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    With fond affection St. Matthias Parish of today looks back, as Father Laurent died years ago, on the little frame church of 1842. That little church, the gatherings held in it, the persons who made its life vibrant with many activities- all these are recalled today and cherished. How lovingly Father Laurent wrote in 1892 about all these things, the charm of his early priestly life. Writing to the editor of the Muscatine News Tribune, he expressed these beautiful sentiments: “But methinks I see you yet from my small study in the rear of old St. Matthias – writing in your office day after day- little thinking of the future, only trying to push forward in the race of life. Do you remember how then you used to admire the simple music of St. Matthias? I had a little Prince melodeon, the finest instrument of the kind ever brought to Muscatine. ‘Fading, Still Fading’ and ‘Ave Sanctissima’ of Mrs. Herman’s were the greatest musical feats we would attempt, and how sweetly Miss H. M. (Hannah McCrow, whom we have already met) would sing them. The fair singer left long ago for the Golden Gate, the land of wonders and of plenty, and yet her ideal of the beautiful is old Muscatine, with her rough hills and crooked streets. And that little frame Church, who would think, to see it as it looks now, that it ever was the scene of aspirations after the beautiful, in the way of music, of ornamentation and perhaps of eloquence?” Surely there is nothing entrancing in pioneer days and pioneer conditions. With a sweet sadness this pioneer priest looked back on them.

     The story of pioneer Church history can be simply told. Our task is lightened by the mute though telling evidence on Second Street and Cedar. A little frame Church stands there. Almost by miracle it remains; many storm and time have not destroyed it. But it deserves better. Soon, let us hope, this primitive structure will become part of our present St. Matthias. The old beauty and the new will naturally unite in lawful wedlock- and that union …

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… should be indissoluble. That little church makes it easier for us to transport ourselves to the earlier days.

     The river traffic is gone, yet we can almost see the flat boat with its precious, scared cargo as it nears Muscatine. A short time before the little church, together with St. Andrew’s Church, Bellevue, had been built at Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. Bishop Loras’ Ledger makes plain it was built with funds of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith with its central offices in Paris. Considering that Bishop Loras received from this favorite Society about $112,000 during the period of 1839-1857, Muscatine’s share was a generous one. An entry in the Ledger of Iowa’s First Bishop, on October 15, 1843, reads: “Bloomington, St. Matthias Church, Total expense to this date $1096.01.” There can be no doubt but that practically the entire amount was consumed in building, transporting, and placing our first Church. At that, Father Mazzuchelli tells us it was the smallest one in the Diocese of Dubuque. Twenty feet in width and thirty feet in length were its dimensions.

     Referring to the location of the frame Church, Father Laurent wrote: “ At that time, the corner of Second and Cedar streets was looked upon as the most valuable property in Muscatine. Second Street had not been graded east of this corner- the Kemble House was up on a hill and the travel up to the Court House was all through the alley between Second and Third Streets. The shovel and the cart of the grader may not have added to the beautiful and picturesque of that and other quarters, but it certainly has enhanced their usefulness. St Matthias was in the way of city improvement on that corner and the city was in the way of the Church.

     We need not linger long over the facts of St. Matthias’ early history; there is general agreement about them. Father Mazzuchelli and Bishop Loras were the prime movers in having a small church built at Prairie du Chien. It was then dismantled, placed on a raft, floated down the Mississippi River to Muscatine, and finally assembled on Second and Cedar Streets. All that happened in 1842, …

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… and the funds of the Propagation of the Faith took care of the expense.

     By 1853 the congregation had become too large for the original structure. In that year and “L” shaped addition was made by Father Laurent. At right angles to the back of the original structure and on the South Side it was placed. It was intended for schoolrooms and the pastor’s living quarters. Father Laurent, writing to the Editor of …

Father Laurent About 1952

… the Muscatine News Journal in 1892, confirms this information: “ But methinks I see you yet from my small study in the rear of old St. Matthias.”

     Conditions had been so altered by 1856 that the new location alluded to by Father Laurent above was sought out. In his own words we shall let Father Laurent tell it: “So St. Matthias was moved in 1856 to its present location, Eight Street. There was then no street leading to the new sanctuary, the brick had to be burnt right on the place, and the Avenue was a succession of hill chains divided by …

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… creeks and ravines, most beautiful in their native wilderness. It was Christmas, 1856, Mike Murphy and James Bryne, contractors, finished a tunnel passage to Eighth Street. Jake Butler wanted to have the honor of driving through before all others, but was turned back, and Mike soon showed up on the scene with the pastor of St. Matthias in a sleigh, and three dollars was the toll paid on the occasion to the boys. Previous to that date the driveway to St. Matthias was round the Fletcher corner- the Foster road and the worm fence on the back of Church block. How beautiful was the view from the Church over hills and ravines and stately rive, but it was nothing to what day dreams pictured it to the pastor’s mind in fifty years to come.”

     In 1856 the Church block on Eighth Street was purchased from Reece Hoopes. A brick church, eighty feet by forty and twenty-seven feet high to the ceiling was erected. Because of poor drive-ways the brick had to be made right on the grounds. On May 17, 1857, it was dedicated by Abbe Pelamourgues of Davenport. Bishop Loras’ health was failing rapidly at this time, and so he was unable to leave his home. A choir from St. Anthony’s, Davenport, was present on the occasion. There is a picture of this Church extant, taken in the sixties-probably in 1866 or 1867- showing this building, with a cross resting on the roof. The addition was not yet built; that came in 1868. It was not till about 1880 that the tower, chimes, and clock were added. The following church items culled from the Weekly Journal will prove interesting to our readers. We shall give them in rapid succession. The Journal, June 1, 1868: “ The Catholic Church is to be enlarged by and addition to the rear.” And the June 22,1868, copy carried this information: “ J. J. Hoopes sold two acres of ground adjoining the Catholic Church grounds to Reverend Laurent for $2,500. Mr. Laium, designer, erected a residence there in a short time.” The improvements contemplated as far back as 1868 were not effected until 1879 and 1880. The Journal, December 19, 1879: “ Rev. P. Laurent has a new lithograph of St. Matthias- …

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… the copula and spire shown in the lithograph are not yet on the building but are to be constructed as soon as practicable. The improvements will cost about $4,000.00.” And the Weekly Journal, February 13, 1880 said “ The two new bells for the chimes at St. Matthias arrived from Philadelphia Monday, February 9th. They weigh together 6000 pounds, one being much larger than the other, and, we are informed, the largest in the city. They will be swung temporarily and tested, and if all right will find a permanent place in the steeple when erected.” And on March 11, 1880, the following announcement was made: “ Rev. Father Laurent contracts for a $1,000 clock for St. Matthias.” A later article, September 10,1880, informs us that the clock had a louder bell then the one at the High School and that it would strike not only on the hour but also the quarter. The biggest and best sounding bell was considered in those days legitimate realization of the worth-while.

     The above reference give in a succinct manner the gradual changes that came over St. Matthias Church in a material way from 1856 to 1880. But they do not tell of the unremitting labor and sacrifice on the part of both pastor and people. The older parishioners today can well appreciate the difficulties of the past. The year 1911, when the new St Matthias Church first loomed magnificent, is not beyond recall. And in the earlier days we may truly say it was harder to build and pay for Churches than in later times. In another place the educational activities of the parish during this period will be rehearsed.

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    Mr. P.J Barry, a member of this parish, has in his keeping some of the candlesticks that were brought to Muscatine in 1842 with the original St. Matthias Church. In the chapel of the Church hang two pictures that came here at the same time. They are representations of “The Flight into Egypt” and “Holy Night.”

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