The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1902-02-08
A SCRAP OF LOCAL HISTORY.
st. Joseph's Catholic Church, on the Bel
air Road-A Large Congregation
Grows From a Small Beginning
celebration of It's Golden
Jubilee. etc. etc

In the years from 1910 to 1851 the people of a
religious turn of mind and who wanted to go to
church, especially the Roman Catholics of the
upper end of the 14th district, (the old 12th,)
were compelled TO walk to the city to attend
divine services. The Belair road, which had
been opened by convicts about 1872, and which
was not incorporated as a turnpike company
until at the special session of the Legislature in
1867, was in a horrible condition and most of the
farmers used the Hartford pike.
In lS50a number of neighbors gathered in order
to discuss ways and means to build church.
They were ably assisted by the Fathers of st.
James r. G. Church, Baltimore, and Father Neu-
man, who later became Bishop of Philadelphia,
was entrusted with the undertaking. A log
church was built in the latter part of 1851 and
looked like it might be one of the houses of an
Indian settlement. This church became too
small for the number of the faithful who wor--
SHIPPED there and larger one was built about
1856. This remained until 1867. Along with the
second church there was also built rectory and
school house, which is at present occupied as
dwelling by Mr.. John Horner, and is still in
good condition
Some of the agricultural handiwork of the
good Fathers can still be seen. A part of the
church prOperty-the old graveyard, with few
graves therein-is still there, but the church was
torn down and new and modern one built in 1867.
The new and last one is about half a mile from
where the old one stood and is directly on the
Beair road, six miles from Baltimore city limits.
The size is 100 feet long and 40 feet wide and $50
persons can be comfortably seated therein. It
Is beautifully frescoed inside and was lately
painted on the outside
The church stands on high elevation, with a
tall steeple in which there are three bells. and if
anyone wants good and far-reaching view of
the surrounding country that is the place to go.
The eye without glass can see into five coun-
ties of the State, the Chesapeake bay, the East
ern Shore, all the rivers on the west shore from
the Patapsco to the Gunpowder, both inclusive;
Seven Foot Knoll, the forts and vessels of all
kinds can be seen going up and down the bay.
Near the church is also large-size school
house, which accommodates $50 children and can
be easily enlarged on the second floor, where the
children are taught both German and English by
the Sisters of st. Francis.
Adjoining the church is also the graveyard.
Mr.. Charles Brockmeyer now owns the ground
surrounding the old graveyard and since owning
it was instrumental in getting all the roads there
to in good shape. There are few graves there
now and among them is the lot of Joseph Krastel
and family, who one of the pioneers. Other
pioneers were Joseph Snyder, (still living) Jacob
j. Dieter, Nicholas w. Smith, James M. Smith,
John G.. Pfeifer, Frank Brockmeyer and Others.
Out of this congregation grew st. Anthony's
Parish at Gardenville, and Mt. Carmel or Middle
River Parish. All of the pastors. with the ex-
Rev. Joseph Wissel, who was pastor from 1854 to
1865 Revs. Charles Damer, j.. Alphonse Fred
erick, George j. Tragesser and Rev.F.A.B B. Wun-
nenberg the present pastor. The congregation
has membership of about 800 souls and is in
fourishing condition under its present, pastor.
who has been in charge two years. In that time
a debt of 81, 100 has been wiped out and improve
ments amounting to $1,000 have been made.
the grounds and buildings are in excellent
shape.
On January IL, 1902, the congregation of st.
was one of the grandest affairs in the history of
the church. One hundred and fifty persons also
received the sacrament of confirmation. All of
the surviving pastors were invited to be present
on this occasion. Rt. Rev. Bishop Curtis, who
represented Cardinal Gibbons, was met at Putty
Hill by 30 men on horseback, a band of music,
the knights of st. James and Gardenville
Council @. b. l.. The church was tastefully
decorated with palms, potted plants and cut
flowers. Solemn high mass was sung by the
Rev. Father Paul, o. s. B., of Bristoe. Va, who
was born and raised in this parish He was as
and Rev. Kohlsider, of Loyola College. Rt. Rev.
Bishop Curtis occupied throne in the Sanctu-
airy and was assisted by Rev. George Loritz, pro-
fessor of philosophy at Leicester College, Nd,
and Rev. f. A. B. Wunnenberg. After mass
Bishop Curtis addressed those to be confirmed
cation, congratulating them upon the tiftieth
anniversary of the establishment of the church.
Those to be confirmed were then presented to
the Bishop by the pastor. After confirmation
solemn benediction was given and services closed
for the day.
The Rt. Rev. Bishop and the clergy were en-
tertained in a royal manner at the rectOry of the
church. At 8 O'Clock P. NJ. the Bishop and clergy
were escorted as far as Putty Hill in the same
imposing way they had been brought from that
place in the morning.
The music rendered at the service was of
high order, by the choir of the church, ably as
sisted by select choir from Baltimore, under
the direction of Mr.. Jansen, who also presided
at the organ.
Besides the clergy there were also present all
the former principals of st. JoSeph's School and
about fifteen young ladies from the parish who
became Sisters of the Order of st. Francis.
On Monday morning, memorial services, con-
sstng of mass for all the dead of the congre-
CATION, were held in the church. The attend
ance at all the services was so great that the
church could not accommodate all with even
standing room. B.