ST. MARY'S PARISH HISTORY
The original St. Mary’s Parish commenced as Catholic settlers, in the area of Elkhart, began working toward the establishment of a Catholic Church in the area. Services were originally held in the Nash home, south and east of present-day Elkhart. As numbers of families increased, a Church was built on the Nash farm and the new Parish was recognized in 1885. At that time, Elizabeth Volz Garvey tells us, St. Mary’s was on a 2-acre plot, on the west side of the road, and protected by a windbreak on the north. An ‘open front’ shed beside the Church provided shelter for the teams in bad weather. Daisies and what were called ‘bread and butter’ flowers (similar to snapdragons) grew near the Church. The two acres were original prairie, never having been plowed.
About once a month, when the priest from Valeria would come by train to Altoona, Parishioners took turns meeting him, and he would spend Saturday night with the host family, who would take him back to the depot after Mass and lunch on Sunday.
Parishioners were also supposed to take turns starting the fires in the two stoves, which heated the Church, but “sometimes it would be very cold because the fires weren’t started early enough.”
When the new Church was built in Elkhart, the original Church structure was moved to the Mike Nash farm and made into a ‘very good house.’ George Volz bought the two acres, took down the fence, and planted the land to crops.
As the Catholic population increased in the Elkhart area, the first Church was no longer adequate. The Parish was without a resident Pastor, however members acquired lots for a Church in town, and made plans to build the present Church.
A rectory was purchased, and the Reverend John Waldron became the first resident Pastor. Father Waldron’s tenure was brief, and Father James Manning was Pastor when the Church was built. He and George Volz spent three months soliciting money. We’re told that “they called on every business and professional man in the area,” and that many non-Catholics contributed.
The trustees at that time visited other Churches to consider design and type and size. They eventually obtained the plans for the Waukee Church, and used those plans for the new structure. The Church cost $17,000. . . a huge sum in those days, but “there was considerable pride in the fact that when it was completed, it was debt-free.” The Church was completed in 1915.
Through the years, the interior of the Church deteriorated. In 1988, under the direction and motivation of the Pastor, Reverend Philip Kruse, the Church was renovated. Some areas of the Church were re-plastered and the entire interior was repainted. The following new furnishings were purchased: altar, pulpit (ambo), candle stands, and processional cross, and presider and server chairs.
Since the late 1990’s, the Parish has experienced tremendous growth. Members of our Parish come from over twenty different towns and seven different school districts. Realizing the current limitations on space for meeting, social gatherings, religious education classrooms, and future growth of the surrounding areas, the Parish in 1999 began a study and devised a master plan to cope with the expansion.
In 2002, the Parish purchased 9.5 acres of land from Dale and Lorraine Campbell. Initially, a portion of the land will be used for the Elkhart Soccer Association and additional Church parking. The master plan envisions a social hall and educational center attached to the north side of the Church, with seating in the hall for over 275 people and 8 classrooms and a Teen Room in the lower level for religious education classes. A long-term plan visualizes the expansion of the Church proper with seating for over 900 people. The Catholic Church in Elkhart has a long and proud heritage. We look forward to continuing to be a spiritual home to the citizens of the town Elkhart and neighboring communities.
