Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1921-11-02
GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY
PETERSBURG CHURCH
Continued from Page One)
In September of the same year the
church was under roof.


church was under roof
During its construction miss ionary
of the middle west passed through
Petersburg and celebrated Mass in a
school house now known as school
house Two.
Several weeks later the church was
completed and ready for use. 1t had
no steeple, but it's walls were high
which made it large and roomy. Fhe
interior was plain, consisting of three
affairs, with plastered walls and a
communion railing, and in the church
proper, pews were made by Henry
Loembeck of Dubuque.
Some time in November the, church
was completed and ready for services.
About this time Father Hannasch,
then pastor Of Luxembourg came to
P stersburg once every month to cele-
brate Holy Mass and administer, to
the wants Of his faithful. He brought
with him Mr. Huene, an organist of
Luxembourg to direct the choir, After
a few months Father Weikmann, the
jealous organizer of this congrega-
ton, then pastor of New Vienna. took
the mission and read Mass every Sum
day, alternating each week with a
high and low Mass. y But Father Weik-'
mann did not continue his mission
long and etsrsburg remained desti-
tute Of a priest until October, 1871;
when Father Fraunhoefer Of Sherrills
Mound was appointed first resident
pastor OF Petersburg and took up his
abode in the priest house which had
been built during the winter Of 1869,
on the same site where the present
parochial residence now stands.
In 1874 FIR. Fraunhoefer was trans
ferred to Keokuk, to fill the vacancy
left by Father Luehrsmann, who was
moved to Gutenberg. Father Mas.
jost was transferred from Gutenberg,
January 4. to Petersburg and remain
ed there until his death. which oc-
CURED February II. 1898.
During his pastorate many substan-
tial improvements were. made. He
built to the church in 1886 a magnif-
icent steeple which can be seen
very many miles around. The steeple
still stands as monument to the
m emorable priest who spent such a
fruitful life in the vineyard Of his
Maker. Credit is due him for
the present school, which was built in
1888, and of which the Sisters of st.
Francis have since been the teachers.
Up to this time Petersburg had a
small one-room school. The early
teachers were Mr.. Brier, Mr. Rausch,
Mr.. Tasshaller and Mr.. Knippel. Mr..
Brier taught school for few months
during the second year of Father
stay in Petersburg; Mr..
Rausch came to Petersburg with Faith
er Maasjost and remained pedagogue
for about five years.
Mr.. Tasshaller followed and taught |
during period of about six years.
tii hHaPpCl, ldSt vi Iuc peudBUSueS,
succeeded Mr. Tasshaller and remain
ed for about four years, teaching the |
last year in the new school. He was |
relieved by the Sisters of St. Francis, |
who came there in September, 1890 |
They lived in the school until 1895 !
when they moved into the old priest |
house. Father Maasjost moved into !
the new parochial residence which the |
Sisters now occupy:
The Sisters were: Sister NJ Cece- |
liza. Sister NJ. Helena and Sister NJ |
Ludg era There were 100 pupils in
the first scholastic year.
Upon Father Maasjost's death his |
assistant, Father P. H. Nabers, be-
came pastor pro tenn and remained in
charge until 1900, when Father K.
Roettler was appointed by Archbishop
HEM assey to succeed Father Maajost.
But failing in health Father Roettler,
upon request, was relieved by Rev.
Father w. B. Sassen, who took charge
in February, 1902.
Under Father Sass ems salutary
the congregation pros
oered. He found that the old church
was inadequate for the large number
Of worshippers and conceived the idea
% build a new church.
In this he was given laudable sup
port and each family in the parish