February 8, 1883 Oshkosh Northwestern
The above news item details the church fire for the first St. Mary's Church. It was the demise of this church that led to building the structure we all know today.
We've talked before about this, to include this blog post from 2013 which featured a photo of the original church and school:
But once again, this was one of those "found" items, while looking for something else. (I love when that happens!) And not to keep begrudging the journalism of the day, but I find it curious how the article just refers to it as the "German Catholic Church," not even by name.
Referring to it as the "German" Catholic Church likely reflects the ethnic division of the town. Soon there would be a "Polish" church as well. Quirky Menasha of my day had only 12,000 people yet 3 Catholic Churches, 3 drug stores and 30+ taverns. Gotta love it.
ReplyDeleteIn previous blog on SM it mentions it burned down on Feb 7 and present church opened in November. Wow! Some contractors!
SMHS 1960
Wild confusion....there's a visual! :)
ReplyDeleteWow 500 people. I wish to see numbers like that in church today. I go to Bethle and 85 is up there for us. I miss having the grade school I so loved there. We have many old pics of Bethels first days maybe even at their website.
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