The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1914-08-01

MENT IN 1s77-HAs SHELTERED
1867 oRPHANs-NEW HOME
COST $75,ooo-GRAND PICNIC ON
| THE GROUNDS ON AUGUST 9.
AS soon as the parish of the AS
sumption, organized in ST. Paul by
Father Keller, began to flourish, about
the middle of the last century, prom
1nent members of the congregation
wishing to cooperate with their pas
tor, met and organized the ST. Joseph
Aid Society for the purpose of sup
porting the Church. Owing to the
rapid growth of the city, the neces
s.ty for German orphan asylum be
gan to be felt by both clergy and
laity and, accordingly, in 1868 the first
steps were taken towards organizing
the st. Joseph,s Catholic Orphan
Asylum, whose work has been carried
on SO successfully to the present time
The first officers of the society were
President, H. H. Timme; secretary
Frank Schlick; treasurer, F. J. Metz
ger; sergeant-at- arms, Matthias Rein
hart; board of directors, A. Springer
| NJ. ThroZe and Adam Willwerscheid
To fill the society's Golfers, each regu-
lar member was assessed ten cents a
month and every honorary member
one dollar year. The meetings were
held monthly. The object of the So
ciety was to procure funds for the
rental of house that would serve as
an orphanage.
In it's infancy the society encoun-
tered many storms. The zeal which
had conceived the noble idea of a
home for the orphans soon grew cold.
The small monthly assessments were
not forthcoming. The membership de-
creased almost to the vanishing point
so that for about eight years nothing
to speak of was accomplished In
1877, there was scarcely a quorum
present for the election of new Off
GERS.
With the election of Mr. George
Mitsch to the presidency, the socfe-
ty was reorganized and took on a
new lease of life. The first sign of
renewed interest was shown when
temporary quarters for the orphanage
were secured in a two-story frame
building on the corner of Ninth and
Robert Streets, which was rented from
Mrs. Mary Willette for seventeen dol
lars month. The new home was
opened with six orphans, who were
taken from the Catholic Orphanage
then located at Grove and Olive
Streets, which had been established
by Bishop Grace. The furnishings of
the house were donated by generous
members of the laity among whom the
names of Balthasar SchWeizer, Jacob
Simmer, Charles Friend, George
Mitsch and Henry Timme, will ever
be held in grateful remembrance by
| the society.
Benedictine Sisters in Charge.
The next problem was to secure
Sisters to take charge of the institu-
tion. At a conference between the
directors and the Rev. Valentine
Stimmler, o. S. B., it was decided to
make an appeal to the Benedictine
Convent at Shakopee, MINI. In re
sponse to Father Valentines call for
nuns, Mother Benedict, o. S. B., and
Sister M. Agatha, o. S. B., offered
i their services. Mother Benedict was
placed in charge of the institution and
under her direction the frail craft
was piloted through many storm
On more than one occasion there was
danger of foundering on the rocks Of
poverty and want but, although sorely
tried, Mother Benedict never gave III
in despair. She remained at the heaC
Of the institution until she passed tc
her eternal reward on March 25, 1908
The first inmates of the institution en-
trusted to her care were Michael Bar
tosch, John Moller, Eva Redley, Heller
Zuraba, Sophia Rappand and Pauline
Dolzen.
1t was soon found necessary to re
move the orphanage to a more favor
able location. 1t was too far distan
from church and school. Accordingly
in the fall of 1877, the asylum at Nintl
and Robert Streets was abandoned
and house opposite the parochia
residence of the Assumption parish
the property of Mrs. Cavietzel, wa
rented at $1,000 a month. This loca
tion proved more convenient than th,
first one.
First Permanent Home.
/ All was satisfactory for the time be
ing. But the jealous parishioner
! looked forward with eagerness to tn
time when they might possess an or
! phanage suited to their needs.
movement to buy suitable propert
t for this purpose was soon started an
, negotiations were entered into wit
: Mr.. Haggerty, whose property, adjoir
t ing st. Joseph's Hospital, seemed t
suit the needs of the institution. H
finally transferred his right to the Sc
: ciety for a consideration of $4,000
The three houses on the Haggert
property were razed and work begu
on a new orphanage, which cos
f $4,000. The institution was blesse
! with solemn ceremony on December
$ 1880, by the late Bishop Grace.
c When the Most Reverend Archbisf
E op succeeded Bishop Grace, he assure
: the society of his cooperation an
/ had it incorporated under the laws 9
! TT L.. Ysev4c