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Among the settlers of the New Hampton community in the late 1800s were Catholic families of German descent. They
worshiped at St Joseph’s Church, which was mainly comprised of two groups, those who spoke German, but not English, and those
persons who spoke English, but not German. As the priest of St Joseph’s parish could not speak German, the people of German heritage felt the spiritual needs of their children were not being met. These parents expressed a strong desire for a parochial school to be organized in which their children could receive religious instruction in their native language. A school committee was formed on October 18, 1890. Elected to serve on this committee were Henry HOLSCHLAG, Sr, Henry BENKEN, John DeBETTIGNIES, Nicholas DELSING, Joseph BENKEN and J.N. HOFFMAN. A site for the school was selected on Walnut Street, south of the business district of New Hampton. By January 1891, a school structure was completed, made of wood, and a German speaking teacher, John N. KEKEISON, was employed. Now that the school was established, the German community was desirous of a priest who could minister to them in their language. The property now owned and occupied by St Mary’s was purchased, a 350 foot frontage for $750. In September 1892, the foundation for St Mary’s Church was laid and the following year a brick structure was completed. During the fall and winter of 1893, the church was furnished with pews, altar rail, and other furnishings. The people asked the Bishop of the Dubuque Diocese, His Excellency J.J. HENNESSY, for a priest to serve St Mary’s congregation. On July 2, 1894 the Bishop appointed the first pastor, Father B.H. FORKENBROCK to take charge of St Mary’s parish. The parish was named St Mary of the Visitation because Father FORKENBROCK’s appointment as the first pastor was made on the Feast of the Visitation, July 2. The contract for the building of a rectory had been let just days before the new pastor arrived, and was ready to be occupied by the end of September 1894. In August of 1894, two church bells were donated by Mr and Mrs Frank BURGART for the new church and on October 10, 1894, the church was dedicated. A three acre tract of land was purchased northwest of New Hampton in 1895 for a cemetery. But this land was considered too far from the church, so in 1897, a ten acre tract adjoining the protestant cemetery was purchased. The congregation continued to grow, and the little wooden school house became inadequate. A brick building, 60 x 32 feet, four stories high, including a basement, was constructed. On September 6, 1897, the school year opened under the guidance of the Franciscan Sisters from St Francis, Wisconsin, who first lived in regular attendance at the school. As the parish numbers increased, the church was considered too small. As numbers increased, the church was torn down and an addition was erected with two sacristies adjoining. The church was rededicated on November 18, 1902. The number of families in St Mary’s kept increasing, and the school increased in the number of pupils also, until it was no longer capable of accommodating all of them. A large addition was made in 1908, including living quarters for the Sisters and for a number of boarding pupils. Since there was a demand for high school, the courses of study were added. The high school was discontinued in 1920. The congregation saw their first young man from the parish ordained and said his first Mass at St Mary’s on June 11, 1911. At his death in September 1951, Father KIPP was buried in St Mary’s Cemetery. In 1913, the school opened under the direction of the Franciscan Sisters of Dubuque, Iowa. A fire destroyed St Joseph’s school and convent in the fall of 1920. In the years 1920 and 1922, the St Joseph students attended classes at St Mary’s. Father FORKENBROCK became ill and died April 30, 1938 and was buried in St Mary’s Cemetery. Rev Father Louis LEKEL was named pastor of St Mary’s in August of 1938. Including Fathers FORKENBROCK and LEKEL, just eight pastors have served at St Mary’s to date [1992]. Following the first two priests, Father FORKENBROCK and Father LEKEL, were Father Henry NOSBISCH, Father Victor HINTEGEN, Father L.W. KLASSEN, Father J.J. OLINGER, Father Daniel KRAPFL and the present pastor, Father Donald BAKEWELL [1992]. In 1943, the adjoining property west to Linn Avenue was purchased from the MEYERS sisters. During the pastorate of Father L.W. KLASSEN, the present church was built for approximately $181,000 and the rectory for about $44,000. The new church, built by R.A. STOLZ Construction Company, was built facing west on Linn Avenue. The rectory was built where the old church had stood. Dedication for the new church was held on October 23, 1949. The first Parish Council was formed in 1967. St Mary’s school closed in 1969 after 78 years of continuous operation, and religious education classes were begun. In 1970, Saturday evening Masses began, and in 1973, the first Eucharistic Ministers were commissioned. The church basement was divided into rooms by folding partitions for the religious education classes in 1979, and the school building was torn down in 1980. Another milestone was passed in 1991, as on August 18, the new handicap accessible entrance and elevator were dedicated by Bishop William FRANKLIN. The elevator extends service to both the main body of the church and the basement, which was also remodeled at this time. A parish fund drive and a generous amount bequeathed by the late Clara GREENWALD, as a memorial to Harold, Clara and Vernon GREENWALD, enabled this project to be completed. St Mary’s parish, established in 1890, continues to flourish and fill the spiritual needs of its members today..... 1992. |
