The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-11-22
AN ARCHITECTURAL GEM

NEW CHURCH OF ST. PETER, DEL
ANo, AN ARTISTIC STRUCTURE
cost $4,000 WITHOUT FUR
NIsHINGs-HIsToRY OF THE
PARISH - PREDECESSORS OF
FATHER SAWS WHO HAS BEEN
IN CHARGE SINCE 1897.
In last weeks issue we gave an ac-
count of the formal dedication of the
new Church of St. Peter, Delano,
Mimi, which those who witnessed the
ceremony declare to be one of the
most artistic in general outline and
interior finish in the Archdiocese of
ST. Paul
The new church is the most impos-
ing structure in Delano and focuses
the attention of all who pass that way
The people of the town, irrespective of
religious af1liation, are proud of the
magnificent church erected by the
Catholics of st. Peters parish under
the direction of the pastor, Reverend
M. Saws.
st. Peters Church was designed by
Victor Cordella, of Minneapolis, who
embodied in his plan the ideas gath
cred by Father Saws from an inspec-
tion of some of the most notable Eu-
ropean churches. The superstructure
is of brick with Bedford stone trim
mings. The main building is over one
hundred and fifty-eight feet long by
sixty-five feet wide with a transept
seventy-two feet in width The facade
is graced by an artistic tower rising
to a height Of one hundred and forty
six feet and surmounted by a cross.
The interior ornamentation is in stucco
work including casseted ceiling in
neo-classic style. The seating capacity
without the gallery is six hundred.
Beneath the church there is full
basement eleven and a half feet in
height.
The total cost was about $4,000,
exclusive of the pews, heating plant,
electric wiring and fixtures. The peo-
pie of the parish did all the work of
excavating, hauling gravel, sand and
brick The stained glass windows, pic
lures, affairs, communion rail and 9TH
er furnishings were donated by mem
bers of the congregation.
The work of construction was begun
in the spring of 1912, and on June 16,
the contract for the new church was
let to Mr.. Edward Hirt, of st. Cloud,
for $28,353, and an additional $500 for
the substitution of copper instead of
galvanized iron on the steeple.
History Of the Parish.
The first church of Delano dates
back to the year 1865, when the wood
en- structure, the tower of which may
be seen at present in the Catholic
cemetery, was erected by number of
the original settlers after their return
from the Civil War.
In 1874, the Catholics of Delano de-
cided to build new church and on
June Is of that year the cornerstone
of the Church of st. Peter, which is
now supplanted by the new church,
was laid by Father Steinacker, of Wa
tertown, MINI. Ten years later a
separate church, that of St. Mary in
Franklin township, was built by the
Polish members of the congregation.
In 1875, Father Socha built the first
parochial school, which is now the
parish hall. The present st. Peters
school was built in 1888, and placed
in charge of the Sisters of st. Francis
of Rochester. Three years later the
parochial residence was erected at a
cost of $4,000. Some years afterward
movement was set on foot by the
Polish Catholics of Delano for a sep
arate church and on July 5, 1903, Rev.
M Saws laid the cornerstone OF the
present Church of St. Joseph, Of which
Father Zdechlik is pastor.
About that time the question Of
building a new Church for st. Peters
parish was discussed and in 1905 it
was unanimously decided to undertake
the task. The result is seen in the
new Church of st. Peter recently dedi-
Gated.
The Rev. NJ Saws, under whose di-
rection the new church was built, has
been in charge of the parish since
1897. He is native of Berg, Austria,
where he was born on February 16,
1870. He came to America in 1891,
and finished his theological studies in
st. Paul Seminary, where he was or
dained in December, 1895.
The pastors who preceded him at
De1ano we're Father Steinacker who,
in 1875, was succeeded by the Rev.
Damusus Socha, who remained until
1884. His successor, the Rev. John
Rynda, pastor of the Church of st.
Stanislaus, ST. Paul. was in charge for
eighteen months. Father Wenning,
who succeeded him, was forced to re-
tire on account of i'll health and his
place was taken by Rev. Lawrence
Zawadeski, who assumed charge Of
the parish in 1887 and remained until
his death on November Z, 1896. He is
buried in the local cemetery in the
midst Of his spiritual children.