Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-02-27
ST. JOsgPR,s oHURcH.
sketch of x Parish which Is Near
ing It's SensI-centeiHMfpi.

St. Joseph's Church, dI Ponts BnnEs,
viii celebrate it5 semi. centennial anntyor-
sary next year. An idea OF the manner OF
celebration cannot be given as yst.
In February, 1871, the Catholics Of North
Onris.iana hundred resolved by ncerted
eccion to build church, there being no
Catholic charoh nearer than Bt. Peters,
tnon the only Catholic church in Whining
ton, and st. Peters, at Ooiee Run, the
Oldest Catholic church In the State, respeo-
lively four and flye miles distan. Ground
was procured gratis from Charles l. du Pont,
brother of Admiral du Pont. Subsequently
en- additional acre was purchased at O.
nominal figure. board of trustees was
selected and a building committee, CON-
posed OF Charles /. du Pont, Alfred du Pont,
Henry du Pont, Peter II. Brennan, Edward
Dougherty, Charles Dougherty and Michael
DoughsrtY, who also were trustees, was
appointed. The Catholics OF the vicinity
were mostly employees OF e. l. du Pont de
Nemours d. 90. Collections were taken
and many non-Gatholios contributed gem
erously. Charles Lecarpentier, q profess
sor OF chemistry In the service OF the COM
pany, was the first donor. The funds were
chiefly raised by employees of the company
taking 900 shares ~ per cent, the church
being responsible and the company ad.
vancing the money. The church was built
by James Goodman. 1t was dedicated
under the patronage nt st. Joseph In Do.
cember, 184l, Bishop Kenrick OF Philadel-
phia, ofloiatlng.
Father McOabe, tho srst pastor, remained
but short time. Soma years later he WAS
burned to death. The second pastor, Father
Frost, stayed only few months. Father
Magorian was pastor from 1912 to 1876.
Father Walsh was the next paetor, continu-
Ing In the pastorate for 20 years. His sue-
cessor, Father Seanlan, continued until
1863, when Father Kelly became pastor.
The latter was succeeded In 1857 by Father
Henehy, who remained but few months.
His successor, Father Donaghy is the
present pastor.
In 1850 four dwellings adjoining the
church were purchased ead the community
was made exclusively Catholic. The pur-
chase was made from Charles l. du Pont
and In his honor the locality was named
Charleston. Rents from the dwellings,
since they have been owned by the church,
have more than doubled their cost. Three
years after the purchase one OF the dwell
| tngs WRs destroyed by hre. Madame
Amelia du Pont agreed to contribute $500
| provided th1 house was rebuilt and con-
| yetted into a convent. TIE proposition
was accepted, A convent WAS built and O
sisterhood OF the order Of st. Joseph was
procured. Soon after the arrival Of the
sisters the erection OF a sehoolhouse was
| contemplated. Its erection WAS completed
| during tho latter part Of 1856. Then the
patishioners numbered 300 and the parish
included the now separate parishes of st
ann, Ashland, Hockessin and Coffee Run
st. Joseph's Beneficial Society was or.
ganized IN 1855 and was an auxiliary TO the
church for 80 years. The parochial house
was burned In 1866 but was quickly rebuilt
During his paAtorate ct ~. Jdseph't
Father Seaman llquidated $4,000 OF the
debt on the church property. He con
Quoted the school with lay teachers, BishoI
NkRR ID, aNaawt Nk1H
l diocese OF Wilmington was created rEdei
Bishop Becker. During the pas.orate O
Father Kelly u branch OF the third order o.
Sisters of St. Francis was procured to take
charge Of the school. Father Kelly In I
few years succeeded in getting the churcl
and property out OF debt.
For more than 95 years E. 1. du Pont d,
Nemours Il Co., paid the pew rents OF thei
employees and held the church responstbl
for the return of the money. The none.
paid the company In return for what 1T hat
advanced more than trebled the amour
borrowed.
Now the church is In q prosperous ant
fourlshing condition. The pastor, Fathe
Donaghy, is held In the higheet esteem.
The addition 10 the school house, com
meneed last summer, will be completed b.
Easter. The old building, 40S32 feet, ha
been made story higher, and the ann \
66x32 feet. Is two stories high A coatini
OF cement has been put on thu outside AM
inside walls Of the addition. The larg
room on the first floor Of the annex vii
be used for entertainments. In the seoont
story there are two rooms, one OF whicl
will be occupied as temperance hall ant
the other will be used by a library associa
tion, yet to be organiEed. The improve
ments will cost $500 and when they ar
completed one-half of the cost Will hay
been paid. They will add considerably to til
beauty OF the surroundings. The contrac
tors are: Samuel Nsill, PlasteriDg; dsorg
McCarty, carpentarinR; John Welsh, ston
work; Edward Dougherty, painting; Joh
Oonly, stone and lime; s. q. Simmons
Brothers, mill work.
A shed for sheltering tennis has bee
erected near the church.