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CATHOLICISM IN MECHANICSVILLE

     The Catholics of the community longed to have their own church and a priest to offer mass and to administer the sacraments. In the spring of 1872, Father William Downey became the first priest to come to Lisbon. After a quick religious survey, the priest sent a committee of three men to Mechanicsville to buy property for a church. The three were Thomas McAllister, Henry McCluskey and John McHugh.

     Father moved into an old house and built a new church, Father Downey continuing at the same time to serve the Lisbon and Tipton parishes.

     The scarlet fever plague of 1872 was an immediate scare. The Patrick Kerwin family lost six children in one week. The Richard Kerwin family lost two girls, and fearing they would lose their infant son, Richard junior was baptized and lived.

     Father William Downey served between 1872-1874. Bishop John Hennessey called Father Downey back to Dubuque to become president of Loras College. Father Charles McCabe succeeded Father Downey from 1875-1878.

     The years 1878-1887 Fr. Peter Daly served the Catholic people. White the popular Father Daly was preaching the word of God up and down the countryside from Bertram to Clarence and south to Tipton, suddenly the Linn County part of this mission field was severed from his jurisdiction. The Davenport Diocese, established in 1881, obtained Cedar County as part of its territory while Linn County remained in Dubuque Diocese.

     Succeeding Fr. Peter Daly in 1888 as pastor of Mechanicsville, Father James Kissane served the people. Father Kissane served from 1888 to 1900. The next pastor was Father James Gillespie who served until the fall of 1909. Then Fr. J. Glenn of Williamsburg served about 2 years and Fr. P. Landers was here about 2 years. He was followed by Rev. M. Gaffney of Mt. Pleasant until 1920.

     Rev. Laughlin was pastor from May until November of 1920. Rev. Sheehy came and stayed until April, 1921. Rev. Lawlor served from 1921 until 1928. He was followed by Father Frencken, who served St. Mary’s until his death in 1956. Fr. Casey came to Mechanicsville on Nov. 8, 1956 and is presently the pastor.

Mission Church

     The history of Cedar County and the Church records state that the first church services were held in 1867, by Father Emonds, pastor at Iowa City. The first mass was offered in the brick home of Thomas McAllister, west of Mechanicsville. The home has since been torn down and another home built. The farm is presently owned by the Ed Poduska family.

     In 1861, Rev. Father Lowry of Cedar Rapids held quarterly services in the home of Mr. Pat Burke, who worked for the railroad. This home is located on East Main Street, Mechanicsville. Prior to the completion of the first church, in 1872, services were also held in Helmer’s Hall and in Wait’s Hall.

Clarence

     In Clarence the railroad construction was done by Irish labor. When the road bed was done, a number of these men stayed to work on the section. This brought the Cosgriff, Kane, Curley, Curran and Doyle families to the community.

     Being loyal Catholics, a small church was built for their use in the season of 1877. It was served by priests from Toronto and Mechanicsville. The families were never many and the younger generation going to the cities and the older generation dying off, till there were only three families left.

     The building was bought by J. C. Dettman, which stood on the site of W. W. Weatherwax home and was taken down in 1835. The seats from this Church are still is use in the Toronto Community Church.

     Extensive improvements are well under way at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. They include a complete overhauling of the church proper, inside and out. A new belfry has been built, the weatherboarding has been taken off and lath put on so that the building may be finished in stucco. The interior will be re-decorated, a fine bell will be installed and a pipe organ too.

     This is a pretty ambitious program but it isn’t all. The parsonage has been torn down and a new one is now to be erected. It will have eight rooms and will be modern from cellar to garret. The work is being done by members of the church under competent direction. The work will be rushed and it will be completed soon.

     Father Lawlor has asked the Pioneer Press to state that those who feel like contributing toward this building fund may do so by turning their contributions over to him or John Carville, treasurer.

Pioneer Press April 28, 1921

Catholic Church Nears Completion

     Father Lawlor moves into handsome new manse; church will be ready soon. The new manse for St. Mary’s parish is completed and Father Lawlor moved into it last week. The Pioneer Press man was shown through the premises yesterday and found it a very finely planned and thoroughly built house.

     It has four rooms, reception hall, sun parlor and bath on the first floor. The entire house is elegantly furnished in oak. There is a well app9oinbted basement under the entire house divided into furnace room, coal room, wash room and garage. The home is modern in every detail and it is a delight to Father Lawlor as well as to the congregation.

     Father Lawlor wants those who have been responsible for the actual work of construction to be given proper credit. Mort, Charles and Jack Hatcher did the carpenter work. Don Stuck did …

Pictures of Catholic Church, Clarence, Iowa and Church and House improvements under the guidance of Father Lawlor April, 1921.

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… the mason work and Rick Emery and W. L. Hanlon did the painting and decorating inside and out. F. L. Wilson installed a heating plant and George Wierengo the plumbing.

     But the building of a new manse is not the only work that has been done this summer under Father Lawlor’s direction. St. Mary’s church has been completely remodeled both inside and out and to all appearances is in fact, a new structure. A new entrance, steeple and gold cross have been added. Stucco will be applied to the church this week and just as soon as workmen can get to it, the intereior will be refinished and redecorated.

     The church will be rededicated on Oct. 12. Bishop Davis will be present for this ceremony. Dean Gillespie, former pastor here, will preach the sermon on this occasion. Father Glenn of Williamsburg, Father Kissane of Clinton and Father Gaffney of Mt. Pleasant will also be here for dedicatory services.

     Father Lawlor greatly appreciated the interest shown and the material aid bestowed by those outside of his church membership in the matter of rebuilding the church and building the manse. He says that such persons have contributed more than $300 to the building fund. He is very grateful and so are the members of his church.

Pioneer Press, August 11, 1921.

Dedication of St. Mary’s Church Has Been Postponed

     The dedication of St. Mary’s Catholic church which was to have occurred during the month of October has been postponed indefinitely because of the delay in procuring new pews for the church and numerous interior decorations.

     The new pews are a gift from the ladies of St. Mary’s and will cost $900. Another gift to the church is a new set of Stations of the Cross by a number of members of the congregation. They are a work of beauty. These stations will be erected and blessed next Sunday afternoon. The Bishop has delegated Father Knebel of Tipton to be in charge of this service.

     Father Lawlor who gave us the above facts, wishes to extend a cordial invitation to the public to attend this service and to inspect the new rectory.

Pioneer Press, October 27, 1921

St. Mary’s Church Re-Dedicated

     St. Mary’s church was crowded Sunday when the church was re-dedicated as a result of extensive repairs made on the property since last summer, mention of which has been made in these columns from time to time, and therefore extended notice will not be given to the improvements. Suffice to say that Father Lawlor and his congregation are happy over the results of their labors and their sacrifices for they now have a fine church property with further improvements in the way of equ9ipment to follow soon.

     The most distinguished visitor on this occasion was Bishop Davis of Davenport who confirmed a class of 23 young people. Following a brief address in which the significance of the step they were about to take was explained. Bishop Davis also dedicated the church.

     Dean Gillespie of Keokuk, a former pastor of St. Mary’s who is affectionately remembered by the people of this community, regardless of church creed, preached the sermon. His remarks centered around the text, “Upon this rock will I build my church,” in which the history of the church, its persecutions and its achievements were outlined.

     He then made particular reference to St. Mary’s church, his pastorate here, what a joy it had been to him and how kindly he remembered the people of this community. His sermon was like a benediction to the people of St. Mary’s and struck a responsive chord in the heart of Protestants who attended the dedicatory services.

     There were 13 priests present for this occasion: Dean Gillespie, Keokuk; Very Rev. W. L. Hannon, president of Ambrose College, and Revs. J. P. Stahl, L. J. Enright, J. Schoenfeld and J. Welch, Davenport; J. A. Murray, Clinton, H. A. Knebel, Tipton; O. J. Small, Lost Nation; J. A. Glenn, a former pastor here, now of Williamsburg; H. N. Manternach, Lisbon; W. Cullinan, Delmar. All of them expressed their admiration of the new church and commended Father Lawlor and his faithful congregation for what they had accomplished.

     This tribute was surely justified. The work was accomplished quietly at a time when ventures of this sort were not easily accomplished. Father Lawlor is leading his congregation wisely and has the respect of our citizens. The music was very well given and the Ave Maria by Miss Clouse at the offertory was especially well done.

     The visiting priests were entertained at dinner at the rectory. A pleasing feature, and wholly unexpected, was the large cake, decorated with fifty candles in token of the being the fiftieth anniversary of the church, which was presented by Mrs. James Conner.

     The entire occasion forms one of the interesting and happy pages in the church’s history. Pioneer Press May 18, 1922.

     Extensive improvements were made at St. Mary’s church during the fall of 1937. A new roof covered the entire building and the stucco finish of the outside which became loose was removed and replaced with regular wood siding. The inside was completely redecorated with warm travertine walls and cream ceiling with a beautiful stencil in soft green.

     The altar and all the furnishing and floor received a coat of varnish. The walls in the basement were reinforced with concrete thus stabilizing the entire structure. The cost of the improvements was $1500.00

     Father Freneken and his members were very proud of their church home and justly so, for it would be a credit to a congregation several times their number.

Picture of manse and church

Pioneer Press, October 7, 1937

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New St. Mary’s Built 1964-65

     The cornerstone of the new St. Mary’s Church was laid Sunday September 20, 1964. The land was donated by the Frances Crock family.

     Msgr. T. V. Lawlor of Davenport, former pastor of St. Mary’s officiated at the blessing of the stone, assisted by Father P. J. Casey, present pastor. Also assisting in the prayers were Father Gerald Lillis of St. Mary’s, Tipton, and Father Patrick McCoy of St. Bridget’s, Nolan Settlement.

     There was a large attendance of parishioners and friends at the ceremony.

     Construction of the church is well advanced and at present the roof is being installed. It is hoped that construction will be substantially completed by December 1, 1964.

     The church is being built in the form of a cross. The baptistery and choir room will be located in the arms of the cross.

     The building measures 94 by 40 feet and will provide seating for approximately 300.

     There is a full basement which includes a parish meeting room, kitchen and toi8lets. Folding doors will partition the social room into 6 classrooms for catechetical instruction.

     Quentin Robinson was chairman of the parish building committee. Contractor was the Schoff Constriction Co. of Lisbon, Iowa.

     Bishop Ralph L. Hayes officiated at the dedication of the New St. Mary’s Church on June 17, 1965. Father P. J. Casey, pastor was celebrant of the dedication Mass.

     Following the dedication, there was open house for visiting clergy in the rectory. Dinner was served at 1 p.m. in the new parish hall. Fr. James Quinlan, Burlington, was toastmaster and brief talks were given by Msgr. Carl Meinberg, dean of the Iowa City Deanery, Mayor Elmer Littig of Mechanicsville, Quentin Robinson, building committee chairman; and Father Casey.

     The church interior is plastered concrete block with a pine ceiling and pre-stressed concrete floor. The altar, which is of granite, faces the people and the tabernacle is on a small altar in back of the main altar. Two Communion stations at the edge of the sanctuary also are of granite. Windows of stained glass and fiberglass contain symbols of the sacraments.

     The building cost $112,000, excluding the altar, pews and windows.

North Cedar Press

     Many families and individuals gave substantial contributions to the church Building Fund. It is not possible to list names of all the contributors. However we wish to acknowledge substantial donations from Miss Alice Cosgriff, W. J. Walshire and Rose Shrope (deceased).

     The Statue of Our Lady of Grace in Church Lawn was donated by J. Edward Crock family in memory of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Peter C. Crock. The polished rocks on base of statue were selected and placed by Fr. Raymond Pascha of Tipton, Iowa.

     New Rectory was built between Nov. 1st 1968 and May 31, 1979, at cost of approximately $50,000. The front is of Lannon Stone to match the church. The contractor was Wm. G. Koch, a member of the parish.

Picture of congregation singing outside on the lawn.

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Pictures of St. Mary’s Church Past and Present