Holy Rosary Church, LaMotte

OMALLEY, HETHERINGTON, BRADY, LUEHRSMANN, WILHELM, FRIEDMANN, HOFFMAN, NEMMERS, WEBBER, DIEDERICH, GIBBS, OCONNELL, TUSING, HEER, CONNOLLY, FRANCOIS, LOOSBROCK, HINGTGEN

Posted By: Anne Hermann (email)
Date: 6/25/2008 at 07:30:01

CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF DUBUQUE,
Rev. M. M. Hoffmann, 1938

HOLY ROSARY CHURCH, LAMOTTE

As a mission of St. Theresa’s, Lamotte was served by the following priests: the Rev. Fathers Peter D. O’Malley, now of St. Anthony’s, Dubuque, from March, 1892, to August, 1898 (he built the church in 1893); M. J. Hetherington, who is now dead, from October, 1898, to July, 1901; Terence Brady from October 26, 1901, to October 28, 1903, and again from the death of Father Luehrsmann to July 7, 1907.

Father William Wilhelm, a personal friend of Father Luehrsmann, who was pastor of an Indian Reservation in North Dakota, served the parish during the illness and death of Father Luehrsmann. Holy Rosary parish has had the following resident pastors: the Rev. Fathers G. H. Luehrsmann, came here from Norway, Iowa, October 28, 1903 (he died here December 17, 1906); John H. Friedmann from State Center, was a pastor of Lamotte from July 7, 1907, till August 2, 1926.

Before the erection of Holy Rosary Church, the citizens of Lamotte and its vicinity were compelled to attend Divine Services at St. Lawrence Church in Otter Creek, St. Theresa’s, Saint Donatus and Bellevue.

Holy Rosary Church was built in 1893 by Father Peter O’Malley who was pastor of St. Theresa’s. The church grounds were purchased from George W. Wilson by John Hennessy, Bishop of the diocese of Dubuque, on August 2, 1892. The following men solicited funds to pay for the cost of erection: N. A. Hoffman, N. B. Nemmers, Reuben Webber, John Deiderich, John Schumacher, William Moran, Dan Gibbs, Tom Gibbs, John S. O’Connell, and Nick Tusing. While Holy Rosary Church was being built, a terrible wind storm struck Lamotte on August 10, 1892, and damaged the church to the amount of $2,000.00. The building was reinforced and extra braces put in. Mr. Fred Heer and Son were the architects. The ceremony of June 4, 1893, was a combined ceremony of corner stone laying and dedication. Archbishop Hennessy presided at the function.

The first couple married in Holy Rosary Church were William T. Feeney and Katie A. Connolly on November 20, 1894. The first baptism was that of Leo Francois, son of Mr. and Mrs. N. B. Francois, now of Filmore.

While the Rev. M. J. Hetherington was absent for about a year on a visit to Ireland, his brother, the Rev. Alex Hetherington, was in charge of St. Theresa’s and Holy Rosary parishes.

As there was no rectory in Lamotte when Father Luehrsmann came, the Parish Committee rented the Patrick Nestor tenant house. The present rectory was built in 1903. Father Luehrsmann died at the rectory at Lamotte December 17, 1906. His body lay in state in Holy Rosary Church where a constant vigil was kept by the Catholic Order of Foresters. He was buried at Dyersville, December 20, 1906.

The building of the grade school and the high school took place under Father Friedmann. The grade school was opened August 29, 1908, with ninety-six children enrolled, but by September 14, 1908, the number had increased to 107. At this time they also had a two-year high school course. In the spring of 1921, plans were made to introduce a full four-year high school course. In 1923 it was approved, as an accredited high school, by the Iowa Board of Education. It has always been under the direction of the Sisters of St. Francis, Dubuque. Over 250 students have been graduated from the Holy Rosary School.

On August 2, 1926, the Rev. H. J. Loosbrock, formerly of Petersburg, became pastor of Holy Rosary. Under his direction Holy Rosary Church was beautifully painted and frescoed in August, 1935.

The Rev. Victor Hingtgen is the only son of the parish to have entered the priesthood. Six young ladies have entered religious orders. Thirty-six young men of the parish served in the World War, of whom two were killed in action and four died of disease.