The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1922-07-15
REVIEW OF ST.
BENEDIcT'S CHURCH, ROUND
UP, MONTANA.

The present city of Roundup came
INTO existence in 1908, as conse-
Quence of the c., NJ. & ST. P. Ry.
continuing it's railroad from Mobridge,
s. D., to the Pacific coast The ad-
Tant of the railroad brought many
settlers, and that which formerly had
Ueen virgin prairie soon became dot
ted with the dwellings of a rugged
farming population. Numerous little
towns sprang up after the railroad
and the settlers came, and some of
these are now busting little cities of
5000 or more inhabitants, none of
which shows fairer promise than
Roundup, the county seat of Mussel-
shell county.
Mass was first celebrated in Round
Up on the Feast of the Assumption
Of the Blessed Virgin Mary, August
Is, 1908, by Rev. A. Muller, Lewis
town, Montana. Mass was celebrated
in the old laundry building, now
rooming house, across the avenue
from the present Methodist church.
Soon afterwards Father Muller was
appointed parish priest of Roundup,
and established residence some time
early in September, 1908 A house
on the southeast corner of End Street
w. and 4th Avenue was rented and
occupied until the present rectory
was purchased in 1916
When appointed pastor of Roundup,
Father Muller had charge of all that
which is now Musselshell county,
Golden Valley county, Judith Basin
county, portions of Sweetgrass county
and the missions of Fergus county.
He enjoyed the privilege of 5celebrat-
ing the first Mass in Roundup, Else,
Lavina, Ryegate, Broadview, Moore
and Hobson
Owing to the extent of territory to
be covered Father Muller was almost
constantly engaged in travelling; and
as the majority of new settlers
brought west little more than courage
and determination, it was not until
towards the end of Father Muller's
pastorate that it was possible to un-
dertake the erection of a suitable
place of worship.
In December, 1910, six lots on Main
Street, between Fifth and Sixth ave-
Nues, were purchased from the Mil
waukee Land Co. as a site for new
church. In 1912 the work of erection
was undertaken, and although today
the church is regarded as modest and
must be soon enlarged or replaced,
The completion of the church was too
Sreat an undertaking for the congre-
cation of that time. The basement of
the church was made ready for di-
vine service in the fall of 1912 and
continued to be so used until July,
1914.
The congregation had now fixed
nlace to worship in. Prior to this
time they worshipped in any suitable
place available; and sometimes it was
not known until Sunday morning
where Mass would be celebrated.
That which was then known as the
Carpenters hall and is now used as a
Masonic building was most generally
used. About this time also a church
was built for the congregation at
Broadview.
In January, 1914, Father Muller was
succeeded by Rev. Thomas Hennessy,
the present pastor. Under Father
Hennessy's administration the church
was completed, and the congregation
We're made happy in July, 1914, when
it became no longer necessary to hold
services in the basement.
In May, 1916, house and two lots
in the same block as the church on
Main Street were purchased, to be
used as rectory for the priest. In |
September, 1917, two more lots were |
purchased in this block, facing First |
Street W., to be used later, if neces-
sary, as a site for school. In the |
fall of 1919, the work of gathering
funds for the building of parochial
school was begun. In April, 1920, an
other lot was purchased adjoining the
two school lots previously purchased. !
In the summer of 1920 the school base
ment was completed, and in the fall
of 1921 the present handsome two
story and basement brick school build
ing was completed. The school build
ing cost about $31 100000 and is mod
ern in every respect; and in view of
the faith which inspired and sustained
the congregation in the seemingly i'm
possible task of building under exist
ing conditions, there is good reason
to hope the school will be productive
pf many blessings. In 1917, churches