Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1884-12-27
LOCAL HISTORY,
ST. J0SEPH'S CATHOLIC CHURCH,

The name of the pioneer of Catho.
LEFTY in Berkeley county has been
lost to history. No doubt, members
IN communion with the Church of
Rome came to the county in the de-
cline OF the last century, but as the
vineyard was large and the laborers
few, the pioneers were left without
the ministrations of priest.
In the month of October, 1911, the
Rev. Father Cahill, then residing in
Frederick, Maryland, was called upon
to minister to the spiritual wants of
the few Catholics in the county. He
came and held services in a private
house. This was the first public
Catholic service held in Martinsburg
and Berkeley county. After his visit,
this town became a mission subject to
the pastor III Frederick. From 1911
to 1880, the mission was visited at in
tervals by priests from Frederick and
Hagerstown, Maryland, and, to this
day, many are the amusing legends
related of the trials of the priests in
getting here. Divine service was
held at the residence of John TIM
mons. on Race street, for the period
OF nineteen years.
In 1880, the membership had in
creased to fifty, and during that year,
The pastor, Rev. Father Readman,
undertook the erection ola church,
Liberal were the subscriptions of the
few Catholics, and literally were they
assisted by Christians of other denonl-
nations. Soon, the church was under
way, but, before its completion, the
pastor was called to Rome, Italy,
where he died, much regretted BY his
'piritual children i'm Virginia. The
'hurch was finished at cost of s., 900.
The mission was now on solid
'asis, and the people called for a pas
or. The Rev. j. B. Giltlea was sent,
who finished the church and remained
i've years. This priest was very en-
rgetic, and worked hard for his mas
er's kingdom. Beside completing
he Martinsburg church, he erected
st. Peters church, in Harpers Ferry,
md st. Vincent's church, in Baltimore
ity.
In 1886, Rev. Vincent Wheelan took
barge, remaining three years.
While Father Wheelan was here, the
'rovince, in recognition of his piety,
dlents and administrative ability,
-ent his name to Rome as suitable
md worthy candidate for the new
see of Wheeling. Rome selected DIR.
Wheelan, and he became the first
'atholic Bishop in Western Virginia.
His successor was Rev. j. O'Brien,
Who remained in the mission seven
ears. and during his pastorate, the
congregation increased. In 1848,
Rev. j. A. Plunket was sent, who OBJ
CRYING that the building was too
mall, commenced the erection of the
resent parish church. The corner
tone of st. Joseph's church was laid
IN 1850, and, two years afterwards,
he edifice was completed, costing
bout $4,000.
Distinguished churchmen have, at
litferent times, had charge of the
hurch at Martinsburg. Among them
we're Bishop Wheelan, of Wheeling
Becker, of Wilmington, Delaware,
md Kahn, of Wheeling, each remain
ng several years.
The present membership is about
| 200. The church has large paro-
! HAL school, in charge of three teach
ers, who instruct 155 sholars. The
sunday School is in charge of twenty
me ladies and gentlemen of the par
lsh, and numbers 240 children.
The above sketch is taken from Har-
lesty's History of Berkeley County
There were scattered families of
Catholics through here prior to 1900,
Is incidents related in the history of
The Jesuit Missions of the Pennsyl-
rania and Maryland provinces go to
show. Father Frambach crossed the
Potomac before the revolutionary
var on missionary work. The priest
who visited Middleway, Va, about
800, came as far as ShepherdstowD
where Catholic services were held,
and the history of the McSherry fam
~ records that the priests who did
missionary lahorS through this part
# Virginia, regularly visited the few
'atholIc families settled in the valley.
Another prominent Catholic family
vas that of Commodore Boarman,
who was visited at that time by many
# the old families of Maryland and
Pennsylvania, coming on horseback
,ver hundred miles, which was
then the principal mode of travel.
The early records of the church are
lost and forgotten, and as in the case
IF all churches, the most that can be
ascertained is from old citizens, and
even these solitary landmarks are fast
disappearing.
Rev. J. Kelley, of Richmond, took
barge of St. Joseph's Jan. 10Th, 1874 !;
ne was succeeded by Rev. &. Van
Quekelberger, who came from Nat
hes, Tenn, Nov. 8th, 1874, and re-
NAMED till 1877. He died at Matches
If Yellow fever. Rev. John Dough
,Arty, of Warrenton, Va, followed
until 1880, when Rev. j. B. O'Reilly
succeeded for few months, and was
then placed in charge of st. Peters
at Harper's Ferry. Rev. III. j. Nc
I<eefry, the present pastor, came here
from Norfolk in 1881. He is a native
Of Ireland; took his classical course at
Visnage College, Belfast; studied
philosophy AMI theology at st. Vim
cents College, Pa, and was ordained
at St. Mary's Seminary, Baltimore,
by Ri. Rev. Bishop Becker, for the
Richmond Diocese. He is yet a
young man, full of energy and zeal in
his calling and for his congregation
and his labors here have been very
-ucces,ful and satisfactory. He is Il
puhlic-spirited citizen, and takes an
interest in public matters. In 1888,
the Judge Hall property was purchas-
ed of Mr.. G. p. Mathaei for $4,000 !;
improvements have since been made
to the amount of $500, all of which
has been paid excepting $1,000, and all
effort is being made to pay that this
taught in the basement Of the church,
by lay teachers, until the Sisters of
Charity of Emmittshurg took charge
Sept. l>t, 1888. and the school SO far
has been very successful. Over 200
children are in attendance; and Il
music class of y scholars is taught