Chapter Six – Part One

History of the Parish 1873–1938

Rev. Alexander T. J. McConnell

Fr. Peythieu was succeeded in late 1873 by the Rev. Alexander Thomas McConnell (photo left), then a young priest full of zeal and energy. He rebuilt the church and revived the drooping spirit of the people.

Fr. McConnell was born and 1842. He completed his theological studies at Preston Park Seminary in Louisville, and was ordained priest of Bishop McCloskey June 15, 1873. In the following August the heavy burden of the Church of Our Lady fell upon his young shoulders. He plunged into this work with the enthusiasm of youth, but such strenuous labor wrecked his health, and three years later he was forced to resign. For several years he was pastor and one of the smaller parishes in the country. Then, his health completely restored, he was given charge of St. Cecilia’s Church, Louisville. There he was station from November, 1883, until May, 1885, when he was assigned to St. Stephan’s church, Owensboro, where he remained until his death, June 31, 1919.

Rev. Alexander J, Harnist

When Fr. McConnell left the Church of Our Lady, the Bishop placed the Rev. Alexander J. Harnist (photo right) in charge temporarily until he could appoint a permanent pastor. Fr. Harnist was born in Alsace, France, August 18, 1841. He came to this country when he was thirteen years old, and for a while lived in Philadelphia, P.A. He began his studies for the priesthood at St. Thomas’ Seminary in Bardstown, received his logical course at the seminary in Troy, N.Y., and at the Propaganda in Rome, and was ordained and Alsace and 1870. At the end of the Franco–Prussian War, Fr. Harnist came to Louisville, became superior in the Preston Park Seminary, and was assigned to Our Lady’s in November, 1876. There he remained until May of the following year.

Rev. Henry Plaggenborg

The Rev. Henry Plaggenborg (photo left), who was born in Louisville on January 8, 1847, took charge of the Church of Our Lady during the summer of 1877, after which he left to establish the parish of St. Vincent de Paul. He was pastor there for two years, when he was transferred to St. Michael’s Church, where he remained until his death on February 1, 1888. Fr. Plaggenborg his buried in St. Louis Cemetery.

Rev. Eugene Crane

Rev. Eugene Crane was stationed at Our Lady from August, 1877, until December of that year. Fr. Crane was born December 12, 1840. After his ordination and 1865, he was a professor at St. Mary’s College in Marion County. He died November 14, 1915, and is buried at Nazareth, Kentucky.

Rev. John Baxter

Succeeding Fr. Crane was the Rev. John Baxter (photo left), who served at the Church of Our Lady from January until July, 1879. It was at this time that the woodwork on the interior of the church was finished in the building plastered.

Little is known of Fr. Baxter. For a year or two previous to his coming to Our Lady’s, he was stationed at the Cathedral of the Assumption. He left Louisville and the latter part of 1879, and spent the rest of his life in an eastern diocese.

Fr. Harnist Returns to Our Lady’s

In July, 1879, Fr. Harnist returned as chancellor of the diocese to assume the pastorate which he was to remain until his death in 1893. While he set about to reduce the debt, he did not neglect to enhance still more the beauty of the church when occasion presented itself.

Triple Wedding

The first and only triple wedding to be celebrated in the Church of Our Lady took place on January 29, 1881, when the Rev. A. J. Harnist united idthe bonds of Holy Matrimony, Martina Desmouzon to John G. Stoerr, Sarah Webb to Hillary D. Rodman, and Fannie A. Desmouzon to Ben J. Webb, Jr.

Installation of Gothic Altar

The beautiful high altar in the church today was erected in 1883. From The Record of February 11:

Tomorrow will be a notable day at the Church of Our Lady, Portland. The Holy Sacrifice will be offered for the first time on its new and beautiful Gothic altar. We have not as yet had the opportunity of seeing this altar, but a judge of ecclesiastical art tells us it is one of correct Gothic style, fine finish, imposing, graceful appearance and of considerable value. Its height is about 25 feet. The Right Rev. Bishop will bless the tabernacle and the statues of the same at ten o’clock, whereupon the Rev. Pastor, the Chancellor, Fr. Harnist, will saying the Mass, which will be a solemn High Mass coram episcopo. He will be assisted by the Rev. Pastor of St. Michael’s Church as deacon. Fr. Lambert, S.J., will preach the sermon. It is proposed to take up a collection at the Mass to defray, at least in part, the cost of the altar.

The side altars were also adorned with Gothc woodwork matching the high altar, and a wooden pulpit was affixed to the right wall. However, the flood of 1937 destroyed them and they were not replaced.

Left altar	Center Isle	Right altar & pulpit

Flood of 1883–1884

In January of 1883, and again in 1884, disaster struck a large section of the parish when the Ohio River swept over its banks, flooding the lower part of Portland. In 1884 the water rose higher than in 1883, and consequently brought more misery and suffering. The following article from The Catholic Advocate of January 13, 1883 gives this descriptive account:

No other congregation and Louisville has suffered so much by the flood as that of Our Lady’s at Portland. Before it was supposed that the water could reach the church and the school building, the latter was thrown open by the pastor to those who had been obliged to flee from their submerged homes, leaving, as was the case in many instances, their household effects to the pitiless action of the rising river. Much of this, belonging to very poor people, had been irretrievably ruined. But worse even than this had been the absolute destruction of cottages owned by persons who had little else to lose.

Let anyone that cares to learn what misery means cast his eyes today over the suburb known as Happy Hollow, almost wholly occupied by laboring men and women, and part of the parish of Our Lady. Cottage after cottage has been swept away by the flood, and those that remain are wholly uninhabitable. Happy Hollow – what a name for the locality in which for more than a week there has been none to smile, or to weep either, for that matter. From the point named, including Shippingport, along the canal, in Portland, and far beyond its western limits – from the river to Rudd Avenue – there is not a home that has escaped the watery invasion.

The congregation of Our Lady’s Church is a large one, and there are few well–to–do people in it. Most of them are absolutely dependent upon their daily labor for their daily bread. And yet, more than two–thirds of the people composing the congregation have been driven from their homes by the calamity that has overtaken them. In a conversation held with a pastor, Rev. A. J. Harnist, on Monday evening last, he declared it to be his conviction that fully 75 families of his congregation would need help to enable them to bridge over the interval that must ensue before they could again become self sustaining. Said he, “My own fortune in money sums up to just seventy cents!” He added, “Ever since I returned to my drenched presbytery, I have been seized by applicants for relief, and their appeals have been most piteous.” It will be seen from this that charity towards our afflicted brethren is demanding at the hands of Catholics in Louisville. Something more than the Scriptural cup of water to which a guerdon is attached.”

The Debt–Paying Society

When the floods rover, and conditions return to normal, Fr. Harnist, and the members of the congregation, again turned their attention to reducing the church debt. The Rev. A. A. Lambert, S.J., has given several missions in the Church of Our Lady, and during one of his visits discussed with the pastor a plan to pay off the debt.

On May 24, 1885, a meeting was held for the purpose of organizing a debt–paying society. After drafting a constitution and bylaws, the following gentlemen were elected officers and members of the advisory committee for the ensuing year:

President – Christopher Bosche Secretary – Daniel F. Murphy

Vice–Pres. – Columbus C. Mattingly Treasurer – Hugh O’Donnell

Advisory Committee

James Barry, Sr. Preston J. Mattingly Thomas Bannon

Joseph Kaufer John R. Pflanz Lodi Unclebach

Andrew Bree Ben J. Webb, Jr. Cornelius Nist

John Lally Amedee August Richy Patrick Kennedy

The constitution provided that the members of the parish voluntarily subscribe to monthly payments on the first Sunday of each month, payments to be made after the Mass to collectors, appointed for the same. Various other activities were also to be promoted, whereby increased revenue might be assured. All money received through the society was to be used and payment on the principle of the debt, excepting only such expenses as printing and stationary. Fr. Lambert promised, as his contribution to the cause, to lecture, when possible, in the church. Admission fee to be charged, and the proceeds to be turned over to the society. Fr. Lambert lectured at Our Lady’s in May, 1886, and again in August, 1887.

The officers in the advisory committee held monthly meetings. At the end of the year, May, 1886, the first annual statement of the Debt–Paying Society was published:

Collections

1885 For the first quarter ending this day.............................. $315.70

August 7 Cash from Lawn Festival of Dramatic Club......................... $81.85

Cash from excursion, Literary Society............................ $110.83

November 3 Cash, second quarter ending this date........................... $323.15

Cash from concert by choir......................................... $300.00

1886 Cash donation from Sylvester Johnson........................... $100.00

February 7 Cash, third quarter ending this date.............................. $326.05

May 31 Cash, fourth quarter ending this date............................ $343.00

Cash from Fr. Lambert’s lecture.................................... $127.75

Cash, dramatic entertainment....................................... $57.40

Cash, donation from a member.................................... $100.00

Cash, legacy of Mrs. Mary Nippert................................ $800.00

$2,986.03

Disbursements

1885

June 11 For printing............................................................. $11.60

August 24 Paid during first quarter on debt of church....................... $496.08

November 22 Paid during second quarter on debt of church................... $723.15

1886

February 7 Paid during third quarter on debt of church...................... $326.05

May 31 Paid during fourth quarter on debt of church.................. $1,428.45

$2,986.03

The Debt–Paying Society was active until the final note was canceled in 1897. During the twelve years of its existence, the organization collected a total of $16,805. The last officers of the society were:

President – B. J. Webb, Jr. Vice–Pres. – J. R. Pflanz

Secretary – Charles A. Villier Treasurer – D. X. Murphy

Shortly after this society was organized, Fr. Harnist was invited to attend a meeting of the parishioners of St. Augustine's Church in Jeffersonville, Indiana, where he explained the workings of the society. At that meeting a debt–paying society was organized for the purpose of paying the debt than on that church.

In the early nineties, the parishioners of St. Louis Bertrand Church, learning of the success of the Debt–Paying Society at Our Lady’s, obtained a copy of the constitution and bylaws from Our Lady Church, and they organized a society to operate in a similar manner.

St. Vincent de Paul Conference

As noted before, a conference of the St. Vincent De Paul Society was organized at Our Lady in 1862, but shortly after became inactive, and in time ceased to exist.

On November 7, 1886, in answer to a call of Rev. A. J. Harnist to organize a conference of the St. Vincent De Paul Society, the following were present at a meeting held in the school building:

B. D. Mattingly Lodi Unclebach Philip McAtee

P.J. Watson L. D. Mattingly B. J. Webb Sr.

P.J. Mattingly B. J. Webb, Jr. J. Fisher

H. A. Willett Amedee August Richy J. R. Pflanz

D. X. Murphy C. McRobins C. A. Villier

Fred Leezer

B. D. Mattingly was elected president, P.J. Watson, secretary, and D. X. Murphy, treasurer. Although in the beginning the meetings were held every Sunday and were well attended, gradually the interest lagged and often months would pass without a report appearing in the books. In 1892 the conference was reorganized, and finally in 1895, an application for affiliation was made, and the conference was aggregated a few months later. The local conference met with varying success until 1906 when it was discontinued.

Receipt for provisions – January 25, 1895

Golden Jubilee

The parish celebrated the fiftieth year of its foundation on Sunday, July 14, 1889. The church was decorated for the occasion. The services were well attended by the parishioners, many of whom had been present at the dedication of the first church. Right Rev. Bishop McCloskey celebrated Pontifical Mass, and Fr. Dunn of the Cathedral of the Assumption preached the jubilee sermon. The choir rendered Mozart's Twelfth Mass, assisted by some of the best musical talent in the city and by Eichorn’s full orchestra.

Picture of schoolchildren circa 1885

1^st row: John Unclebach, Louis Unclebach, Gus Laning, William Murta, William Kaufer, Sr. Herman Joseph, Earl Willett, Ross Leezer, Edward Heisler, Hugh Gallagher

2^nd row: James Daley, Charles Jones, Webb Strain, George Nist, William Heinz, William Ricketts, Everett Laning, Joseph Bindner, John Hasselback.

3^rd row: Joseph Stuber, William Unclebach, John Disney, James Tully, James Foley, William Reardon.

4^th row: Irvin Villier, Henry Bachman, William Stuber, Pernet Murta, Harry Tully, David Strain, George Wilbert.

A Letter from Fr. Harnist

Fr. Harnist wrote the following letter to a Mr. Webb in March of 1892. This is most likely a letter to parishoner Benedict J. Webb, author of The Centenary of Catholicity in Kentucky.

Death of Fr. Harnist

For many years Fr. Harnist’s health had been impaired by lung trouble. His condition gradually grew worse, and in 1892, at the advice of his physician, He sought to regain his strength in the milder climate of Florida. During his absence from January until June, Fr. Erasmus Gloeckner, C.P., was stationed at Our Lady’s.

Shortly after Fr. Harnist arrived in Florida, the schoolboys wrote him a letter. His reply, treasured all these years by one who was then a lad in school, is as follows:

Tampa, Florida

February 19, 1892

My dear boys:

Your letter, written by Willie McMahon in the name of all of you, gave me more pleasure than I could well describe. It is a great comfort when one is far away from home to receive evidence that he is kindly remembered. I thank you for your beautiful letter, but I think he’s still more for having remembered me in your prayers. It is the best thing you can do for me. Pray that I may fully regain my health and strength and come home again in safety. You may be sure that when I do get home you will have a grand holiday. You know I was too sick to come to the school before I left, but every day I think of you and pray that you may be good and be obedient to your parents and to Sr. Zephyrine.

I received your letter at the post office this afternoon just as I was on the way to take a walk on the beach of Tampa Bay. Now if the larger boys will look in their geographies for the Gulf of Mexico and Florida, they will surely find Tampa Bay, at the head of which I read your letter in the shade of a grand old oak tree.

The weather is warm and beautiful here. Since my coming we have had only one or two days when it was a little cool. The people who have always lived here never see any snow. Trees are green all year round. Just now the young leaves are coming in pushing the old ones away. Oranges are to be seen in every yard. They are cheaper than apples are in Louisville. Now, my dear boys, I have told you something of the country I am in. All I have to add is that I am getting stronger and better every day. The doctor says that about the first of may I can go home well and strong again.

I hope now, dear boys, that you will all learn your lessons perfectly every day, go to Mass regularly, never miss catechism, sodality or vespers on Sunday, and be as obedient to good Sr. Zephyrine as she could wish you to be.

Your loving pastor, A. J. Harnist

The beneficial results of Fr. Harnist’s stay in Florida were only temporary. A few months after his return from Florida he succumbed to the ravages of the disease for which he had suffered so long, and died at St. Joseph’s Infirmary on January 18, 1893. He was buried from the Church of Our Lady on the 20^th. The Pontifical Requiem Mass was offered by Bishop McCloskey. Very Rev. Fr. Bouchet, who preached the funeral sermon, paid a loving tribute to the memory of Fr. Harnist, and dwelt upon his many virtues and lovable traits of character. The mortal remains of the beloved pastor were interred in St. Louis cemetery.

Rev. Thomas F. Gambon

At the death of Fr. Harnist, the Rev. Thomas F. Gambon (photo right) was appointed pastor of Our Lady’s. This office he held only six months, when he left to assume charge of St. Patrick’s Church, Louisville. Monsignor Gambon Died December 11, 1901, and is buried in St. Louis Cemetery.

Missions & Celebrations

A number of missions were held during this period, led by priests of various religious orders. Jesuit priest Fr. Marshall Ignatius Boarman preached at Our Lady’s from March 26 to April 4, 1889, and Passionist priests Fr. Erasmus and Fr. Alexis startred their mission on October 14, 1900.

According to an article in The Record, Our Lady celebrated the feast of St. Aloysius on Sunday June 21, 1903. Under the direction and playing of organist Mrs. Graff, the choir sung Milliad’s ‘B_b Mass’. During communion, Mascagni’s ‘Ave Maria’ was performed by a stringed orchestra of Ms. Josephine Portman (1^st violin), Ms. Myrtle (2^nd violin), Ms. Mary Wiest (mandolin), Ms. Caroline Wiest and Ms. Margaret Swain (guitar). Rubenstein’s ‘Melody in F’ added to the religious atmosphere of the occasion.

Fifty–eight men and boys received Holy Communion for the first time that day. Fr. Conniff “gave a glowing exhortation to the young men to be always sincere, honorable and attached to their church.”

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