Anamosa - A Reminiscence 1838 - 1988

View of Catholic Church and Sanitarium. (Photo submitted by Cora L. Peet)
and John Hayes.
The first church was a simple structure, 50 X 30 ft.
Five men dug the foundation. with Barney McLaughlin
turning over the first sod. Thomas Holt, with three sons
and a nephew, all expert stonemasons and brlcklayers,
made quick work of it. The only money donated was
$100 from Philip Flannery and $100 by Maurice
Mulconery, uncle of Maurice Fay. This money purchased
the brick. This building was used by the
parishioners until 1875 when a large edifice on the Corner
of High and Broadway streets was completed.
This church was built under the guidance of Rev. P.
J. Maher. considered to be a rather quaint individual.
but with a personality that drew others to him. The second
church was used until March 29. 1926, when it
was destroyed by fire. Also lost in the fire was the
magnificent organ. which was insured for over
$30,000.
The old saying that a minister who builds a church,
builds himself outside of it, applied in this instance. too.
as the Rev. Maher. one year after the completion of the
new church, was appointed to another parish at Clinton.
Rev. Thomas McCorrnlck came to Anamosa in 1880,
and remained for four years. While he was pastor, the
Catholic cemetery. which was first located behind the
old brick church on the hill and then moved two miles
outside of the city. was permanently located on the present
site. The land acquisition was accomplished with
the help of the Stone City parish.
Rev. Robert Powers came to Anamosa in 1886. He
served the area for nearly 40 years, and had a host of
friends from all denominations. He retired in 1925. one
year before his death.
Under his pastorate. the original one acre of land increased
to ten. The Sanitorium, front-runner of the Mercy
Hospital, was built in 1892. This was destroyed by
fire in 1902 and was rebuilt.
The Rev. M.F. Eardley was appointed pastor of St.
Patrick in July of 1925. When the church burned the
following year. Father Eardley sought a more central
location and the present site was purchased on the intersection
of N. Gamavillo and Carroll streets. The
dedication was held May 27, 1929.
'
Father Eardley died May 23, 1931. He was succeeded
by the Rev. J .J . Hehir. He was taken ill shortly after his
appointment and died.
The Rev. D.P. Mulcahy was transferred from North
Garryowen, Jackson County. He served two years
when he was taken by death August 23, 1933.
Following the Rev. Mulcahy was P.J. Behan. who
served until 1943 when the Rev. J.A. McMahon was appointed.
Father McMahan was succeeded by the pastors
Alfred Brosius; Alphonse White; J.V. O'Brien; W.W.
Schmidt and the present pastor, the Rev. Richard Gaul.
St. Patrick received its first Assistant Priest in 1945,
when Father Ivan Boyd was appointed to serve as Mercy
Hospital Chaplain and assistant to the Rev.
McMahan. Father Boyd's successors were: Fathers
Robert Swift. Vincent Simon, Richard Bohr, James
Chapman. Thomas Greener, Peter Cross, Carl Manternach
and Thomas R. Bisenius.
St Patrick Church has not had an Assistant Priest
since Father Bisenius.
Father Robert Powers and his successors also served
as chaplain at the Men's Reformatory until 1956, when
Father Cyril F. Engler was appointed. Presently the
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