The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1922-12-02
CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF THE
SACRED HEART

SAOhEO nEHn1.l
The parish of Our Lady of the Sa-
cred Heart dates back to the year
1881, when it was organized by Fa-
Their Lemay. In the following year he
built the first church, which served
the needs of the place until the year
1901, when Father Giraux erected the
second church, which was used for
divine services for the first time No
vember /, 1902. This church was de-
stroyed by lightning, the frame struc-
ture burning down to the basement in
the summer of 1908. Not to be kept
down for long, this basement was i'm
mediately rooted over and was used
until the dawn of better days in 1912.
During the summer of 1911, Fathers
John A. Limmer and e. Lemire were
assigned to Cloquet and Immediately
plans were perfected for third
church, a combination church and
school. Accordingly active construc-
tion began in 1911, and the new solid
brick structure, 132x70, was in full
operation in the fall of 1912. The
same year also saw the erection of the
necessary accessory buildings, the
Chapel of st. Joseph for the sisters
and a priests residence, the former
55x38, two stories, and accommodate
ing twelve sisters, the latter 32x2S for
pastor and assistant; both buildings
we're of solid brick. 1t now remained
for Father Limmer to thoroughly or
ganize the parish spiritually and ma
terially. Statistics for the year 1913
show. $50 families registered, a Sun
day school attendance Of 500 and par
ish school enrolment Of 375, taught by
nine sisters.
AT the close of the year 1917 the en-
tire debt was wiped out, and the par
,ish stood in possession of property
valued at .$175,000.0O The people
we're proud of their church and school,
and. all efforts could now be directed
to keep up the good work, to perfect
the school and to extend it, if possi-
bic, to a parochial high school. At
the beginning of the school year of
1918 conditions were ideal for a most
successful year, but then came the
awful afternoon and night of October
12th, the horrors of which are still
fresh in the minds Of all.
The early return of the refugees
during the winter and spring necessi-
tated the building Of a temporary
church to satisfy the religious needs
of the people. When the number of
families had reached $50 and 800 and
it was seen from the substantial
homes they undertook to rebuild that
the people had come to stay, 1t was
decided to rebuild the sisters chapel,
parochial residence and parish school.
Active operations were begun early
in spring on all three buildings. In
less than a year after the great fire
the parish of Our Lady Of the Sacred
Heart was in possession of a solid
brick school two stories and ten school
rooms completed and comfortably ac-
commodating approximately 800 chill
dren. The structure is 127x7S. The
sisters chapel and priests house were
built on the old plans. The entire
group of buildings was in full opera
ton within year and recitations were
begun where they left of. The school
han will serve as church until the
new church is rebuilt in the spring.
The parish house and sisters chapel
are free of debt and the remaining In
surance money was used for the
school. On account of the enormous
cost of material and labor, total costs
are more than double the former out
lay, and. in consequence, a heavy debt
remains on the school. After this debt
is paid the new church-the fourth
one-will, God favoring, be construct
ed.