Untitled - Digitizing America

nineteenth century, generous parishioners
donated several lots to the parish for use as a
burial ground. Donors included Augustus and
Agnes Jones, who made the donation in
1874; Michaeland Minnie Flynn, in 1895 and
1899; John and Mary Bugg, in 1899. The
Flynns and Buggs stipulated that the burial lots
were to be provided free of charge to parishioners
of St. James.
Twentieth Century
Church Renovations
The third church, completed in 1861 and still in
use today, has undergone a number ofchanges
through the years. Although there was a story
that the three-tiered original tower was
weakened when hit by an artillery ball during
the Civil War, the tower stood until the need of
repairs in 1890.
In 1905 pillars were installed in the church
to take the welght of the roof o{f the walls. To
cover the steel rods which now hold the walls
together. a false ceiling was put in.
,g
ll,
li,
Workmen repoiring the tower, circa 7895
t5
lnterior os it looked al the turn oJ the century
This ceiling, composed of tongue-andgroove
wooden planks, was considered an
"amazing piece ol carpentry." The strain put on
the church walls by the weight of the roof caused
a bow-like effect that stillcan be seen by looking
down along the outer walls.
The original church was illuminated by
coal-oil lamps suspended on a counter-balance
system so they could be lowered for lighting.
The first electric lights were introduced in the
church for the silver jubilee in 1886. The other
coal-oil lamps were replaced with electric lights
later. Spotlights, focussing on the altar, have
since been added.
In 1960 twenty-five acres west of Potosi,
adjoining the U. S. Forest Service Land, was
deeded to the parish and the archdiocese by
National Lead Industries for use as a cemetery.
Walnut and pine trees have been planted there
to provide beauty and income some day for
cemetery maintenance. Named Calvary
Cemetery, many improvements have been
made on the property, including a fence, a concrete
drive into the grounds, and a monument
placed on the summit.
Locally, Calvary Cem etery is ref erred to as
the "New Cemetery," as the parish has had a
cemetery nearby the church since it was established.
The old cemetery was located next to the
small brick church, and two blocks north of the
present church. The land for the new burial
ground was acquired because the f irst cemetery
was filled, and some parts of the lot were inaccessible
due to the closeness of rock to the
ground surface.