Chapter Five

History of the Parish 1861–1873

Rev. David A. DeParcq

After the death of Fr. Vital and before the appointment of his successor, the church was attended by the Rev. David A. DeParcq (photo left). Fr. DeParcq came to the United States in 1818, and was ordained priest by Bishop Flaget the ensuing year. Most of his life was spent in the service of the Catholic people residing in what is now the Bardstown Deanery. He was the ecclesiastical superior of the Sisters of Loretto for twenty years. Fr. DeParcq died on November 9, 1864, and is buried at Calvary, Kentucky.

Rev. John H. Bekkers

Rev. J. H. Bekkers (photo right) was pastor at Our Lady’s from August, 1861 until February 1863. Webb records that John Henry Bekkers was born April 22, 1821, in Druten, Holland. He studied theology at the Seminary of Hoeven, near Breda, and was there ordained priest in 1844. In 1853, he offered his services to Right Rev. J. Spalding, Bishop of Louisville, who was visiting Holland at the time with the view of securing missionary priests for his diocese. He reached Kentucky, in advance of Bishop Spalding, in May, 1853.

Although he had little knowledge of English when he came to this country, in less than three months he mastered it well enough to be able to give sermons and catechetical instruction at the Cathedral of the Assumption where he was stationed. Fr. Bekkers was appointed spiritual director of the society of St. Vincent de Paul, and labored most zealously in this capacity. He was chancellor of the diocese for eight years.

In 1861 he was appointed pastor of Our Lady’s. From the Minute Book:

In August of the year 1861, I, J. H. Bekkers, have taken the charge of the congregation of Notre Dame du Port, in Portland. In September of the same year we have fitted up at the expense of upwards of $100 the second story of the schoolhouse for girls, who previous to that time were taught in the lower story and which is now occupied by the boys.

The Rectory

At a meeting of the trustees, in August 15, 1861, it was proposed by Rev. J. H. Bekkers, and accepted by the trustees, that instead of collections and pew–rents, the pastor of said congregation shall receive the fixed salary of $250 and that of the collections and pew–rents a fund be created to defray the current expenses of the church.

At the same eating it was proposed by the pastor, and accepted by the trustees, to build a new house for the priest, the expense of which was not to exceed $700, the old room being deemed to unhealthy to live in, and also to make room for enlarging the church, it being too small to accommodate the members of the congregation. The priest house was built by A. A. McAcaple for $563.

The Church Enlarged

When the first Church of Our Lady was erected, it was so built that it could be enlarged with no great expenditure of money and without destroying the beauty of the edifice. This foresight of the first committee of management can now be fully appreciated. The congregation had so increased in numbers that the church was now no longer able to serve the needs of the parish. Plans called for the addition to be erected at the rear of the church. A note in the Minute Book written by Fr. Bekkers reads:

In April, 1862, the commencement was made of the enlargement of the church, at the expense of nearly $1,200, which was finished in July of the same year, when it was blessed by the pastor, Solemn High Mass being sung by Rev. W. S. Coomes, assisted by deacon and subdeacon, at which Fr. Smarius, S.J., Preached, and in the afternoon the Solemn Vespers Rev. F. Van Dued Neom preached in German.

At inexpensive upwards of $100 some improvements were made in front of the church: a new brick pavement and fence.

According to Jesuits of the Middle United States, Fr. Smarius was born in Holland in 1823; entered the Society of Jesus at Florissant in 1841, and died in Chicago in 1870. In 1861, he was assigned to the ‘mission band,’ and was conducting retreats in Louisville at the time of the blessing of the church.

Fr. F. Van Dued Neom, also mentioned in the note, was born in Holland, and came to America in 1854. At the time of the blessing of the church he was pastor at the church of the Immaculate Conception (the old St. Mary’s) on 8^th Street. He resigned from his pastorate in 1874 because of ill health, and returned to his native land.

From the Minute Book:

During the month of March, 1862, a retreat was given by the Rev. Fr. Verdin, S.J. About 400 persons received Holy Communion. At the same time the Sodality of the Blessed Virgin Mary was established for the young ladies of the congregation. Previous to this the sodalities for boys and girls were established, and also the Society of the Ladies of the Altar Society.

Fr. Verdin, S.J., who conducted the retreat, was the Rev. John S. Verdin, S.J., professor and later rector of St. Joseph’s College in Bardstown. Fr. Bekkers was the spiritual director of the St. Vincent de Paul society while he was stationed at the Cathedral of the Assumption, and so it is not surprising to see this note in the Minute Book:

In December, 1862, the Society of St. Vincent was established, of which Mr. Villier was appointed president. The members enrolled at the first meeting was 53.

However, correspondence with the Superior Council in New York, and with the Council General in France, has brought the reply that the Conference of St. Vincent de Paul at Our Lady was not aggregated at that time. Evidently the society ceased to function shortly after its organization, and it was not until years later that it was reorganized.

A brief note in the Minute Book gives the following:

On the Sunday within the octave of Christmas, 1862, an oratorio was given under the direction of Mr. Zoeller for the benefit of the church, for which $300 were realized.

The Civil War

Captain Christian Bosche

Fr. Bekkers saw his parish divided during the troubled days of the civil war, when the sympathy of Kentuckians was divided between the north and the south. Families and friends contended against each other.

Early in the war Louisville became a rendezvous for the soldiery of the north, and the camps of its regiments surrounded the city. Despite this, Captain Bosche of Our Lady’s parish, at the time mate on a steamboat, assisted in forming a company for the Confederate Army, among whom were a number of Portland boys. He became the captain of this group, known as Company H, Ninth Kentucky, later incorporated with the celebrated Orphan Brigade.

The Portland boys who became part of Company H, Ninth Kentucky Regiment, when they volunteered went down to Greenbush, a swampy place now known as the Shawnee Golf Links, where they were taken charge of five friends and concealed until they could be sent down to the confederate lines by boat. The Rebel post office was located in Greenbush. The soldiers fighting in the south for the Southern cause put their letters to families and sweethearts in jugs, which were carried upstream by boat and put off a green bush, where Southern sympathizers hid them in the bushes or buried them in the ooze until the mail could be delivered to those addressed.

When peace was restored, Captain Bosche enlisted in business with Martin Nippert on Fourth Street below Maine. They handled boat supplies.

The Nippert family were ardent Southern sympathizers, and Martin Nippert was forced to spend a night in jail for his convictions. There is a story that, during the war, one Sunday, as the people were leaving the church after Holy Mass, Miss Minnie Nippert, organist, played ‘Dixie.’ It was the cause of much excitement; in fact, for a while it seemed that there would be an insurrection of some sort. The Villier Guards (probably outfitted by Paul Villier who was a staunch Union man) protested so vigorously that Fr. Bekkers Inform the organist that under no circumstances was the offense to be repeated.

Captain Bosche sang in the choir in Fr. Harnist’s time. Some of the older members of the parish remember his good bass voice and how he enjoyed singing. He was liked by everyone. Captain Bosche was the first president of the Debt Paying Society, and at his death bequeathed $3,000 to the church. He died December 26, 1890, at the age of 59, and is buried in St. Louis Cemetery.

Fr. Bekkers Leaves Our Lady’s

Ill health cut short the pastorate of Fr. Bekkers. From the Minute Book:

About the beginning of the Lent of this year, 1863, Rev. J. H. Bekkers was taken ill of pneumonia. He had a very serious attack, and only recovered with the most skillful medical attention. He had been subject to similar attacks for two or three years successively. This time his health was so much impaired that his position decided that it would be necessary for him to make a voyage to Europe in order to try the effect of his native air in Holland. Accordingly he set out from Louisville on Easter Monday, and set sail from New York on the 23^rd day of April.

From the beginning of Rev. Bekker’s illness, Rev. David Russell had been sent from the Cathedral of the Assumption on Sundays and other festival days to keep church at Portland; and on Easter Sunday, he began to reside here as pastor pro tem.

On his return from Europe, Fr. Bekkers applied to the Bishop for permission to join the ranks of the clergy in the diocese of Covington. His request was granted, and soon after he was installed as pastor of St. Peter’s church in Lexington. There he labored until 1876, until ill health caused him to relinquish his duties. He was taken to Saints Mary and Elizabeth Hospital in Louisville in October, and about a month later, September 12, passed into his eternal reward. Fr. Bekkers’ remains were buried at the entrance of his church in Lexington.

Rev. David Russell

Fr. David Russell (photo left), who remained at the Church of Our Lady until August, 1863, was born at St. Charles, Marion County, Kentucky, in 1830. He completed his theological studies at the University of Louvain, and was there ordained priest. For a few years he was the vice–rector of the American College of Louvain. When he returned to Kentucky, he taught in St. Thomas’ Seminary until he was called to Louisville as Vicar General of the diocese. Later he was appointed chaplain of the Sisters of Charity at Nazareth, where he remained for 28 years. Fr. Russell died in 1900 and is buried at Nazareth.

A few lines in the Minute Book in 1863 provide an intriguing account:

The congregation is at this time pretty large, the church being right well filled at the two Masses on Sundays. There is great difficulty to keep the various Societies and Sodalities in anything like a flourishing condition, on account of the impossibility of doing away with national prejudices, there being here an amalgamation of all sorts. Still, without these Sodalities nothing can be done.

Rev. Hugo Peythieu

The Rev. Hugo Peythieu became pastor of the Church of Our Lady in August, 1863. He was born in France, and since his name is not mentioned in the American Catholic records of the time, it is presumed that he pursued theological studies and was ordained priest in his native land. The Catholic Almanac and Directory makes first mention of him as pastor of Our Lady’s, so we conclude he came to America shortly before that time. One of the oldest residents of Portland recalls Fr. Peythieu’s pastorate here. He was a large man, weighing over 200lbs., but his height was such that his weight was in proportion to his size. He spoke fairly good English, and his sermons, though interesting and instructive, were very long. Although he was quite strict with his people, he was well liked by all.

The Second Church

The Civil War ended while Fr. Peythieu was pastor at Our Lady’s, and the next few years brought a period of prosperity to the town of Portland. The canal was being enlarged, and this brought hundreds of laborers into the community. Many of them were Catholics, and soon the church was too small to accommodate the increased membership. There is a letter in the parish files, written by a Fr. Peythieu, in which he says:

In 1862 the commencement was made of the enlargement of the church, which was finished in July of the same year, yet this enlargement proves now insufficient. If the population of our congregation is to remain status quo or increase in number, another enlargement becomes necessary.

In 1866, the plans for the new church were completed. It was decided to build on the site of the first church. Consequently, the structure was to be razed, and services were to be held in the school building until the new church was under roof.

Construction Accident – Two Men Killed

A tragic accident occurred while the work was in progress. The following is taken from The Louisville Daily Journal of Thursday, August 9, 1866:

About a quarter before two o’clock Tuesday afternoon an accident occurred at the Notre Dame church in Portland by which two men were instantly killed. Notre Dame, a Catholic church, is being rebuilt, and on a larger scale than the old building. The new walls were erected before the old walls inside were torn down, and the old brick were used in the building. The wall had all been torn down except a portion of that on the outside of the building, and to stay a gang of twenty men were at work under the direction of Mr. John Keslar in undermining the old wall and preparing to pull it down by ropes. After dinner the Rev. Fr. Peythieu, the pastor of Notre Dame, who was observing the work, cautioned the workmen and begged them to cease their work with the pickaxes and to try the ropes in pulling it over.

All of them had retired when Mr. Keslar picked up an ax and walked up to the wall and struck several blows. The wall 20 feet high toppled and commenced to fall, and Mr. Keslar ran, but not soon enough, for the wall caught and crushed him in its descent. An Irish laborer, Martin Davin, who was cleaning brick, was passing near the corner when he heard the man shout that the wall was falling. Confused and frightened, he ran toward Mr. Keslar, and with him was crushed by the falling wall. The men were both instantly killed. Mr. Keslar was a man aged about 45 years, and leaves a wife and a large family. Martin Davin was aged about 31 years, and leaves a wife and a family of six children who are dependent upon him for their support. This awful catastrophe in which two men in the prime of life were thus suddenly cut off has cast a gloom over the neighborhood where they resided.

In the following year, the work had progressed sufficiently to allow services to be held in the new edifice. The cost of construction, according to the church ledger, was $15,125. Nothing was done to the interior until early 1870. Then the plastering, painting of the woodwork, etc. were completed at the cost of $3,524.

Church Dedication

On November 12, 1870, The Catholic Advocate carried the following:

The beautiful church of Notre Dame du Port, Portland, will be solemnly dedicated on Sunday afternoon next, November 13, at three o’clock. Right Rev. Dr. McCloskey will perform the ceremony of blessing the church, after which Rev. J. Lancaster Spalding will address the congregation. The work of enlarging the Portland church has been an onerous one; but the zealous pastor, Fr. Peythieu, has been wearied in his exertions to bring it to a happy consummation. We doubt if a handsomer church than that of Our Lady of the Port is to be found in the city. The architect, Mr. Andrewatha; the plasterers, Misters Bannon and Campbell; and the painters, Misters Holt and Frisby, all deserve praise for the artistic manner in which they have executed their various labors on the church.

The following week, The Catholic Advocate printed an account of the dedication:

The ceremony was performed by Dr. William McCloskey, Bishop of Louisville. There were present in the sanctuary a large number of clergymen, among whom we recognize Fathers Deobbner and Mougin of New Albany, Audren of Jeffersonville, and Fathers Peythieu, Lawler, Burke, McNicholas, Coenan, Martin, Beyhurst, Joseph, Pius, Meagher, Spalding, Bachman, Power, Crane, Bonaventure, Montariol, Ginnus, Rooney and others of the diocese of Louisville. After the ceremony of blessing the church was concluded, solemn Pontifical Vespers were sung, the Right Rev. Bishop officiating, with Fathers Mougin and Montariol acting as deacon and sub–deacon. At the close of Vespers, Rev. J. Lancaster Spalding ascended the pulpit and preached an eloquent sermon.

The Third Church

The Catholics of Portland were to enjoy their beautiful new church only a few months. In the summer of 1872 it was noticed that the walls had considerably bulged in several places. Four or five architects were called to examine the condition of the building. They gave the verdict that the edifice was badly constructed and that the weight of the roof had so shattered the walls as to render the building unsafe for occupation. Services were again held in the school, and the task of rebuilding once more faced the congregation. The work of tearing down the church was begun in the summer of 1873. An item appearing in The Catholic Advocate in September of that year states:

The church of Notre Dame, Portland, is now in process of thorough repair. The roof in the ceiling are already off and the side walls will be taken down to about five feet from the ground and built with buttresses.

Most of the same material was used in reconstructing the church. A large force of men was employed, and the church was again opened for services before the end of the year. The interior was not completed until 1879.

Fair for the Portland Church

Meanwhile the members of the congregation burdened with the debt of building two churches within the space of a few years lent their best efforts to raise funds. From The Catholic Advocate of March 27, 1873:

Last Monday, Mrs. Delvecchio, Mrs. Michot, Mrs. Bannon, Mrs. Doyle, Miss Nippert, Miss Buckel, Miss Donnelly, Miss Celina Delvecchio, Miss Wise and Miss Glessner met in the small hall of the Masonic Temple to make arrangements for the coming fair. There was not much talk, for business was the order of the day. The Portland church was in danger; it had been condemned; it must be repaired and restored to Divine worship, was the unanimous feeling which animated the ladies, and strengthened their energies. They soon settled minor points concerning the fair, and went away with the hope of meeting again on next Monday among a crowd of warm sympathizers.

Indeed the Portland church should enlist the sympathies of the Catholics of Louisville. The resources of the congregation have been so far in soft and every building could not be done without appealing to their neighbors. We can say without fear of exaggeration, that it is a great work of charity, and we sincerely hope that the Catholics of the city will attend the fair in the Masonic Temple, and contribute their mite. We assure them that they will not miss the small amount they will contribute toward this noble object, and it will come upon the Catholics of Portland as a soothing balm, which will arouse their drooping spirits. A beautiful chalice worth $100 will be awarded to the church which shall have the highest number of votes. There is some room for emulation. A little pride in this case will not be out of place.

According to the Catholic Advocate, this appeal was successful as a fair on June 24, 1874 raised $1,200.

Fr. Peythieu Resigns

Fr. Peythieu did not remain to see the rebuilding of the church. His spirit was broken. Perhaps he felt that in some way he was responsible for the blunder of his architect. He left Our Lady and the diocese of Louisville in August, 1873.

The Catholic Almanac and Directory lists him as pastor of the church in Washington, Indiana, in 1875. From 1879 to 1890 he was rector of the pro Cathedral in Vincennes. In ill health he retired to Green Cove, Florida, in 1891. He died on January 9, 1892, and is buried in Vincennes.

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