The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1919-04-12

PoIllC lllC llol IHClH ocCIlOu vi w lSCOU-
sin and Minnesota, known as the
Fond-du-Lac Reservation was admin
istered. Some of the entries of bap-
tisms and marriages for the year 1855
are made by the Bishop himself.
In June, 1866, Father Van Paemel
resumed charge of st. 'Mary's at Su-
perior. He bought a dwelling on the
present Third street between Becker
and Nettleton avenues, which had
been intended for a hotel. This build
ing he remodeled and dedicated in
honor Of Mary of the Assumption, and
it remained the mission chapel until
1872
Between the years 1870 and 1872
Father Bonaventure DeGoey was resi-
dent missionary. Shortly after his
departure, on March 1, 1872, the lit
tie chapel was completely destroyed
by fire. For a year, the Catholics Of
Superior were again without church
or priest so that they but seldom had
the consultations of Holy Mass and
the Sacraments. Only on rare occa-
sions, when some wandering mission
airy came to the Head of the Lakes
from Canada, hall or some available
building was rented for divine serv-
ices. While yet without priest, and
possibly with view to securing some
one who would think it worth the
while, the people worked hard to OBJ
tain new church. For the hand
some sum of $1,000 the frame church
building which today stands on the
corner of Third street and Thompson
avenue, was purchased from the
Methodist congregation. 1t is known
today as st. Adelbert's Polish Church.
The Rev. Hugh Quigley, D. D., was
the first pastor connected with this
new church edifice. But it seems
that the hardships of frontier life
were too severe, and after eleven
months he withdraw from the field.
During 1874 and 1875, Superior was
again without a pastor, except for an
occasional visit from Father Chebul
or some other missionary who would
come here from the rapidly growing
city of Duluth. Notable among these
is the Rt. Rev. Mgr. Buh, now Vicar
General of the Duluth Diocese
The year 1883 likewise marks the
arrival in Superior and in St. Francis
parish of Father Eustace, who with
but the short intermission of year
and half remained with the congrega-
tior, for ouo,, h irty two
On October 5, 1890, an important
meeting was held at the rectory at
which were present Bishop Flasch,
Father Provincial Ferdinand, Father
Eustace, James Bardon, J. S. Richie,
John Keaough, Vincent Roy, John
Bardon and H. E.. Laffitte. 1t was
decided at this date to build new
church.
When in January, 1895, the congre-
cation was incorporated under the
laws of Wisconsin, Mr.. W. j. Leader
and Mr.. John A. Bardon were elected
as the first trustees of the new cor
act of this new body to carry on the
work on the new structure. 1t was &C.
cordingly decided to put temporary
roof on the foundation and to prepare
it for use as a church until better
times warranted the execution of the
original design. However, the build
ing of new rectory near the new
church edifice was deemed imperative,
and the available funds of the parish
were applied on this new building.
Work was begun on it on st. An
thongs day, 1895, and completed by
the end of the same year. The stone
used on the rectory and the founda-
ton of the church, as we'll as much
lumber was secured largely through
the generosity of Mr.. James Bardon.
On November L, of the same year,
the basement church was under roof
and furnished ready for holding di-
vine service. Father Fabian, then of
preached the dedicatory SER
mon on that day. The old church
structure on Third street was hence
forth known as ST. Francis Hall, un-
til final disposition was made of it in
1909, when the Polish element of the
parish organized congregation of
their own, and converted it into a
church.
In comparatively short time, the
buildings thus far erected were clear
Of debt, and the sum of $4,000 were
saved, sufficient to warrant the COM
pletion of the church proper. The
only change made in the plans was
the substitution of brick for stone, as
originally contemplated. On his ar
rival to the newly established bis
hopric of Superior, August 6, 1905,
Bishop Augustine Schinner was able
to lay the cornerstone of the new
church. The following year, the SUI
with it's imposing steeple
was brought to its completion and
dedicated to the service of God