“Ceremony” at Dry Ridge

Below is a picture of a Tom Thumb wedding put on by the pupils of St. John’s in 1938.

The students in the photo are: (left to right, first row): Clara Ante, witness; Dorothy Miller, flower girl; Louis Weber, ring bearer, and Lorna Mae Lohr, bridesmaid. (second row) Daniel Shay and Norbert Anderson, witnesses. (third row) Esther Burwinkel, bridesmaid; Dorothy Anderson, bride; Melbourn Blust, groom, and Catherine Moriarity, bridesmaid; Raymond Wuest, Lillian Mae Steiner, witnesses, and Joseph Lierer, usher.

Click on the images to enlarge.

Fr. Francis Siefert – St. John’s 7th Pastor

Father Francis Siefert was appointed pastor on October 1, 1937, succeeding Fr. Rechtin. During this time, St. John’s experienced big growth, going to appromiately 465 parishioners. The school had three classrooms and eight grades, with an enrollemtn of six girls and six boys in the two-year high school.

Most of Fr. Siefert’s labors were during the depression years, but during his pastorate the annual parish income increased from $1640 to $10, 639.

He replaced the wooden tabernacle with one of gold, remodelled the rectory, enlarged the playground, and blacktopped the parking lot. In 1946, the school cafeteria was started under his direction.

To honor the men in the armed forces he procured the large cross facing Dry Ridge Road in the cemetary, but did not live to see its ereection.

Stricken with an illness that proved to be fatal two weeks later, he nevertheless said Mass on the day he left for the hospital, though visibly so weak that he had to support himself at the alter. He passed away in May, 1947, and was buried in St. Joseph Cemetery in Price Hill.

Christmas Past

Here’s a beautiful photo taken on Christmas Day 1994. This was the last time St. John’s celebrated Christmas mass in the little church, as it was torn down that following Spring.

Thanks to Rose Wolterman Putnick for sharing this photo! If you’d like to share a photo or memento from St. John’s history, please email us at stjohns150@aol.com.

Documenting History

We’re able to share the rich history of St. John the Baptist parish today thanks to those before us who took the time to document our beginnings, who took photographs, or saved a special memento.

It’s amazing what we come across when digging through the boxes of St. John’s history stuff. For example, here is an original document written by Fr. Rechtin, dated September 20, 1922 (that’s 87 years ago!). In it he shares the history of St. John’s up until the time when the school and the Sisters’ residence burned down.

Click on the images to enlarge.

 

Help us document history. Share a story, photo, or anything else. Now’s our chance to tell future parishoners of St. John’s what our parish is really all about.

Fr. Herman Rechtin – St. John’s 6th Pastor

Fr. Wirtz was succeeded by Fr. Herman Rechtin on December 5, 1918. He came to our parish ready complete the master plan envisioned by Fr. Wirtz, which was to build a new school and a sisters’ residence to match the architecture of the existing church and rectory.

But, before he could start, a fire of unknown origin destroyed the existing school and the sisters’ residence. The buildings were eventually rebuilt and dedicated on September 16, 1923. You can read more about the school’s history here.

Many other improvements were made under Fr. Rechtin’s direction. For instance, in 1920 St. John’s first telephone was installed in the parish rectory. Other improvements included new electrical lines, cement paving, more classrooms, and the cemetery beautified with hedges, trees and shrubbery.

But in September 1937, Fr. Rechtin’s health was failing and he retired as pastor. He lived in retirement until his death on October 16, 1957 and was buried near St. Martin Church in Cheviot.

1997 Catholic Telegraph article

The article, “St. John the Baptist Parish dedicates new church” was published in The Catholic Telegraph on March 28, 1997.

Click on the images to enlarge.

Fr. Charles Wirtz – St. John’s 5th Pastor

Fr. Schwartz was succeeded by Fr. Charles Wirtz on June 30, 1912. St. John the Baptist was his first pastorate, and the young priest got right to work, first getting the parish out of debt. Then in August of that year, Fr. Wirtz was successful in obtaining the return of the Sisters of the Divine Providence. Sister Mary, Sister Mary Celeste, and Sister Mary Severina were sent to Dry Ridge to take charge of the school.

In November 1914, Fr. Wirtz oversaw the razing of the first church. A temporary chapel was set up on the first floor of the school building, and by March 1915 excavation began for the second church and rectory. The design was of English mission style and the architect was J.F. Sheblessy.

Fr. Wirtz along with the parishioners helped dig the foundation and by November the church and rectory were completed. The dedication ceremony was held on November 7, 1915 and afterward the parishioners celebrated with a chicken dinner.

Everyone was overjoyed with their new church. It was about fifty feet wide by ninety feet long, and could hold a capacity of 250 people. The exterior was of dark brown brick, stained glass windows, and the roof of red tile. The interior had an open timber frame ceiling, a nave for pews and three aisles, and a baptistery near the entrance. Many of the furnishings were gifts from the Married Men and Married Ladies Societies or individual parishioners. The cost of the new church and rectory were $25,000.

During the next few years, Fr. Wirtz continued to make improvements, an electric light plant for the church and rectory, a cistern, and more. But then he became sick with the flu, and at the young age of 37 passed away on November 5, 1918. His funeral took place on November 8 at the little church of which he was so proud. His death was deeply mourned by the parishioners who loved him. Fr. Wirtz was buried in his hometown of Columbus, Ohio.

Article from 1995

This article, dated March 1, 1995, was published in the Northwest Press a few days before the last mass would be held in the old church. If you haven’t already, watch the video featuring the old church which includes clips from the closing ceremony.

Click on the images to enlarge.

 

 

Hey, I Know That Person

Parishioner Pat Grogan was able to spot her parents, Marge Insprucker and Walter Ashbrook, in the school photo that Rose Putnick submitted last week. You can see the photo here.

Always feel free to let us know if you recognize a person in any of the photos we share on the blog, and we’ll be happy to update the post.

Fr. John Schwartz – St. John’s 4th Pastor

Fr. Beckmeyer was succeeded in September 1905 by Fr. John H. Schwartz. The parish outlook for the new pastor was not encouraging. The members were disgruntled, the school building was condemned, and the children were going to public school. With determination, Fr. Schwartz set to work. First of all the school was reopened and the children were taught in church. Then, the finances were put in order and the members were encouraged to take an interest in parish affairs.

In nearly a year, he was able to start building the third schoolhouse. As mentioned in the post about the school’s history, Fr. Schwartz as well as the people labored in its construction. With the men he dug the foundation, and donning an apron with his hammer and nails he helped finish the building.

With the school complete, Fr. Schwartz invited the Sisters of the Divine Providence to return to Dry Ridge, however the Sisters were unable to send anyone. So, along with the lay teachers hired, he helped conduct classes.

Fr. Schwartz also busied himself with the other branches of pastoral work. Church services, society communions and meetings, school work and religious instructions, social gatherings and entertainments, all received their proper attention; and St. John’s once more flourished and made progress. He labored at St. John’s for nearly seven years. Toward the end of June 1912 he was transferred to St. Stephen Church in Cincinnati, earning a promotion.