The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1918-06-15
SACRED HEART CHURCH AND PARocHIAL SCHOOL,
EAST GRAND FORKS, MINI.

East Grand Forks is city of 5000
population and is showing a steady
and substantial growth. 1t is a pro-
gressive city in every sense of the
word, as evidenced by it's many and
substantial public Improvements, De-
Mers Avenue, the principal business
thoroughfare of the city, is paved its
entire length. An ornamental lighting
system, one of the very finest in the
entire Northwest, extends through the
entire business portion of the city,
while the residence sections are we'll
lighted by an arc light system.
The city owns ana operates its own
water works plant. This department
is governed by a commission of three
citizens and taxpayers. A first class
sewer system extends to all parts of
the city. East Grand Forks also en-
joys the advantages of street car
system, the Grand Forks Street Rail-
way Company's system extending to
this side of the river and traversing
the principal business and residence
sections.
A beautiful natural park purchased
by the city promises to become the
public playground of its inhabitants.
Not until last summer, however, had
the city taken any active steps to-
wards making this the beauty spot
that nature intended it to be. During
the past season a large and COM
modious band stand was erected in
the center of the park and other
minor improvements made. A num-
her of important improvements are
contemplated for the coming year.
East Grand Forks has a splendid
military band of twenty-five pieces,
which has done much to advertise
the city During the summer open air
concerts were given in the city park
!, at~regular intervals.
Between Christmas and New Year
of 1893, the Catholics of East Grand
Forks and surrounding territory or
ganized the Sacred Heart parish, later
incorporated as The Church of the
Sacred Heart Considering circum-
stances, the attempt to build up a
new parish at the time demanded
brave hearts and strong wills. People
with these qualities were not want
ing. though some may have grown
faint hearted before the dawn of sue
cess appeared The undertaking was
encouraged by the Ri. Rev. James
-McGolrick, Bishop of Duluth, who ap-
pointed Father Hendricks as the first
pastor.
,YTYI,o H. Ii cCic
of the people of East Grand Forks,
regardless of creed prompted the
erection of an edifce worthy to serve
as temple to the Most High. How
ever, there is no crown without a
cross. The church was barely fin
ished when, within a short hour, on
December /, 1895, all was reduced to
ashes. The destruction of their own
homes by fire would not have been
a severer blow to the prime movers
in the parish than burning of their
church. Right then and there, the
people showed that they were made
of stuff that spells success for they
Immediately built larger church.
In 1900, Father Hendricks was sue
ceeded by Father j. F. Greene, who
served the parish until his death,
February &c, 1909 Under his admin
istration the parish erected the pres
ent parsonage at a cost of $4,000. The
church also was furnished during this
period. Shortly after the death OF
Father Greene, Father ]. Hogan took
charge of the parish. His great &C.
tivity soon brought the parish to a
high standard Societies. were or
ganized and good results obtained
from the work reduced to system.
In 1910, the diocese of Duluth was
divided and a, new see erected in
Crookston to which see Sacred Heart
Church belongs. Father Hogan left
y in the spring of 1911 and affiliated
himself to his former diocese of Dul
luth. In JallyRof the. same year FatheI
w. Klinkhammer, the present pastor,
8 took charge of the parish. RI Rev
#. Corbett, Bishop of Crookston,
filled with zeal for the best interests
of his people, thought the time was
ripe for the building of a parochial
school. Accordingly Father Klink-
hammer at once started the work OF
building the present magnificent Sa-
cred Heart school 1t was finished
and furnished by September |, 1912
and open to receive its first pupils
The Sisters of st. Benedict of Villa
Sancta Scholastica, Duluth were en-
gagged as teachers. They have made
the school a success and the pride
OF the parish. Its annual enrolment
is 200.
The Sacred Heart Convent provid
ing home for the Sisters and a
dormitory for girls was erected ii
1917. costing $4,000.