Parish History
The History of the Catholic Church in Carbon County and in what is now
Jim Thorpe is intimately connected with the many waves of immigrants from
Europe who chose to settle in our area. The Roman Catholics who settled in
the Mauch Chunk area in the 1830s and 1840’s were mostly refugees from an
Ireland that was experiencing terrible famine. At this period of time, Mauch
Chunk was a considerable distance from populated areas, but families came to
find agricultural employment in an area that was extremely fertile.
In those earliest days, our area was part of the Diocese of Philadelphia.
This Diocese encompassed the entire state of Pennsylvania. Priests, who were
actually “curcuit-riders”, were sent by Bishop of Philadelphia to the
northern reaches of the Diocese. One priest, Father Patrick Lonergan, an
Irish Franciscan, was known to be in our area as early as November 1796,
visiting the scattered Catholic population. The town of Milton near
the New York border was the center of missionary activity in our area. As
early as 1837 there is documented evidence that Father John Fitzpatrick,
pastor of the Milton parish, celebrated Mass in Summit Hill and in Mauch
Chunk. As the Catholic population grew, more and more priests came to
minister to the Mauch Chunk Catholics-coming from the newly established
parishes of Pottsville, Tamaqua and Easton.
Reverend Patrick J. Hennegan, (1848-1852), born in Nesquehoning, was
ordained to the Priesthood by Most Reverend F. P. Kenrick on July 19, 1847,
at St. John's Church, Philadelphia, at that time the Bishop's Pro-Cathedral.
He was stationed in Tamaqua, and not much more than a year ordained, when he
undertook the founding of a parish in Mauch Chunk; Father Hennegan leaves us
record that he came to Mauch Chunk in November of 1848 to make plans for a
parish here.. Fathering the Catholics of the town, he informed them of his
purpose, and, the congregation was dedicated to St. Mary of the Immaculate
Conception, for so the parish was first named, and continued, to be known as
such for a number of years. -. The dogma of the Immaculate Conception was
not defined until 1854. It is difficult to determine if he ever lived in
Mauch Chunk. He may have come here in 1851 or 1852. There is evidence that
Mauch Chunk was a mission of Nesquehoning, and that it was there that he
lived. In the Catholic Herald of 1849, it is noted that Confirmation was
held in St. Patrick's of Nesquehoning and that Father Hennegan was the
pastor. In the face of untold hardships, poverty, bigotry, and persecution,
he established St. Mary's in Mauch Chunk in 1848, and founded St. Joseph's
in Summit Hill in 1850.
How often Mass was said in the new parish of St. Mary's of the Immaculate
Conception, after its establishment is not known. The principle place of
worship in the early days was the house of Michael McGeady, at 130
Susquehanna Street, It was here that Mr. and Mrs. McGeady were married, as
were many of the first parishioners. The sacrament of Baptism likewise was
administered here. Mass was also said on occasion in the homes of John
Mulhem and John Tree.
Later, as the congregation grew and could not be accommodated in a private
dwelling, the Old School House was used for worship. There is no record
whatsoever of the number of souls in the flock of Father Hennegan, but it is
evident that with few exceptions they were all Irish.
Father Hennegan began keeping a separate set of registers for Mauch Chunk,
Nesquehoning and Summit Hill, May 1, 1849. He carefully noted that record of
previous administrations of the Sacraments were to be found in Tamaqua. The
first entry for Mauch Chunk proper in the baptismal register under the day
of June 13th lists four baptisms: Anna Dougherty, daughter of Charles
Dougherty and Elizabeth Wilson, Thomas Curran, son of Christopher Curran and
Catherine Swords, Emilia Armbruster, daughter of Joseph Armbruster and Mary
Grispen, and Rose McGinley, daughter of Bernard McGinley and Winifred
Cannon. The first marriage entry for Mauch Chunk under date of August 3rd,
is the marriage of John Johnson and Helen McGonigle.
The registry for Summit Hill ends with May 25, 1850, when Summit Hill became
a separate parish. At the same time, it seems that Mauch Chunk, started as a
mission church, became a full fledged parish and Nesquehoning a mission of
Mauch Chunk. Father Hennegan is listed in the Official Catholic Directory
for 1850 as the pastor, which is evidence that it was no longer a mission.
The first parish property was the plot of ground acquired on West Broadway
for the building of the Church. The lot, which was the first of the nine
tracts of ground which comprise the present parish property, was bought from
the L. C. & N. Co. for $690.00, "a quarter to be paid before taking
possession, another quarter to be paid on receipt of the deed, and the other
one half in equal annual payments, with the interest accruing". The first
payment of $173.00 was made September 1, 1849. The dimensions of this first
piece of ground were sixty-nine feet along Broadway, eighty-six feet nine
inches in the rear on the north, seventy feet on the east side, and one
hundred twenty-three feet nine inches on the west side.
The actual building of the Church did not begin until 1850, Meetings of the
parishioners were held to raise money for this project so dear to the heart
of every Catholic in Mauch Chunk — their own parish. The enthusiasm, zeal,
and energy, with which they undertook this campaign, are evident from the
number of contributors, the amounts, and the number of non-Catholics who
were solicited. We find names, such as Asa Packer, Lawyer Fatzinger, and
many other prominent non-Catholics in the list of contributors, which
numbered in all about two hundred-ninety. The first contributor was Miss
Mary O'Friel. The largest single contributor was John Tree, $40.00. All in
all, however, from loans, subscriptions, collections, and so forth, a little
over $1600.00 was gathered in two years, which shows the difficulty of
Father Hennegaris task, and the poverty of the people.
The contract for the new Church was given to John Boyle and George Simpson.
Work on the church building started in 1850, and was completed in early
1852. It was not dedicated, however, until 1853. The laying of the
cornerstone took place around October 12, 1851. The inscription on the
cornerstone, together with other vital information, has been obliterated by
the elements. In the cornerstone was contained copies of the Boston Pilot;
the Carbon Democrat (Oct. 11); and an extra edition of the same paper
containing the election results; the Catholic Herald (Philadelphia), Oct. 9;
The Investigator (Harrisburg), Oct. 10; Catholic Instructor (Philadelphia).
There was also a dollar gold piece, a three cent coin, a six pence, and five
francs.
The occasion of the cornerstone laying was not without incident, for it was
stolen during the night and thrown in the Mauch Chunk Creek. The cornerstone
was recovered about twelve years later by John Mulhem, at the Lower Foundry,
which was opposite the site of the parochial school.
The church building was completed in the year 1852, probably in January.
Nowhere can there be found an accurate description of the building, but it
most likely was a combination frame and brick building, not too large, with
a slate roof. It certainly was very plain, as money was lacking for any
ornamentation. When it was opened, it contained the bare essentials, not
even being equipped with pews, evidence of the financial problems which
confronted Father Hennegan. From the various accounts still existent, it
appears that the church grounds and building cost about $3,500.00 or
$4,000.00.
It is obvious that Father Hennegan did the most that he could with the money
on hand, but it just was not enough. The strain on him must have been
terrific, considering the task of his ordinary duties of the priesthood,
tending the various localities, and the almost impossible job of solving the
financial problems of the young parish. Indeed, in 1852 judgments began to
mount against the parish property, and a levy was threatened. Boyle and
Simpson placed a mechanics' lien against the property, which was finally
satisfied several years later. The outlook was dark, and it appeared that
the new parish would be stripped of all its belongings. Even the payments on
the mortgage were past due. On February 12, 1852, the amount owed on the
Church totaled $1663.46, which "was being earnestly desired", as Father
Hennegan put it.
After three and one-half years of strenuous labor, Father Hennegan was
relieved of his charge in the early part of February, 1852, and transferred
to Lambertville, New Jersey. The toll which these years exacted of him
physically is evident from his early death. Two years later on January 24,
1854, he died certainly to be richly rewarded for his unstinting efforts to
establish God's Kingdom in Mauch Chunk.
The Reverend Doctor Manahan succeeded Father Hennegan in 1852. Unfortunately
very little is known of the good Doctor, not even the date of his ordination
being available.
It can be deduced from his doctorate and his book, "The Triumph of the
Catholic Church in the Early Ages", quite well known at the time, that he
was a scholarly man. His stay in Mauch Chunk was very brief, but he made
every effort to do all that he could to help the parish and its people, as
is evident from what little record we have of Father Manahan.
The inherited financial problems he attacked with vigor, paying off debts
and at the same time managing to make some improvements in the new church,
which had not as yet been dedicated. This event took place in 1853. In
endeavoring to solve the indebtedness of the parish, he organized a
collecting committee. The judgments and threats of suits were mounting.
Through this committee, he hoped to raise the necessary funds to rescue the
parish property from the threat of the sheriff’s levy. The members of the
Committee were: Barney McGee, Francis Sharkey, John McGinty, John Lynch,
Condy Hegarty, James Brennan, Owen Lynch, P. Coil, Michael McGeady, John
Mulhem, Daniel Maloney, J. N. Hockman, Christopher Curran, Maurice Tobin, &
John Doogan. John Lynch was the chairman of the group, Barney McGee,
treasurer, and Francis Sharkey, secretary. The sum of $330.00 was collected
by the fall of the year, and this sum included donations from outside the
parish, one contribution of $19.52 being received from Bristol.
By October of that year, things began to straighten out a bit, as some of
the judgments were satisfied, and an installment paid on the bills owed to
Boyle and Simpson, the chief creditors. The courage and determinations of
the early priests and parishioners draws our admiration, for, despite the
dark outlook, they continued to improve the church building, painting and
decorating it. To give some idea of how little there was to work with, let
us note some of the collections mentioned: the Christmas collection, 1852,
$25.21; collection in November of 1852, $8.30; January of 1853, $1.25.
The last entry made by Dr. Manahan in the parish registers is for February
13, 1853. It must have been at this time that he left Mauch Chunk for New
York to pursue his literary work. The parish was without a resident priest
for about two months, until the arrival of Father Patrick Coffey in April of
that year. During the interim, Father Henry P. Finnigan of Beaver Meadows,
took care of the parish, saying Mass and administering the Sacraments.
The Reverend Patrick J. Coffey followed Dr. Manahan as pastor in Mauch Chunk
in April of 1853. Very little is known about the background of Father Coffey
to form a biographical sketch. Father Coffey is named as the first resident
pastor of Mauch Chunk, renting the east end of the block on West Broadway
owned by Christopher Curran. This remained the pastoral residence until
Father Blacker moved to the west end of the same block.
In June of 1853, Father Coffey, together with John Tree, Bernard McGee, and
Patrick Sharkey, received a grant of land from the L. C. & N. Company on the
Coalport road for the parish cemetery. This plot today forms the southwest
comer of the cemetery which has been enlarged to its present size by two
subsequent grants.
In the summer of 1854, an epidemic of Asiatic or hog cholera struck Mauch
Chunk and the surrounding region. It carried off many in its wake. It was on
this occasion that the saintly Bishop John Neumann came to Mauch Chunk to
assist in comforting the sick and bereaved. He made his sleeping quarters in
the basement of the church that he might be easily accessible to all. His
name is found in the baptismal register, having baptized Barbara Burkhart on
September 2, 1854. It was devotion to his people such as this that had
elevated him to be canonized a Saint.
The Reverend John Loughran, succeeded Father Coffey in November of 1854.
Father Loughran was ordained by Bishop Kenrick on July 16, 1848. Very little
can be written about Father Loughran-He was in poor health, and hardly
suited for the difficult task he inherited. His parish was struggling to
recuperate from the effects of the epidemic and financial problems continued
to press. Handicapped as he was, he still spent himself to assist his
people. The mortgage on the parish property and the accrued interest were
paid off in 1855, after a judgment to secure payment had been granted the
Lehigh Company in 1854. The committee even managed to get together a reserve
fund of $484.50, which was finally exhausted in 1857. Father Loughran's
failing health finally caused him to leave Mauch Chunk in June of 1856, and
he died two weeks later in Philadelphia on the 24th of June.
The parish was without a pastor until August of 1856, when Father Charles
McEnroe was appointed to fill the vacancy. During that interval, Father
Patrick McArdle took care of the spiritual needs of the people. Father
McEnroe was not in the best of health and within three years after he was
appointed pastor he died in the parish.
Father McEnroe, in co-operation with his parishioners succeeded in raising
sufficient sums to payoff all the outstanding debts and judgments against
the parish in January of 1857. This was due to the sacrifices of the people,
not prosperous times, for although the parish was growing, money was not any
more plentiful. At the time the centers of population were High Street,
Susquehanna Street, and Northern Liberties, but it is noted that in a
collection taken up in the parish there were only 67 contributors, who gave
a total of $160.00. Father McEnroe used all the available funds to dear the
debt, even a sum of $146.00 which had been set aside for the purchase of a
melodeon for the Church.
Father McEnroe put a confessional in the church and added other sanctuary
fixtures. He also bought a cross for $11.50. In his later days in the
parish, incapacitated by poor health, he was assisted by Father Scanlon of
Beaver Meadows. Father McEnroe died in Mauch Chunk on May 19, 1859;
resolutions of regret and appreciation of Father McEnroe's character were
published by the Young Men's Literary Institute, signed by J. W. McCrea,
Secretary.
Father McEnroe's successor was Reverend John P. O'Shaughnessy in 1859.
Actually that is all that can be recorded concerning Father O'Shaughnessy,
except the date of his death, February 17, 1862. There is absolutely no
record of his pastorate in Mauch Chunk. What happened to the records
of that time is not known.
Reverend Michael J. Blacker, succeeded Father O'Shaughnessy, the seventh
pastor of the Immaculate Conception parish. He came to Mauch Chunk in
November of 1861.
If there is no record of Father O'Shaughnessy, the exact opposite is true of
Father Michael Blacker. His devotion to the advancement of the parish is
noted in the fact that, even though the Civil War was then in progress and
had taken many from his parish, he went forward with plans to enlarge the
Church. Prior to this the church could hardly be called complete. The church
remained as he left it until it was replaced by the new church in 1908. He
completed the extensive alterations of the Church and began to make
arrangements for the erection of a rectory. Up to this time, the priest had
been living in a rented house on West Broadway. His zeal for souls is
evidenced in the parochial school which he established in the basement of
the church.
Father Blacker was immediately preceded by a Father Bernard McCollum as
administrator in Mauch Chunk. When Father Blacker came in November of 1861,
he lost no time in undertaking the alterations of the Church. Now that the
debt had been cleared, funds were available to make the church suitable to
the needs of the parish. The contract for the work was given to John Fidler.
A considerable addition was made to the rear of the Church, which meant a
completely new sanctuary and the addition of a sacristy. A new altar,
costing several hundred dollars, the work of a skilled artist in Reading,
replaced the original altar, which was given to the parish in White Haven,
then in its infancy. He also installed pews, and a melodeon. He did
everything within reason to make the Church of the Immaculate Conception
worthy of its high purpose.
Later, possibly around 1867, he added the gallery to the Church. All in all,
the church contained about one hundred forty pews with the addition of the
gallery. The alterations cost between $4500.00 and $5000.00.
It is from Father Blacker that we first get some general idea of the size of
the parish in Mauch Chunk, exclusive of the mission in Nesquehoning. In
1864, there were approximately one hundred fifteen families in East Mauch
Chunk, fifty in Northern Liberties, renowned for the number of young men who
served in the Civil War, thirty in Upper Mauch Chunk, forty in Old Tunnel (Hacklebemie),
eight in New Pockets (Coalport), forty on High Street, fifteen on Race
Street. Oddly enough, the two' streets not mentioned are Broadway and
Susquehanna Streets. Making an allowance for these two, we conjecture that
there were between three hundred fifty and four hundred families in the
parish.
In 1865, Father Blacker undertook the project of a parochial school. The
school room was the basement of the Church, and the schoolmasters were Ryan
and Loughran, who boarded with Mrs. Mulhem. William Kehoe was placed in
charge of the finances of the new school. The number of children enrolled in
the first year was one hundred sixty, from eighty-two families. The school
was supported by a special collection and a small tuition charge, which was
determined to a great extent by the financial condition of the family. The
school continued for several years, even after Father Blackens departure,
when circumstances made it necessary to discontinue it. It remained for
Father Bunce to renew this important adjunct to the parish.
Father Blacker left Mauch Chunk at the beginning of June, 1868 and was
succeeded by Reverend Hugh Garvey. Poor health plagued him during his entire
stay in Mauch Chunk, and it was necessary for him to have help on many
occasions. In April of 1869, he resigned the rectoryship in Mauch Chunk.
Reverend Peter C. McEnroe, took the place of the ailing Father Garvey in
April of 1869. He came to Mauch Chunk a young priest not yet ordained two
years. While Father McEnroe was pastor, the plot of ground on which the
present church stands was donated to the parish by the L. C. & N. Company,
on September 21, 1869, the deed for which was executed on May 7, 1870. The
negotiations were carried on between Patrick Sharkey and John Leisenring,
who handled the Lehigh interests in this locality.
In 1870, Father McEnroe undertook to complete the project begun by Father
Blacker, the erection of a rectory. The contract for the house was given to
John Fidler and Company. The rectory was contracted on July 19, 1870, for
the sum of $3400.00. The lot of ground for the rectory on the west side of
the old Church had been bought in November of 1865, from Jacob Salkeld for
$300.00. The house was completed in October of 1870, and was paid in full by
November 5th. However, the cost went slightly beyond the contract price. Due
to construction changes, the building cost $3510.00 and with furnishings,
and so forth, it totaled $3834.00. Father McEnroe was the first to hire help
to take care of the church and rectory.
In October of 1873, a new organ was bought for $300.00 to replace the old
melodeon. New gas pipes and fixtures were placed in the church, and the
building plastered, all of which greatly enhanced its appearance. The
cemetery was enlarged in 1873, by a grant of land from the L. C. & N.
Company, to a little more than half its present size. Father McEnroe then
placed a fence around the cemetery. Father McEnroe's accounts closed My 16,
1875, at which time he was succeeded by Father Bunce.
Reverend Michael A. Bunce was the first pastor of the Immaculate Conception
to remain any great length of time. He, in fact, served the people of Mauch
Chunk for a greater period than any of his predecessors, his pastorate
covering a span of 26 years. Father Bunce came to this country at 16 years
of age. As a young priest three years ordained, he was selected to be the
pastor of the Immaculate Conception. At that time, Mass was said every other
Sunday in Nesquehoning, and every Sunday in Mauch Chunk, there being two
Masses in Mauch Chunk on alternate Sundays. Occasionally, Father Bunce went
to Hauto to offer the Holy Sacrifice, always in a private dwelling, for the
families living there. In 1883, he bought ground for the new church in
Nesquehoning, the cornerstone for which was laid September 4, 1887, the day
of the dedication of the parochial school in Mauch Chunk. This church,
dedicated to the Sacred Heart, was built at a cost of $15,000.00, and was
paid for, all but a few hundred dollars, when Father Morris became the
pastor a few years later. The old church of St. Patrick was torn down.
The outstanding memorial to Father Bunce was our parochial school and
convent. This project was foremost in his mind for the spiritual development
of his parish, and in 1884, he took the first step to make the parish school
a reality. In the summer of that year, he applied to the Sisters Servants of
the Immaculate Heart of Mary, at West Chester, for sisters to teach in his
school. August 19th, Sisters Ambrose and Teresa arrived in Mauch Chunk in
answer to Father Bunce's request. They lived with Mrs. Sharkey, on
Susquehanna Street, until a house as a temporary convent was rented of Mr.
Tobias, at 96 1/2 West Broadway.
The basement of the Church was fitted out for school purposes, being
partitioned to make three class rooms. The school formally reopened the
third week September, 1884, with an enrollment of 140 pupils. The number
increased so rapidly, that it was necessary to close the school for ten
days, while an additional class room was prepared in the rectory. Sisters
Celestine and Mechtilda had joined Mother Ambrose and Sister Teresa. Mother
Ambrose conducted classes for the older children in the rectory, and Sisters
Teresa, Celestine, and Mechtilda taught in the church basement. Sister
Josephine, a later arrival, was placed in charge of music, and gave lessons
at the home of John J. McGinley, on West Broadway. The Sisters continued to
reside at 96 ½ Broadway for three years, when circumstances made it
necessary for them to leave there. Bernard Boyle, the father of Michael
Boyle and Sister M. Ambrosine, gave them the use of his home, which they
gratefully accepted.
The next task was the raising of a school and convent. The ground was
purchased for this purpose by Dominick McFadden in the summer and early fall
of 1884 for $1800.00. The construction of the school and convent started in
1885, and it was completed in May of 1886 or 1887. There is record of the
first school entertainment being held in June of 1887 with the note that the
school had been completed the previous May, and whether this means May 1886
or 1887 is not clear. However, the school was formally dedicated on the 4th
of September, 1887. The Sisters moved into the new convent probably in the
year 1887. A two-year high school course appears to have been added around
1889, with first class being graduated in 1890 with five members.
Not satisfied with the work he had accomplished in building the school and
convent, he now began making plans to replace the old church with a new
structure, He organized the Parish Improvement Fund, which consisted of a
number of men of the parish making weekly collections to obtain sufficient
funds to start the building program. Father Bunce had begun the excavation
for the new church when his charge in Mauch Chunk was terminated. Possibly
thinking the strain of this new undertaking too much for his strength,
Archbishop Ryan transferred Father Bunce to St. Mark's in Bristol upon the
death of Father Hugh Garvey, a predecessor in Mauch Chunk, on September 6,
1901. Obedient to the will of his superior, Father Bunce left Mauch
Chunk reluctantly.
Reverend Charles Norris came in 1901 from the Sacred Heart Parish in
Nesquehoning to succeed Father Bunce. God, in His inscrutable wisdom, saw
fit to call Father Norris to Himself after a short pastorate. Father Norris'
death came very suddenly. He suffered a stroke during Sunday Mass from which
he never recovered, Ten days later, September 16, 1903 he died. Reverend
Bernard McKenna acted as administrator during Father Norris’ illness and
until the appointment of Father Larkin in October of 1903. Reverend Thomas
J. Larkin was appointed to succeed Father Norris in October of 1903.
Ground was broken by Father Larkin for the new church after Mass on April
23, 1906. Owen McGlynn, of Wilkes-Barre, was chosen as the architect, and
the contract for the building was given to Charles Neast and Company, Mauch
Chunk, for $48,125.00. Then began the task of raising the money for the
structure which was to cost in its entirety more than a hundred thousand
dollars. It was decided that each parishioner would subscribe according to
his means, with pledges ranging from $25.00 upward. Within three months the
total subscribed was $20,000.00. The first money actually given to the
church for the new building was $6,000.00 in gold, the gift of Mrs. Boylan,
of Packerton. The remainder was partly raised by collections which Father
Larkin took at the following parishes: Holy Infancy, Bethlehem; St.
Agatha's, Philadelphia; St. Canicus', Mahony City; where Father Peter
McEnroe was pastor; St. John's, Manayunk; also included were the proceeds
from the various social functions in the parish, donations from the
societies such as the T.A.B. for $1250.00. The entire structure was paid for
with only a $15,000.00 mortgage being taken secured August 23, 1908.
The cornerstone was laid by Arch-Bishop Ryan on June 24, 1906, and the
following inscription placed on it: The comer Stone of this Church,
dedicated to Almighty God, in honor of Our Lady Mary, conceived without sin,
was blessed and laid by Most Reverend P. J. Ryan, D.D., Arch-Bishop of
Philadelphia, Pius X Supreme Pontiff, happily reigning; Theodore Roosevelt
being President of the United States of America; Samuel W. Pennypacker,
Governor of the State of Pennsylvania; Jonas Sondheim, Chief Burgess of
Mauch Chunk; Owen McGlynn, Architect; Charles Neast & Company, Builders:
Reverend T. J. Larkin, Rector of this parish; on the 24th day of June A.D.,
1906, the year of American Independence, 130.
The church was built in Romanesque style with the best of materials,
fixtures, and furnishings. The stone was Mt. Airy (N.C.) granite trimmed
with Indiana limestone. Mayer & Company of Munich, supplied the windows; the
altars of Carrara marble were erected by Peter Theis & Sons, N.Y.; Sibbel,
of New York, did the stations, of the same marble as the altars. At its
completion, the church stood as an accomplishment of which the pastor and
people could be justly proud. The dedication of the church took place on
Sunday, October 4, 1908, with Bishop Prendergast presiding. The Reverend
James C. McLoughlin was the celebrant of the solemn Mass on this momentous
occasion. While paying off the debt, Father Larkin did not neglect the rest
of the parish. He continued making improvements in the school, and obtained
more land from the L.C. & Company in 1909, to bring the cemetery to its
present size. Walter McGinley erected the iron fence around the present
cemetery. In 1914, the lot on the lower side of the school was purchased
from Dominick McFadden for $800.00, later to become the site of the high
school. The old Church was converted into a parish hall, and used as such
until razed around 1925.
Father Larkin submitted a plan for building a parochial four-year high
school to supplant the two-year course then in effect. Impressed with the
importance of the plan, the authorities gave Father Larkin permission to
proceed, if he thought his health would permit-since he suffered a slight
stroke previously. The contract for the school was given to Charles Neast &
Company, for $40,318.00. Work was started in 1924. The men of the parish dug
the foundation, blasting through solid rock much of the way, and saving the
parish a considerable sum of money. The school was completed in 1925, but
Father Larkin, unfortunately did not live to see it complete its first year.
The first class graduated in 1927, and at that time it became an accredited
first class high school, being approved by the Department of Education,
Harrisburg.
In December, 1925, Father Larkin suffered a stroke from which he never
recovered. Father Larkin's body was laid to rest in the front of the Church,
which he had built, according to his last wish. Reverend Joseph A, Dougherty
briefly succeeded Father Larkin in 1926. However, his superiors saw fit to
transfer Father Dougherty to Holy Souls Parish, Philadelphia.
Father Dougherty left Mauch Chunk May 11, 1927. Reverend John Fealy, after
eleven years in the priesthood, came to Mauch Chunk on May 11, 1927. To him,
for the parish, was donated the plot of ground on the West side of the
church. This donation was made by John T. McGinley for the erection of a new
rectory, and the foundation was already started when Father Fealy was
transferred to St. Margaret's in Reading. This was in the last week of
February, 1931 and the parish was shocked to hear of his death on November
26 of that same year.
Reverend William J. McShain succeeded Father Fealy in 1931. During Father
McShain's pastorate, the parish hall and grounds adjoining on the south side
of West Broadway opposite the school had been acquired. This was purchased
in 1940 for $3,000.00 and was paid for from the Lenten mite box
contributions, and it since had been the scene of many parish gatherings and
social functions. The old town reservoir, located on the parish grounds to
the rear of the rectory, was given to .the parish by the Water Company.
Following Father McShain's pastorate, Reverend James F. Doolin was assigned
as pastor in 1951. He remained pastor for 18 years and did many things to
care for the general operation of the parish. The repainting of the church
took place and the protective glass over the stain glass windows of the
church was added. Under his pastorate in 1964, the Mauch Chunk Catholic High
School of the parish closed its doors as it consolidated with the new
Diocesan High School named Marian Catholic in Hometown, Pa.
Succeeding Father Doolin was Reverend Leo F. Kilpatrick in 1969. Father
Kilpatrick had moved into a trailer because of rectory deterioration. His
tenure in the parish was brief, remaining approximately two and a half
years, leaving the parish in 1971.
Succeeding Father Kilpatrick in 1971 was Reverend Joseph Dooley who became
the 1st Monsignor of the parish. It was under his administration that many
changes had taken place in the parish. Msgr. Dooley was an excellent
administrator under whom the parish school had ceased operation in 1982
because of building deterioration, enrollment and religious staff decline.
The school would be finally raised later in June of 1991. St. Joseph School
then became in Jim Thorpe the regional school where the catholic school
students of the parish had transferred to continue their Catholic Grade
School Education. It also was Msgr. Dooley who bought land in Lake Harmony
and constructed a church as a chapel of the parish.
From the earliest days of the use of Lake Harmony as a resort, the Church
had been there providing worship opportunities for the people. Mass was
first celebrated in Durnin's Hotel on Lake Harmony in 1926 (the present Lake
Harmony Lodge). Frank Durnin was the first Altar Boy to serve Mass at Lake
Harmony. Father John A. McGinnis, the Curate at Immaculate Conception, was
the celebrant of the Masses and he kept the altar, vestments, and Mass
supplies at Durnin’s Inn.
At various times the Pastors of Immaculate Conception parish in Jim Thorpe
celebrated Mass in summer homes and halls of the area. For a time Mass was
celebrated at the Allentown Club House on Lake Drive and then at George
Twinings's Hall which was behind the present Post Office in Lake Harmony.
Beginning in 1931 and continuing for many seasons, Father William A. McShain
and the other Mauch Chunk priests celebrated Sunday Mass at Twinings.
As time progressed, the celebration of Mass was moved to the Lake Harmony
Fire House and then to Split Rock Lodge where Mass was celebrated on a
regular basis until 1971.
In 1971 a great fire consumed Split Rock Lodge. When the new Lodge was
opened, Monsignor Joseph Dooley, Pastor of Immaculate Conception, resumed
Mass in the "Upper Room" of the facility on January 15, 1972. Monsignor
Dooley continued to celebrate Mass each Sunday at Split Rock until November
1979. When the "Upper Room" of the Lodge was not available for use, Msgr.
Dooley celebrated Mass outdoors on the portable (ironing board) altar which
he transported on his motorcycle from Jim Thorpe.
Through the efforts of Sam Milazzo and Joseph Dougherty, permission was
obtained to celebrate Mass at Lake Harmony Fire House, once the Kidder
Township Offices and Police Department moved into their new facilities. The
first Mass at the Fire House was celebrated on the Feast of Christ the King,
November 25, 1979.
As the area was developing and the crowds of people were significantly
increasing, it became obvious that a permanent House of Worship was needed.
On June 29, 1981 a five acre parcel of property was purchased by our Parish
opposite Big Boulder Lake. Meetings began shortly thereafter with the
architectural firm of Leung, Hemmler, Camayd of Scranton to formulate plans
for a new church which would be modeled on Austrian Alpine architecture.
Msgr. Dooley was concerned that the new Church blend in with the countryside
and reflect the recreational nature of the area, The Bell Tower and Clock
was constructed to beckon skiers from the slopes for Mass. The Loggia and
Courtyard were constructed as gathering places for people.
On December 7, 1982 Monsignor Dooley met with Bishop Joseph McShea to
discuss the plans for the new church. It was at that time that Bishop McShea
presented the Parish with the marvelous painting of "Saint Peter the
Fisherman" by the nationally renown Muralist Dana Van Horn. Mr. Van Horn had
just completed a set of murals in the Allentown Cathedral and had given
"Saint Peter the Fisherman" to Bishop McShea as a gift. The decision was
made then to name the new church "Saint Peter the Fisherman".
It was on June 28, 1982 that the ground was broken for the new church. The
General Contractor was George G. Schmidt Company of Palmerton. It was a year
and one week later on July 4, 1983 that the first Mass was celebrated in
Saint Peter the Fisherman Church.
Monsignor Dooley commissioned the Atelier Denys Heppell, a Canadian artist,
to do the statue of Saint Peter the Fisherman that graces the courtyard as
well as the wood carving of the Last Supper which is now on the front of the
main altar. (In 1988 a new altar had been dedicated in honor of Monsignor
Dooley for all his hard work and planning).
Shortly after its completion, word was received from the American Institute
of Architects that St. Peter the Fisherman Church was recognized by the
Interfaith Forum on Religion, Art and Architecture with a citation for
excellence in religious design as one of the five finest churches built in
America in 1983. Monsignor Dooley and Architect David Hemmler were presented
with an award in New York City in September 1984.
Monsignor Dooley also began the construction of a new rectory adjacent to
the Immaculate Conception Church in Jim Thorpe. He had lived in a trailer as
did Father Kilpatrick. However, the accommodations were inappropriate for
safety, office and living space. Msgr. Dooley began construction of a new
rectory in 1972 and it presently stands as the current rectory. Msgr. Dooley
also was responsible for the engineering marvel of an extensive wall and
drainage system behind the existing church, rectory, and church parking lot.
The plans were drawn up by Zenith engineers of Philadelphia and the project
completed. In addition, Msgr. Dooley was noted for his wit and humor in his
church bulletins. He was transferred in 1984 to St. Margaret's in Reading.
Succeeding Msgr. Dooley in 1984 was Reverend Robert Quinn under whom the
chapel of St. Peter the Fisherman became officially dedicated on September
7, 1986 with the Most Revered Thomas J. Welsh, J.C.D., Bishop of Allentown
being present for the dedication. Father Quinn was then succeeded in
December of 1986 by Reverend John G. Chizmar.
Due to continued population, St. Peter the Fisherman became a parish unto
itself in the Spring of 1989 with Rev. John A. Auchter named as its first
pastor. The parish was ranked as the Diocese's 153rd Parish.
In August 2008, Msgr. Chizmar was transferred to St. Peter the Fisherman,
Lake Harmony and Reverend James J. Ward was assigned to Immaculate
Conception.
In recording the history of the parish, time and space has not permitted us
to dwell on all the efforts and personalities of the pastors and all the
assistant pastors who devoted themselves unsparingly to the spiritual needs
of the parish, the care of the sick, the comforting of the afflicted,
instructing converts, and counseling anyone in need. In temporal matters
they had all given their best to promote the material as well as the
spiritual welfare of the parish. As an act of charity and gratitude,
remember them in your prayers that God will grant those who are departed
eternal peace and reward; and, to those still living, abundant grace and
blessings. We also recognize the many vocations to the priesthood and
convents that came from our parish over the years. Many of which we know,
and others we have been unable to identify successfully throughout different
periods of our history. Records become lost or damaged. Thus, in order not
to offend anyone by mentioning some and unable to mention others, it is best
to say that we are proud of them all and their families who help foster and
nurture the vocation sent to them and the church.
- Construction on the current building was begun in 1906 and completed in 1908
- The Architect was Own McGlynn of Wilkes-Barre, Pa
- The Contractor was Charles Neast and Company of Mauch Chunk.
- The Cost of Construction was $48,125.00
- The style of architecture is Irish Romanesque
- Exterior Construction is of Mt. Airy (N.C) Granite & Indian Limestone
- Painting of the Immaculate Conception by George Kinkelin
- The stained glass windows were done by Mayer and Company of Munich.
- All marble work (altars, statues, Baptismal Font) are of Carrara Marble by Peter Theis and Sons of New York