The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1923-02-15
CHURCH LANDMARK
DESTROYED BY FIRE
ST. JOHNS, AT MERE GROVE.
is BURNED TO THE GROUND
WEDNESDAY MORNING
ESTIMATED LOSS $4,000
ADJOINING BUILDINGS SAVED
BY HEROIC WORK OF CITI-
ZENS-WILL REBUILD

Fire which started in the boiler
room of St. Johns Catholic church at
Metre Grove Wednesday morning at
$40 completely destroyed the struc-
ture with an estimated loss of from
$4,000 to 100000, only partially COW
cred by insurance. The Metre Grove
church was one of the largest in Cen
trial Minnesota and is also one of the
wealthiest Catholic congregations in
the entire state.
When the fire started the wind was
blowing from the west and sparks
flew on the roof of the school, near
by, but the heavy snow saved that
building from destruction. The wind
then veered to the north at 1920 and
threw sparks on the roof of the Par
ish house nearby. After a vigilant,
fight by the bucket brigade this build
ing was saved after the north side of
the roof had been destroyed. Be-
cause of the extreme cold weather and
the inadequate fire fighting facilities,
the marvel is that all the property
vas not destroyed. The Herald UNI
ierstands that most of the valuables
around and about the altar were saved
but otherwise the contents were COM
p'etely destroyed.
St. Johns Catholic church at Metre
Grove is one of the pioneer Catholic
parishes in this section of Minnesota.
Through the kindness of Rev. Anth-
ony Art of st. Paul's church, Sank
Centre, the Herald has been able to
secure the following interesting data
in connection with the life of ST..
Johns Parish:
"This village takes its name from
one of the earliest Catho''c settlers
in the township of Grove, Henry
Meyer. The first Catholic settlers
came in 1857. During the first year
they were so far from a urch that
they met at the house of Henry Meyer
on Sundays where they recited prayers
and listened to devout readings by one
Of their number. Upon Mr.. Meyers
invitation Father Clement Etaub, o.
S. B. for the first time visited the set
Element in the fall of 1858 and cele-
brated Mass on carpenters work.
bench fitted up as an altar, in the
house of Henry Schaefer. After
Father Clement, Father Bruno Kiss,
o. S. B. visited the place several
times. His successor, Father Mathew
Stuerenburg, o. S. B. in 1862-1864
built the first church near the lake.
The property-ten acres-was donated
by Henry and Herman Meyer.
The log church soon proved too
small for the growing parish, and in
1871 Father Anschar Frauendorfer,
who visited the Mission from 1864
1872 built a frame church 80 by 30
near the present cemetery. From 1872
1874 the pastor was Father Meinulph
Stukenkemper, who attended twice
month from New Munich, five miles
distant. This priest had come to
America with his parents in l847.
He made his classical and the logical
studies IN Pennsylvania, and was or
dained in 1861. Two years later ne
came to St. Cloud where he organized
a parish and erected the Immaculate
Conception church and the parish
house. In 1872 he took charge OF the
church at New Munich.
After rendering services at st.
Paul Minneapolis, and st. Wendell he
was assigned to Meyer Grove in 1885,
where he. did his memorable quarter
of a century's work with this present
fate-striken church of today, which
was built 18S5-1sS6 and dedicated
Julv 20, 1886. Two years ago the
present pastor Father Martin Schmitt
renovated the basement OF the
church. He also came over to this
country with his family on 1866. He
entered the University of st. Louis IN
1871. and finished his philosophical
studies at st. Johns u. He served
900 square miles of mission country
in North Dakota and then returned to
st. Johns to act as professor in sew
eral branches. In May 1905 he came
to his present parish and has won the
respect and confidence Of the whole
parish"
While plans for rebuilding have not
been definitely decided upon at this
time there is no question but what
St. Johns. Parish with its material
wealth and strength in numbers will
erect handsome edifce to replace the
old building and that work will be-
started in the early spring. In the
meantime religious services will be
conducted in the Parish school build
ing.