foundation also awarded a $6,000 grant to be disbursed over three years beginning in 1993 for students in need. Additional financial support came from annual grants from Sara Lee Bakery and the United Way. The coordinator of the Sunrise Preschool is Betty Jo Snyder, a former teacher at St Joseph Community School.

Other school capital improvements include: The Reading Center, used for federal remedial reading programs, the playground equipment and basketball court in Runion Park, as well as remodeling and carpeting in the classrooms. Gifts of over $15,000 in memory of Cora Lee, Katie and Julie Lindsay, and Amanda Kloster created the Lindsay/Kloster Computer Lab and placed computers in each classroom. Another gift from the Clemens and Ramona Smith Foundation has updated and expanded the computer program and related equipment. Closed circuit television, new communications equipment, and phones have been added to the parish facilities. On-going support programs are sponsored by the Friends of St Joseph School. A Catholic School Alumni Association, established in 1991 currently has a listing of over 500 recipients for the school newsletter, "The Spirit". The association also assists those preparing for reunions and helps contact the graduates of New Hampton’s Catholic Schools.

St Joseph Catholic Church
(On 2 July 2000)

The parish celebrated its centennial in 1970 and in 1995 became 125 years old. Presently, the parish numbers 1,507 members from 689 households. St Joseph Catholic Community has flourished and grown since its beginning in 1870. As the parish has changed and evolved, it has expanded its services and continues to meet the needs of area Catholics and the community of New Hampton.

Bibliography
  1. Alexander, W.E. History of Chickasaw and Howard Counties,
    Decorah, Iowa: Western Publishing Company, 1883
  2. Gable, Virginia Alice. The Early History of New Hampton, 1993

  3. New Hampton Courier and Tribune, early issues

  4. The New Hampton Economist and Tribune, later issues
  5. Patrie, Rick New Hampton, Iowa History: Quasquicentennial
  6. Powers, J.H. Historical and Reminiscences of Chickasaw County Iowa;
    Des Moines, IA; Iowa Printing Company, 1884
  7. Various earlier church histories

Back to St Joseph's First Page


Back to Area Churches



Thanks to Chris for the generous use of her graphics