A Little piece of Paradise… College Hill, Ohio - SELFCRAFT

two years he became a clerk on a steamer running between Cincinnati and New Orleans. After 12 years ofsteam boating he succeeded Henry Kilgour, whose daughter Jane he had married in 1830, as a member ofthe once famous grocery house of Taylor & Co. For ten years he continued in the business and then wascompelled to retire on account of poor health. By that time he had already amassed a fortune. In 1842 hebecame a convert to the Catholic Faith...for the Establishment of Music Hall and the College of Music hegave $420,000. He died December 10, 1884.”St. Clare Roman Catholic Church 4The Catholic families of College Hill area met for the first time at the Ohio Military Institute onSeptember 5, 1909. A committee of Joseph Pfeister, John Rabenstein, August Dehmer, Joseph E. Phillips,Stephen O’Hara, C. A. Bender, Martin Frey, John Brossart, J. J. Vogelpohl and George S. Binderpersuaded the archbishop to give permission to organize the new parish 5 . It was named St. Clare, in honorof the 13th century woman who was the first superior of a Franciscan convent.Reverend John G. Stein, a former professor at St. Gregory Seminary, was appointed by ArchbishopHenry Moeller. Father Stein celebrated the first Mass on Sunday, October 3, 1909, at Town Hall. Onehundred twenty five people attended; the first collection amounted to $19.13.Reverend Charles Mary Diener (born 17 September, 1872, Cincinnati) was appointed by the Bishopto replace Father Stein on January 20, 1910.The first Mass was held in Town Hall. Mrs. J. Philips supplied the candles and candlesticks alongwith several of her carpets. Anna J. Phillips’ cousin, Virginia G. Mitchell is said to have been the firstbaby baptized in the new parish on 10/06/10.The new parish was now ready to begin with a look to the future. In 1909 a parcel of land 50’ X 317’had been purchased from Newbold L. Pierson for $2,000. In February, 1910, permission was given topurchase the present church property. A white framed church with a modest steeple was erected anddedicated by Archbishop Murray in the name of St. Clare. The cost of this 75’ X 35’ structure was$3,000.Dedication of College Hill’s first Catholic church was an occasion of high celebration. More than1,000 persons took part in a parade prior to the ceremonies despite a heavy rain. Uniformed knights ofseveral orders added color to the marching line, which proceeded south on Belmont Avenue from TownHall, took a sharp turn to go north on Hamilton Avenue to Cedar Avenue and then east on Cedar to theChurch. John Brossard was grand marshal, assisted by Walter Gray and William Hanlon. Father Dienercelebrated Mass; Father George Schmidt preached in English and Father Joseph Bussman in German.The parishioners were planning for their most welcome part of the parish family - the Sisters. A lotand house on Cedar Avenue, east of the parsonage, was purchased for their use.St. Clare school opened on September 9, 1912. The lower floor of the Sister’s house was used for theschool.Archbishop Moeller dedicated the present school on October 3, 1915. The building served ascombination church and school.On February 21, 1930, the building of the current rectory and church basement began. The churchbasement was used for the celebration of Mass until the body of the church could be added. The firstMass was offered in the church basement on August 5, 1930. Father Diener moved into the new rectoryabout a month later. On January 24, 1931 the old brick parsonage was sold and moved to 5912 LantanaAvenue.The original St. Clare boundaries have been divided into four parishes: St. Margaret Mary (1920);St. Therese, Little Flower (1930); St. Vivian (1943); St. Richard (1950). St. Richard and St. Theresemerged January 2, 1992 into the St. Therese parish. The buildings and grounds of St. Richard also became4 Source: Several St. Clare Church histories, Thanks be to God - St. Clare Parish Seventy-Fifth Anniversary Celebration, pages written by James M. Shea.Thanks also to Doris Kuszler and Karen Forbes-Nutting5 St. Clare and St. Pius (1910) were both formed from St. Boniface, founded in 1862. Source: History of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, 1821-1921, Rev.John H. Lamott.197