The history of the Church of Our Lady was first published in commemoration of the Centennial anniversary in 1939. Fr. John Lyons, then pastor of Our Lady, was also the archivist for the Archdiocese of Louisville. He possessed a broad understanding of the history of the diocese itself that played a central role in the establishment of the parish.

For its 125th anniversary in 1964, the parish published a second book incorporating the original Centennial history. The few remaining copies of this book are in the hands of long-time parishioners and their families.

During her 12 year assignment at Our Lady from 1991 to 2003, Sister Mary Naomi Buniff, R.S.M. organized the existing archives that had been neglected for many years. Sister Mary Naomi was also an experienced archivist, having assumed the task of organizing documents for the Sisters of Mercy at its Broadway convent. Shortly before her assignment ended, she compiled the parish history starting from 1964.

In preparation for the website in 2005, parishioner Charles Wetzelberger IV began to transfer the text of the history book into electronic form along with corresponding photos and newspaper articles. Because of technology, we are now able to share this rich history with others in a way previously impossible.

Although the archives yielded a wealth of information, we invite you to search your photo albums and scrapbooks for recent and not-so-recent photographs (color or black & white) of the following events and people:

• 100th, 125th, 150th anniversary celebrations.
• Sisters of Mercy and the convent (any year).
• Faculty and children of Our Lady School and/or class reunions.
• Activities of Men's, Ladies and Booster clubs.
• Festivals, bingo and other fundraisers.
• Parishioners who served in the Armed Forces.

The establishment and growth of the parish was greatly influenced by its surroundings. In its early years, Portland was still an independent town. The church was located just mere blocks from the Portland Wharf where river traffic dominated the local economy and supplied its settlers with life's necessities. The name 'Notre Dame du Port' or 'Our Lady of the Port' was given to the church by French settlers who established the parish.

For more information on the Portland area, you can read a brief history of Portland or visit the Portland Museum.

Chapter	Contents
Foreward	Foreward to the history
Chapter 1	Early Beginnings Bishop Joseph Flaget Rev. Guy Ignatius Chabrat Rev. Stephen Theodore Badin Rev. Napoleon J. Perche The First Trustees
Chapter 2	Establishment of the Parish Committee of Management meeting minutes The Upper Room First Holy Communion Class
Chapter 3	The First Church Rev. John McGill Rev. Walter Coomes Dedication of the First Church Missions Attached to the Parish
Chapter 4	History of the Parish 1842-1861 Rev. F. X. Evremond Harissart Cedar Grove Academy Rev. John Jerome Vital First Pipe Organ The Church Steeple The Church Bell Renting the Pews Our Lady's First School New Trustees
Chapter 5	History of the Parish 1861-1873 Rev. David A. DeParcq Rev. John H. Bekkers The Rectory The Church Enlarged The Civil War Rev. David Russell Rev. Hugo Peythieu The Second Church Construction Accident The Third Church Fair for the Portland Church
Chapter 6 - Part I	History of the Parish 1873-1938 Rev. Alexander T. J. McConnell Rev. Alexander J, Harnist Rev. Henry Plaggenborg Rev. Eugene Crane Rev. John Baxter Installation of Gothic Altar Flood of 1883-1884 The Debt-Paying Society St. Vincent de Paul Conference Parish Golden Jubilee Rev. Thomas F. Gambon Fr. Harnist's Letter 1892
Chapter 6 - Part II	Rev. James J. Conniff Rev. William Gausepohl Sisters of Mercy 1913 Flood Rev. Martin O'Connor World War I Rev. Bernard I. Doherty Holy Name Society Sodality of the Blessed Virgin Mary Sanctuary Society
Chapter 6 - 1937 Flood	Details & photos of the great Louisville flood
Chapter 6 - Part IV	Various documents
The 100th Anniversary	The Centenary 1939
Chapter 8 - Part I	History of the Parish 1939-1964 Holy Name Society Rev. James E. Lehmann World War II Assistant Priests at Our Lady The Flood Wall
Chapter 8 - Part II	New School & Convent School Sports & photos The Men's Club
Chapter 8 - Part III	Vocations from Our Lady's Korean War Religious Jubilees The McAuley Girls Rev. Michael K. Lally Boy Scout Troop The Ladies Club Altar Society Confraternity of Christian Mothers
Chapter 8 - Part IV	Knights of the Altar Parent Teacher Association School photos Grade School Class Reunion Sisters of Mercy Golden Jubilee at Our Lady's
125th Anniversary	The 125th Anniversary 1964
Chapter 10 - Part I	History of the Parish 1964-1989 Our Lady School Closes School photos Vatican II Reforms Vietnam War Rev. John Elder Rev. George Waldie
Chapter 10 - Part II	Community Catholic School Rev. John C. Eckert 1980s Reunion 1980s photos
Chapter 10 - Part III	Parish Outings & Contests Youth Group Dedication of Lehmann Hall Sunday Bingo The Sisters of Mercy Return Steeple Lighting
The 150th Anniversary	The Sesquicentennial 1989
Chapter 12 - Part I	History of the Parish 1990-present Rev. Robert E. Reilly Deacon William R. Klump Sisters of Mercy Persian Gulf War Community Catholic School closes
Chapter 12 - Part II	Parish Organizations
Chapter 12 - Part III	Spritual Events Parish Organizations Confirmation & First Communion Classes
Chapter 12 - Part IV	Under construction

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