The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1918-12-21
HISTORY OF ST. MARY'S PARISH,
BISMARCK.

The congregation was organized in
1876 by Right Rev. Bishop Martin Mar
ty and the Rev Chrysostom Foffa
! O. S. b.. who also built the first school
and rectory, and convent for the Bene-
dictine Sisters OF ST. Joseph, Mimi, as
anneXeS to the church. Previous to
sthis date Rev. ]. Genin, while making
his mission tour to the Indians, at
tended the Catholics CT Bismarck,
which was first called Fort Hancock,
Burleigh, Excelsior. German capital
used in construction of the Northern
Pacific Railway and high bridge over
the Missouri River won for this town
the name of Bismarck. Father Genin
\ resorted to the unique way Of trans
porting the windwreCked and unpaid
for church building of Detroit, Mimi,
on fiat cars to Bismarck, Dakota Ter
ritory. Monsignor Jos. Buh also Wis
tied this territory in the early seven
ties. The parish and missions were
served by Revs. Bernard Burning
18S0), William Eversmann, o. S. B.,
Eduard Guenther, o. S. B. (1SSD, Paul
Rettenmaicr, o. S. B. (1SS5) Bede
Northman, o. S. B. (1S86), Wolfgang
Steinkogler o. S. b. Ito 1881, Alfred
Mayer Ito Aug, 1890, Martin Schmitt,
.. S. b. Ito May, 1896.
All labored well though difficulties
were many and great. Rev. Clement
Dimpa, o. S. D., was appointed to take
charge and settle various matters
which he succeeded in doing by build
ing a new church edifice, better To-
Gated and more spacious as we'll as
attractive. The same building serves
for the time being as Pro-Cathedral.
New buildings for rectory, school and
convent were provided for on the east
side near the new church, whereas,
the old buildings stood on the west
side In August 1898, the big fire
wiped out the business district of Bis
marck and some private dwellings,. It
was September 25 when Right Rev
Bishop John Stanley blessed the
church amidst great concourse Of
people. Matters improved with the
disappearance OF the old.time shacks
and customs with the long expected
arrival of the 500 Line (Washburn
Line) locating great coal mines. Pros
porous little towns grew up all over
the territory Of five counties where
commodious churches, were built and
resident pastors appointed. st. AleXi.
us Hospital, in charge of the Bene-
dictine Sisters of st. Joseph, Mimi,
since 1886, became sanitarium known
and loved far and wide. The priests
acting as chaplains Of the hospital or
helping in the vast territory and mis-
sion work were: Revs p. Keanan |
(lSSO, Valentine Stimmler QS96 and
'9O, Joseph VIII (1S9S), Otto Weisser
190O, Adolf Dingmann and Louis
Traufer G9031905), Bonaventure
Hansen, still active, and Peter VOL.
mix (1906), and Philip Banner to
(190S), Benedict Schmit Q910). Thesel
Benedictine Fathers we're sent to the i
mission field by the Christian Spirit of |
Abbots AleXius and Peter of st. Johns,
Collegeville, Mimi. Mission conveyance
was horse and blackboard Church |
0NhNhSS lStd' at dtly convenient /
place, Bishop Stanley appointed Rows. |
M. J. Simon and p. McPhee as resident
chaplains. The State Prison was at
tended blythe local pastor.
In the year Of our Lord 1907, the
cornerstone was laid for the new pa.
Tochial school on 9th street and it was
dedicated by the Right Rev. Bishop
John Stanley in January, 1908. The
cost OF the building and heating |
amounted to $25,0OO
With the death OF Bishop Shanley1
the diocese of Fargo was divided intol
Fargo and Bismarck dioceses Abbot
Vincent Wehrle was consecrated
bishop and installed most solemnly
and auspiciously on June IS, 1910, byl
His Grace Archbishop John Ireland Of
st. Paul, MINI. Among many aigni-
taries the Supreme Court Of State,
Gov. John Burke and state depart
rnents, military officials Of Fort Lin
coin attended and Catholic societies
were represented in great numbers at