Sacred Heart Church, Maquoketa
MAZZUCHELLI, GAFFNEY, HAYES, OFARRELL, TRACY, HEELAN, COOK, RYAN, BOWEN, WOLFE, CRANEY, MULLEN
Posted By: Anne Hermann (email)
Date: 6/23/2008 at 18:41:09
CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF DUBUQUE,
Rev. M. M. Hoffmann, 1938SACRED HEART CHURCH, MAQUOKETA
The first Maquoketa parish in the Archdiocese of Dubuque was the one established by Father Samuel Mazzuchelli, on the northern border of Jackson County in 1840, but this settlement some years later was named Garryowen. The present Maquoketa parish, in the town of Maquoketa, Jackson County capital, was established many years later, and the name Maquoketa became permanent in the late 1840s. The early Catholics in this vicinity attended, when they could, divine services at Garryowen, Dubuque, and later at Bellevue. When the church at Otter Creek was built in the 1860’s, this point being only sixteen miles distant from Maquoketa, the people were afforded a more frequent opportunity of attending Holy Mass.
It was in the spring of 1873 when Father J. B. Gaffeney, pastor of St. Lawrence Church, Otter Creek, exerted his influence in behalf of a church building in Maquoketa, and successfully raised money among its citizens. In that same year a beautiful brick church was erected, 30 by 70 feet, at a cost of $5,000.00. The church was located in the southwest corner of the town. The first to be baptized here was John Thomas Hayes, August 22, 1873. The congregation had no regular priest in attendance.
In 1878 the Rev. John J. O’Farrell of Charlotte, Clinton County, came to Maquoketa on the second Sunday of the month, and succeeded in paying the balance of the church debt which was $4,000.00. Father Thomas Tracy was appointed pastor of Maquoketa in 1880 and was the first resident pastor, remaining until 1883, at which time he moved to Delmar and attended Maquoketa from there. In 1887 he was succeeded by the Rev. D. J. Heelan who after six years, in 1893, was followed by Father Cook. Father Cook, after six months, was succeeded by Father J. W. Ryan who served until June, 1900. Then came Father J. F. Bowen who remained until 1913. Under his charge a new location for a church was purchased near the center of the city. A splendid location for a new cemetery was bought, just south of the city cemetery.
New life came into the parish with the arrival of Father John M. Wolfe in February of 1913. Until this time Maquoketa had been a mission to Delmar, but now Father Wolfe became the first resident pastor in many years. At this time there was no rectory and only a small brick church in the southwest corner of the city. Father Wolfe saw the necessity of a new church centrally located, if the parish was to expand and he had architect Guido Beck draw plans and specifications for a new brick church and rectory. He collected funds in Maquoketa and in the neighboring parishes, and in the following year started work on the new church and rectory. For lack of funds the tower was not finished and the sanctuary and sacristy had to be omitted. Sunday morning, October 17, 1915, the new Sacred Heart Church was solemnly dedicated by Archbishop James J. Keane. After the Mass the sacrament of confirmation was administered to a class of fifty-six. In May of 1916 Father Wolfe was transferred to Columbia College, Dubuque, and Father Lawrence P. Craney was appointed pastor.
Father Craney succeeded in paying off the remaining debt of $3,000.00 on the church and worked zealously for its material and spiritual improvement. Father Craney was the first priest to die in this parish, passing away quite suddenly in October, 1929. He had served Sacred Heart Church of Maquoketa and Holy Trinity Church, Baldwin, as a mission, for fourteen years. After his death no appointment of a successor was immediately made, but his brother the Rev. James B. Craney, professor of Columbia College, Dubuque, took charge for one year, and on October 1, 1930, the present pastor, the Rev. J. A. Mullen, was appointed.
In August of 1931 Holy Trinity parish, Baldwin, was made a mission of Andrew and this enabled the people of Maquoketa to have two Masses each Sunday.
During the administration of the present pastor many improvements were made. In 1931 a large addition was built on the church and the tower was erected. The basement was converted into a community hall. These improvements left the parish a debt of $9,000.00.
On Thursday, April 29, 1932, the newly finished Sacred Heart Church was rededicated by Archbishop Francis J. Beckman, with solemn ceremony, and impressive attendance of clergymen and lay members. After the Mass the sacrament of confirmation was administered to a class of forty-one by the Archbishop.
One daughter of the Maquoketa parish entered the order of the Sisters of Charity.
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