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272 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
services in Holy Angels' Church, until able to build for themselves. The
permission AVIIS granted and Rev. J. N. Conlan said Mass for them. The
Rev. F. M. Boff, then a deacon, and AVIIO had been stationed at Sandusky
since September, 1852, as quasi assistant to Father Conlan, preached the
German sermons for fiA'e months. Meaiu\'hile the preparatory Avork of
organizing the HCAV parish, procuring suitable lots and building the IICAV
church was vigorously continued.
The first pastor appointed for the Germans Avas Rev* J. T. Dohveck..
He arrived December, 1853, and remained in charge till April, 1855.
During this finie special services were held at Holy Angels' Church for
the Germans. In June he AA'as succeeded by Rev. J. Hammene, AVIIO
secured three lots on the corner of Jefferson and Decatur streets, at a
cost of $1,900. As the parish Avas poor and Avithout credit the deed for
the lots Avas not given until paid for. about 1864,
The Avork of building the much desired church Avas commenced at
once; a stone structure of moderate size AVIIS erected in 1855 and dedicated
to the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title of Our Lady of Sorrows.
In 1856 Father Hamene built a pastoral residence of stone and in
the following year a frame school. Rev. J. Ilackspiel Avas the next pastor
in charge of St. Mary's, from July, 1861, to September, 1862.
Parochial schools Avere Avanted Avhere the children might be educated
not only in secular, but also in religious knoAvledge. To satisfy these
groAving needs Father Ilackspiel directed his attention to the building of
a neAV school. A two-story stone building Avas commenced, but it Avas
left to his successor, Rev. N. Moes, who Avas pastor of St. Mary's from
September, 1862, until November, 1863, to finish this AA'ork at a cost
of $5,000. '
The Rev. A. Herbstritt, formerly a Sanguinist, Avas appointed pastor
to St. Mary's, September, 1865, and remained in charge till July, 1868.
In February, 1866, he bought the present St. Mary's Cemetery on Mills
Street, Avhich covered an area of nearly fiA'e acres. Recognizing the fact
that St. Mary's Avas bound to groAv in the course of th**** and that the
property on Jefferson and Decatur streets Avould become too small, Father
Herbstritt purchased the present splendid church property (six lots)
between Central Avenue, Jefferson and Fulton streets. These lots cost
$6,665. The object he had in view when buying them AA'as to procure an
eligible site for a larger and better church, in keeping with the size and
needs of the rapidly increasing parish. This important and responsible
task fell to the lot of Rev. N. Moes, Avho for the second time Avas appointed
pastor of St. Mary's, January, 1873.
The foundation AVIIS finished in the early fall of 1873, and Bishop
Gilmour laid the cornerstone in October of that year. But the hopes and
expectations of pastor and people for an early completion of the church
Avert* dispelled by the financial panic of the "Black Friday" of 1873.
But with the first signs of better times Father Moes. assisted by his generous
people, resumed the Avork in full earnest. Gradually, and from
1879 rapidly, the massive and stately pile took shape. Finally on Sunday,
November 28, 1880, the splendid stone structure was dedicated 'to