The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1909-10-08

are located in a block OF ground sit.
uated on north Broadway, between
Sixth and Seventh avenues.
The parish has grown to it's present
proportions, has equipped itself with
he best in church buildings and has
done vast amount OF good in the
community in the short space Of time
of twenty-nine years. 1t rs an example
of what can and is being done along
lines OF rapid development in this
great northwest country.
Parish Established in 1880.
While St. Mary's parish was not es-
tablished until 1880, Catholic history in
Fargo is almost as old as the history
of the city itself. Catholic history in
the territory now comprising North
Dakota dates back almost 100 years,
when the first church was established
at Pembina in 1918.
When the Northern Pacific railroad
crossed the Red river in 1871 the his :
tory Of Fargo. began. Prior to that
time there were only few settlers in
this part OF the country and these
were scattered along the banks of the
river from Elm creek to the point
WHCEG AiAG w AAh AkiCG AlOMC INTO TIE
Red These people had mostly come
in the early part Of the year 1870 and
were waiting for the railroad to cross
the stream in order that they might
take up claims at the crossing, real
izing that at some future date there
would be a city located at that point.
During this period and up to 1872 the
settlers were visited occasionally by
priests from Duluth, who even at still
earlier times paid visits to and held
at Holy Cross, now known as
Wild Rice.
There was little mission establish
ed at Holy Cross and the history of
this christian outpost and the early
history of Catholicism i'm Fargo are al
most one. The Catholic records. which
have been kept in a most complete and
detailed form, show that the first mass
was said at Holy Cross mission in
1858. That was evidently soon after
the mission was built From that time
on the place was visited regularly by
priests from Duluth and IL is in this
way that the church history of Wild
Rice is closely interviewer with that
OF Fargo
amer 1&Utu FsFSI FFlS5Fs
1t seems. from an investigation OF
the Catholic records, that the first
priest to visit Fargo while on his per-
iodical trip to Holy Cross, was Father
Genin The first visit to Fargo was
probably soon after the settlers gath
cred at the crossing and formed them
selves into a community. He contin-
ued these visits for some time. still
residing in Duluth
In 1878 a church was built I'm Moor
head This edifice was erected by the
Rev. Father Spitzenberger, who was
pastor Of a church at Perham, Mimi
Father Spitzenberger after building the
Moorhead church visited the settle
ment every other Sunday and held SER
vices, the alternate Sundays being de-
voted to his flock at Perham. Fargo
Catholics took advantage OF the SER
vices at Moorhea6 and the ministra-
tions Of the priests from Holy Cross
became unnecessary. On Sept s.
1879, the first Catholic school in this
part of the country was completed ia
Hoorhead and three days later the
work of education began with an at
tendance OF nineteen children from
Fargo and Moorhead.
AT that time everything was In
very primitive condition in both towns.
There were comparatively few people
Ind money was scarce, about the only
coinage In circulation being that which
was brought IN by the railroad and
paid to the employees Of the construc-
lion crews. For this reason it Ii to
De surmised that church finances were
Ut correspondingiy low ebb.
Fareoans Secure Church Of Their Own.
Things remained la this condition