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Early History
The early parishioners gathered in the Hugh Donnelly dugout, which was the temporary home of this family. The location was about a half mile northeast of Densmore. However, the dugout was used just once for mass. On subsequent occasions Hugh Donnelly's sod house was the meeting place for mass.
After a few years, the Donnelly frame house was used. Later this frame house became the Thomas Mullen home, and mass was usually said in it until the erection of the first church in 1899.
The Densmore mission has always been attended from some other parish: from 1878 to August 1890 from New Almelo; August 1890 to 1892 from Leoville, August 1892 to May 19, 1901 from Cawker City, May 19, 1901 to January 19, 1912 from New Almelo and from January 19, 1912 to the present time from Logan.
St. Mary's Catholic Church in Densmore
This building served the congregation of St. Mary's Catholic Church from
1889 to 1948. When the new church was completed in 1948, the building
was used as a church hall. In October 1968, the building was
replaced with a modular building, which has since been sold and moved
off the lot.
The new
church building was completed in October 1948.
Services are no longer held in the church. Most former members attend St. John's Catholic Church in Logan, 10 miles east of Densmore.
List of Early Clergy
Rev. Augustine Reichert, C.P.P.S. served from October 27, 1878 to 1889.
Rev. Frederick Schalk assisted during the illness and death of Rev. Reichert on February 13, 1889.
Rev. Seraphim Kunkler attended the Mission until later in 1889.
Rev. John Gratza, a diocesan priest, was pastor from January 1, 1890 to November 1890.
About this time, Rev. B. Fitzpatrick, a diocesan priest was in charge of making arrangements for coverage of this general area. There was a scarcity of priests in the diocese and in New Almelo where above priests resided. For some years, even New Almelo was without a pastor. Densmore was then attached to Leoville.
Rev. Wenzel attended from November 1890 to August 1892. From August 1892 to May 1896 Rev. M. Heitz, pastor at Cawker City attended the Densmore Community. He was succeeded by Rev. John C. Regan who had charge until May 20, 1898.
From May 20, 1898 to December of 1898, Rev. Santere was the pastor. In January 1899 Rev. Peter Hoeller, a diocesan priest, who was also pastor of Cawker City had charge. In April of that same year, Densmore's first church was completed. On November 28, 1899, Rev. LeCuter became pastor of Cawker City and other missions including Densmore. In June 1901 Rev. Marianus Feige, O.M. Cap. took over Rev. Santere's duties while the latter was on vacation in Europe. From August 3, 1901 to January 1, 1904 Rev. Louis Wahlmeyer, pastor at New Almelo, attended Densmore. From January 1, 1904 to September of 1911 Rev. J. B. Vornholt was in charge.
On account of his extra duties as a teacher in the parochial school at New Almelo, he had an assistant pastor for many years, who generally attended Densmore. Rev. J. J. Conway was assistant pastor from February 2, 1906 until September 1911, with the exception of December in 1907, when Rev. Kramer was assistant and again in November of 1910 when Rev. Richard Fox was the assistant pastor. In September 1911, Rev. Richard Fox was appointed resident priest at Logan with the mission at Densmore.
Rev. Francis Reidel, who had been pastor at Greenleaf, Kansas, was the next pastor of Densmore and Logan. His pastorate began on February 26, 1914, and ended with his transfer to Schoenchen, Kansas on January 6, 1932. On January 6, 1932, Rev. Thomas Keogan became pastor of Logan and Densmore until his transfer to Junction City in 1955, where he is still currently the pastor.
On August 28, 1955, Rev. Richard Kerr became pastor and served Logan and Densmore until February 6, 1963. From February 6, 1963 to March 19, 1963, both Logan and Densmore parishes were attended by the Capuchin priests of Hays, Kansas. On March 20, 1963, Rev. Joseph Sheetz became pastor until his transfer on July 3, 1968. On July 3, 1968, Rev. Louis Mattas became the pastor until April 3, 1969. Again the Capuchin priests assisted from April 3, 1969 to June 14, 1969.
Rev. Alvin Werth was appointed pastor on June 14, 1969 and remained until his transfer to Grainfield on June 18, 1975, where he is pastor at this time.
Until June of 1975, there was no "official" Team Ministry in the Diocese of Salina. On June 18, 1975, Bishop Vogel officially initiated a Team Ministry as a "pilot program." Fathers Al Brungardt, Larry Grennan and Bill Surmeier, were assigned as co-pastors to work together in serving the needs of the six rural parishes of Logan, Densmore, New Almelo, Leoville, Selden and Oberlin.
Immediately after their assignment, the three priests hired two Sisters of St. Joseph, Sisters Cecilia Green and Janis Wagner, to work with them in the establishment of this team ministry. In 1976, Sister Cecilia took on a position at the Motherhouse in Concordia, and was replaced by Sister Barbara Ellen Apaceller. In 1977 Sister Janis Wagner took a position in Campus Ministry at Marymount College in Salina and was not replaced.
Currently, the Team Ministry consists of the three priests and Sister Barbara Ellen. The "team approach" to ministry in this area has been very favorably received and effective for parishioners as well as for members of the team.
The First Church
The first real estate was purchased for a church site on February 28, 1899. It was acquired from Orlando French for $85.00. The congregation bought a vacant store building from a Mr. Gordon for $95.00. It was a frame building which was torn down and piece by piece transferred to the church site. Then the pieces were all used in the erection of this church. The total cost of the site, church, and furnishings was $375.00. All of the labor was donated by the parishioners. James Mullen, a member of the parish was a carpenter by trade, and with his experience and knowledge, no contractor was employed. The church was completed on April 29, 1899, and the first Mass was celebrated on April 30, 1899. Rev. Reichert was the priest attending the parish at this time. The first church was used until October 1948, when it became St. Mary's Hall.
Cemetery
The Densmore mission has its own cemetery known as Calvary Cemetery, which is located about one mile north of Densmore. The land was donated June 14, 1900 by Peter Donnelly to the St. Mary's Parish. The bishop at the time was John C. Cunningham.
The following saw service in the Civil War (Union Army): Hugh Donnelly and Peter Donnelly.
During World War I the following men served their country: Joe Riemann, Pete Donnelly, Oscar Donnelly, Leo Mullen, Willie Mullen and Will Byrnes, a total of six. Of those Pete Donnelly dies* at Camp Pike, Arkansas; Willie Mullen was wounded in battle and Oscar Donnelly was wounded in battle and was also a prisoner of war in Germany.
During the Korean War John Stenger Jr., son of John Stenger Sr., lost his life in the battle of Heart Break Ridge in Korea.
Vocations
The St. Mary's Parish has been blessed by four vocations, namely: Sister Fidelis (Lorena Stenger, deceased) and Sister Joseph Helena (Alice Stenger). These two Sisters were daughters of the late Mr. and Mrs. Frank Stenger. Sister Nora and Sister Evangelina are the daughters of Mr. John Stenger and the late Mrs. John Stenger.
Records
The first Baptism in the Densmore territory was that of Lawrence Bates, son of Jacob Bates and Martha Archer, born October 14, 1878, and baptized March 13, 1880. Sponsors were James Donnelly and Mrs. Margaret Donnelly. Confirmandi from Densmore have always received the sacrament at Logan or Norton.
The first marriage in Densmore was that of G. W. Brickford and Katherine Hanlow, on April 16, 1881. Rev. A. Reichert officiated.
The first death in the parish was that of Miss Catherine Geary, at the age of eleven. The death took place in 1879. She was buried in the Archer Cemetery southeast of Densmore.
Early Parishioners
The first Catholic family to arrive in the Densmore territory was that of Hugh Donnelly. He was born in Tyrone County, Ireland, and emigrated at an early age to the United States and settled in Monroe County, Iowa. In the meantime he was married to a girl from England. To this union five children were born.
After the death of his wife, he married a Mrs. James Mullen, a widow, who was the mother of six children. Hearing the call of cheap land further west, this family started west, and arrived at what was to be their homestead in April 1878.
In the fall of 1878, Charley Delay, his wife and two children homesteaded near Densmore. Charles was born in Ireland and had also lied in Monroe County, Iowa. Another family that settled here in the early 1880's was the Downs family, also natives of Ireland. In the spring of 1879, Patrick O'Connor and family arrived from Monroe County, Iowa and later the same year the David Geary family moved near Densmore.
The railroad came through in 1880, and another son of Ireland, David Ferris, arrived and settled near Edmond. For the next ten years the growth was through a natural increase rather than through the arrival of new Catholic families. Frank Stenger, a New Almelo settler, moved near Edmond in 1890.
Present Church of St. Mary's
The Solemn Dedication of St. Mary's Church at Densmore was at 10:00 a.m., October 20, 1948. First the Blessing of the exterior, chanting of Litany, Blessing of the altars and interior walls. This was followed by a Solemn High Mass Coram Episcopa. The Logan choir rendered the Mass chant. Celebrant, Rt. Rev. Msgr. Thomas Keogan, Assistant priest, Very Rev. F. G. Reidel; Deacon of Honor, Rt. Rev. Msgr. J.B. Vornholt and Rev. T. O. Donohue; Deacon, Rev. Peter Keogan; sub-deacon, Rev. F. Senecal; M.C. Rev. B. Dickman; Thurifer, Rev. M. Barrins; Acolytes, Rev. E. Arpin and Rev. J. Hughes; Mitre, Rev. E. Senecal; Bookbearer, Rev. J.G. Weber; Crossbearer, Rev. Daniel Mulvihill.
Also present were Rt. Rev. Msgr. Duskie, V.G.; Rev. M. Butzer, Rev. E. Weigel, Rev. P. Meitl, Rev. G. Breckwell, Rev. I. Manzo, Rev. M. Moran, Rev. J. Wolf, Rev. M. Muller, Rev. C. Kruse, Rev. R. Mattingly, Rev. P. Peters and Rev. Fr. Bergman, S.J.
Bishop Thill preached the dedication sermon, commending the architect, pastor and congregation for their choice of "materials as honest as the very ground in which Christ's body lay for three days." The new church structure is built in a modified colonial design, is cruciform, and seats two hundred people. The walls are of native rock. The rock was quarried north of Edmond. Unique is the natural stone finish of the interior. Open trusses and a wood ceiling, stained mahogany, are in keeping with the simple, rustic design of the whole structure.
The altars and communion rail were built of marble and native rock. South of the sanctuary are the choir and sacristy. North of the sanctuary are the Sacred Heart Chapel and office quarters. The structure is ninety feet long, twenty-six feet wide; sixty feet at the transepts. the three Statues and the Stations of the Cross were carved of white limewood by a famous wood carver in Italy.
In 1943, the Parish received a bequest of $5000.00 from Jacob King estate, of which $250.00 was to be used for Masses. In 1946, six lots were purchased from Lee Schick for $300.00. On October 12, 1947, a special meeting of the Church committee was held, and it was unanimously decided to request Bishop Thill's permission to begin work on the church. Funds reached over $17,000 at this time.
On October 22, 1947, Mr. Rhoades, County Engineer, staked out the corners for the structure. On October 28, 1947, the first sod was turned. Arrangements were made with the Harper Construction Company, which was doing work on No. 9 highway, to do the foundation work. The Hansen Construction Company did the excavation work and completed it on November 3, 1947. On December 1, 1947, work was started on the foundation and this was completed on December 19, 1947. On April 6, 1948, the stone masons from Lenora began work on the walls. Joe Frank of Salina, began carpentry work in August of 1947.
On May 3, 1948, the cornerstone was blessed by Msgr. Vornholt of New Almelo. On October 20, 1948, the church was dedicated by Bishop Thill, who preached: "Deo Gratias" (Thanks to God).
The cost of the structure proper was $25,000. Electrical, plumbing and furnishings totaled $5,000. The probable value of donated labor and materials was close to $10,000
Mr. J. Bell of Beloit, installed the altars. The electrical work was done by Lee Schick and Tom Schneider, members of the parish. Mr. F.W. Kervick, head of the Department of Architecture at Notre Dame, was the architect. Local labor was used in the masonry work. The congregation numbered one hundred and fourteen people, and from fifteen able-bodied men of the congregation approximately six thousand hours of labor were donated.
The Statuary and Stations were bought from Franz Mersa, Bressanone, Bolzano, Italy, at a cost of $2,000. This debt was paid off in two years time. The pews were acquired in 1953 for $2,894.50 from Herman Dreiling of Hays. Later, an organ was installed in 1955, windows from Italy in 1958, sidewalk in 1958, drapes and canopy in 1959, new floor in 1960, new front doors in 1969, new cross at the cemetery in 1970, donated by the McNeive, Mullen and O'Connor families. The new hall was erected in 1970. Dedication of the hall in 1971, and paneling back of the altar in 1974.
transcribed from a booklet with handwritten note 1878-1978 Loene O'Connor
Please click images to enlarge
Father J. J. Conway
served at St. Mary's, Densmore 1906 - 1911
Father Francis Riedel
served at St. Mary's, Densmore 1914 -1932
Sister Joseph Helena
(Alice Stenger)
Stenger Sisters, Marcella Noel
If you can identify
them, please let me know
Possibilities include: Sister Fidelis
(Lorena Stenger);
Sister Nora or Sister Evangelina
Photos contributed by Gail Noel Barnes
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