From THE CHAFFEE LEADER
July 1, 1954
History of St. Ambrose Church Reveals Three Great
Milestones
by the Rev. Mr. William Ludwig
Old-timers in Chaffee who remember the horse and buggy days - who remember
when horses used the church building for a windbreak - will recall the hard
struggles of this country parish when the new St. Ambrose is dedicated on
Sunday, July 4, at 10 a.m. by His Excellency, Archbishop Joseph E. Ritter.
(PHOTO HERE)
Here the Rev. Thomas Geraghty, pastor, officiates at the ground breaking
ceremonies on August 9, 1953. Visible in the foreground is the Rev. Mr.
William D. Ludwig.
Several of the first members of the parish, which had its beginnings in 1907,
still attend the church. They have seen the parish grow from a mission
church, where Mass was celebrated only at such time as the Vincentian Missionaries
were able to trod their way through the mire and mud, sacrificing days of weary
and uncomfortable travel on horseback, to celebrate Mass and take care of the
spiritual needs of the people of Chaffee. They remember Bird's Hall, the
only place at that time large enough to substitute for a church, and fulfill the
requirements for the celebration of Mass. They remember the muddy
streets, the hitching posts for the horses, the "seed" of a town that
was to grow into a clean self-governing city with all the improvements of a
modern municipal achievement.
It is interesting to read the few pages of Chaffee's earliest days as
recorded by the first resident pastor of Chaffee in 1907. The following
words of Father Rohling are very significant:
"St. Ambrose Parish of Chaffee owes its existence to the St.
Louis-Memphis Branch of the great Frisco RR System. It was evident that a
division point was needed between St. Louis and Memphis, the distance between
these two points being a little more than 300 miles. At first Cape
Girardeau was selected for the division point. The City of Cape Girardeau
donated 20 acres of land to the Frisco to erect the necessary buildings on, and
for yard purposes."
"But when the Mississippi River was bridged at Thebes and not at Cape
Girardeau, the Frisco RR Co. saw that Cape Girardeau was not a place suitable
for a division point. A place was looked for and located which promised an
easier access to the Thebes bridge. This place was the old Cox farm,
recently purchased by a farmer of German descent by the name of Witt, a
catholic."
"A St. Louis Real Estate Company, knowing the intention of the Frisco
to move division and shops from Cape Girardeau, brought the Witt farm, about 300
acres at a cash price of $100 per acre, donated to the Frisco all the ground
needed for yard purposes and buildings, and established the town of
Chaffee. By moving Division and shops from Cape Girardeau to Chaffee, the
Frisco violated her contract with Cape Girardeau. But this city did not
fully realize the extent of her rights until too late. Cape Girardeau
compromised with the Frisco in 1911."
"When the Division was moved from Cape Girardeau to Chaffee, railroad
men and their families were compelled to live in Chaffee and they lived in tents
and shacks. But as the trade follows the flag, so the merchant follows the
opportunity of making money. A few substantial business houses were soon
erected, a bank established, and a new and flourishing town had sprung into
existence."
"Among the first settlers of Chaffee were some Catholics. There
were some railroad men, some business men , and some professional men. As
early as January 1907 they applied to His Grace at St. Louis for a resident
priest."
"When the people of Chaffee asked for a resident priest, the
Archbishop not having a priest available for the place, asked the Vincentian
Fathers of Cape Girardeau to look after the settlement. On the Feast of
the Holy Family 1907, the first Mass was celebrated in a hall (Bird's Hall) by a
Vincentian Father. During the retreat of the year 1907, I, Anthony H.
Rohling was appointed first resident pastor of Chaffee. When I arrived in
Chaffee, the people had a pastor - that's all."
"Had I been a priest of more experience in business matters, I never
would have started the parish. His Grace had instructed me that if I found
conditions such as to make the establishment of a new parish a premature or
doubtful undertaking, to report to that effect and he would assign me some other
work. My greatest and only asset was hope, my greatest blessing -
ignorance regarding the difficulties to be encountered."
"I had informed the promoters of the parish about my arrival, stating
the exact time. No one was at the station. Few invited me to
have a meal at their houses - no one ever offered me the use of a
room. While we were collecting funds, Sunday Masses were celebrated
in Bird's Hall. The attendance, at times, consisted of thirty
members. I soon realized that I could not live in Chaffee before Church
and house were completed. The hospital sisters of Cape Girardeau had
offered me asylum whilst the building was going on. By serving them during
the week in spiritualities I obtained room and board free of charge."
"In order to assure for myself a reasonable amount of salary, I took
the small mission of Dutchtown in Cape County, which Father Edward Kern of
Jackson wished to turn over to me. On November 3rd, 1907, the building of
the church began, and on January 1st, 1908, the first Mass was celebrated in the
new church."
The old-timers remember Father Rohling, the first pastor, and they remember
all the hardships of those early days. The days and years that followed
saw the city of Chaffee and the parish of St. Ambrose grow rapidly. Six
pastors have succeeded Father Rohling. First, Father Clooney succeeded
Father Rohling, the Fr. M. O'Leary succeeded Fr. Clooney. Fr. John
Lonergan succeeded Fr. O'Leary. Fr. James Duggan succeeded Father Lonergan.
Father Walter G. Craig succeeded Father Duggan. and finally the present pastor,
Father Thomas Geraghty succeeded Father Craig on January 6, 1949.
Three great milestones mark themselves in the history of St. Ambrose Parish
in Chaffee. First, the erection of St. Ambrose Parish, with a resident
Pastor and newly built church in 1907. Secondly, a catastrophe, which
deprived the Catholic people of Chaffee of a true and proper house of God, for
over a decade. When the Church burned on April 12, 1942, no one even
suspected it would be some 12 years later before they would have a new
church. Yet, within a war and post-war period, the people of St. Ambrose
found themselves with hands tied and feet bound, because the materials could not
be obtained. Converting the school basement into a temporary church was
the best they could do. Later the school basement, already becoming too
small for the rapidly growing parish was remodeled and enlarged. Yet, even
with all this, the parishioners realized the need for a true and real house of
god. They realized a school basement was not the most suitable place for
God to dwell in, and the time had come now to do something about it.
The third great milestone in the history of St. Ambrose began in 1953, when
Archbishop Ritter gave his permission for the parish of St. Ambrose to build a
new and beautiful church. No time was lost, because one year after the
permission was given for the new church the edifice was finished and ready to
use - a dream come true for the Catholic people of Chaffee.
The above Chaffee Leader Newspaper article
(Volume 1, Number 11) was from Page 1 of that newspaper and included three
photos on page 1, a photo of the old St. Ambrose, the new St. Ambrose and a
photo of the ground-breaking ceremonies. Please come and visit our museum
and see this historic paper.
ALSO......
On page 3 of that historic edition of the Chaffee Leader was a FULL-PAGE
ad..................
| CONGRATULATIONS |
| Members
of |
| ST.
AMBROSE PARISH |
|
| We
are all proud of your new Church |
| It
is a significant achievement for you and |
| Chaffee.
We offer you our congratulations. |
|
| Millers
Flowers and Gifts |
Whitaker
Hardware |
A & P
Store |
| Hagan's
Barber Shop |
Essner's
Super Market |
Landford's
Men's Store |
| Stovall
Store |
Heeb
Service Station |
Cline
Ables |
| Montgomery
Bros. Mtr. Co. Inc. |
Lankford
Drug Store |
Buckers
Grocery |
| Chaffee
I.G.A. |
Jo-Ann
Dress Shoppe |
Chief of
Police Masterson |
| Harmon
Radio & Furniture Co. |
Goza
United Ser.-Koffee Kup |
Stubbs
Hardware & Funeral Directors |
| Chaffee
Ice & Coal Co. |
Chaffee
Plumbing Heating & Electric |
Bolton-Hipes
Flower Shop |
| DePriest
Cafe |
Streblers
Feed Store |
Chaffee
Shoe Service |
| Maudie's
Beauty Shoppe |
Maxine's
Drive-in |
Compas
Mobil Service |
| Nickens
Pharmacy |
Lawrence
E. Oliver |
Beauty
Land Salon |
| Sullivan
Bros. Cleaners |
Western
Auto Associate Store |
Capshaw
Motor Car Co. |
| Chaffee
Food Market |
P.N.
Keller Ins. Agency |
Finley
Store |
| Bisplinghoff
Funeral Co. |
Chaffee
Auto Body & Repair |
The
Chaffee Leader |
ALSO......other advertisements.....
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| WEATHER TREAT |
104 W. Yoakum |
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| Chaffee,
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