The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1919-05-31

pointed by the Rt. Rev. Rupert Seiden-
bush, Bishop of ST Cloud, as the first
resident priest of Tower, and adjoin-
ing missions. Through a diligent
searching and exploration of the
grounds, Captain Pengilly, has discov-
cred a rich deposit of iron ore at
place called at first Florence, but later
on named after a mining man, Ely,
the Town OF Ely. Briefly after the
people began to settle down at this
place. Rev. Father Buh made his first
| trip on foot on the invitation of Mr..
| Patrick Vail, in 1888, to baptize a
child of Mr.. Byrns, captain Of the
| Pioneer mine. Later on, when the
| railroad track was extended as far as
| Ely, Rev. Father Buh attended mis-
sion regularly every month for two
years. He held the religious services
in a private house most of the time at
| the home of Mr.. Frank LoZar In the
year 1890 there was already large
| community of Catholics in Ely. There
was an urgent need Of having church
where the people could gather and
worship God. Through faithful &C
tivity and interestedness of Catholics
small church, 80 by so, was put up
/ in honor of st. Anthony de Padua, and
was dedicated on Thanksgiving day
! the same year This was the first
church in Ely. Thus the wish of the
| faithful was realized and the main
obstacle overcome.
While the mission territory grew too
extensive for one priest, Rev. Father
Buh received a help by the appoint
ment Of Rev. Father Bilban, as his as
sistant in Tower From that time on
Rev. Father Bilban had a charge of the
mission in Ely During his mission
airy activity in Ely he built a frame
building for the priest dwelling which
is still standing and being used. In
the year 1897, when the conditions
favorable for settling were opened on
the Mesaba Range, Rev. Father Bilban
was appointed to Virginia. The va
cancy at Ely was filled out by Rev
Andrew Smrekar
Due to the great influx of immigra-
ton Of the Slovenes the old church
| became too small to furnish the ac-
commodations for all the churchgoers
A larger church was built in the year
1890 with the dimensions 40 by 80,
also called st. Anthony's Church,
under the pastorship of Rev. Andrew
Smrekar, and was dedicated the Sun
day before Thanksgiving Day the
same year by the Rt Rev. Bishop Nc
Golrick The same church is still
existing and used for divine services
The present church is situated on the
top of a hill also called Catholic Hill
and thus occupying the most promi-
nent place in the Town of Ely. The
church is very roomy, having a seat
ing capacity for 500 people,
At the front part of the church
there is steeple standing at a height
of 100 feet which carries three big
bells and clock of European style,
valued at $4,000. The parish of ST.
Anthony has a congregation of 800
families, which were taken care of by
Ri. Rev. Mgr J. F. Buh, the old pio-
neer priest of the northwest, since
the year 1900, when he changed his
residence from Tower to Ely. Having
been in the need of assistance the Rt
Rev. Bishop McGolrick appointed Rev.
F. Mihelcic as the assistant, the 9th
of November 1917. Not long after
things changed in the diocese of Du.
luth. In the year 1918, January 23rd,
the diocese lost her beloved Bishop
Ri. Rev. James McGolrick. The Ri
Rev. Buh, the Vicar general of the
diocese, was appointed as administra.
tor of the diocese, and held this office
!, until the installation of the present
bishop, Rt Rev. John T. McNicholas
During the absence of Rt Rev. Father
Buh, the parish was left in charge with
: Rev. F. Mihelcic, who is still holding
. this temporary position, while Rt Rev
Father Buh, who enjoys very honor
able age of 81 years, is making his
temporary residence at the Sacred
, Heart Institute at Duluth, holding the
: Office of Chaplaincy of that institution