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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY 275
stood an old frame house; this he changed into a temporary place of worship.
The present church, a frame structure, 40 by 70 feet, was built in
1866. Bishop Rappe dedicated it to St. Anthony of Padua, on November
16, 1866. The church fronts on. Main Street and cost about $6,000. In
the same, year another lot, with a frame house on it, which fronted on
Center Street, AVIIS bought for $800. This served as the pastoral residence
.until the erection of the present handsome frame building, in
1875, by the Rev. J. P Putz; it cost nearly $2,200. The present school,
also a frame structure, was built in 1872, at a cost of $1,200. It has
ahvays been in charge of lay teachers.
On NCAV Year's Day, 1891, shortly after high mass, fire broke out in
the church, and destroyed its interior; the damage, amounting to about
$1,500, Avas nearly all covered by the insurance. The fire was caused
by a defective flue. While the chinch was being repaired services Avere
held in the schoolhouse. A pipe organ, costing $735, was placed in the
church in 1891; a beautiful set of stations and a complete set of vestments
Avere bought at that time. Since then many additional improvements
and repairs have been made in the church, school, pastoral residence
and cemetery. The parish is without debt and spiritually as well
as financially, is in excellent condition.
ST. PETER'S MISSION CHURCH OF HURON
About 1836 Catholics began to settle at Huron, which was then, as it
is IIOAV, a port on Lake Erie. The Rev. Pt J. Machebeuf, pastor of Holy
Angels Church, Sandusky, was the first priest to look after their spiritual
Avants. Huron was attended from Sandusky as a station until 1875, when
it was attached to and attended from Milan for three years, with the
Rev. J. P Putz in charge; he did much to revive the faith in that place.
In May, 1878, it Avas assigned to Vermillion, whence it has been attended
ever since. During all this long period mass was said in private houses,
and for many years in the house of Daniel Duffy.
It AVIIS not until the year 1889, during the time the Rev. M. S. Smith
had charge, that the long cherished hope of the Catholics of Huron, to
erect a church of their own, Avas about to be realized. It AA'as then that
Father Smith began to collect funds for that purpose. All the Catholics
of the toAvn and the non-Catholics, too, with feAV exceptions, contributed
very generously. Thus encouraged,' Father Smith had plans draAvn for
a neat frame church, 40 by 70 feet, to be built on a lot fronting on Rensselaer
Street, purchased in December, 1887, for $300. The building AA'as
commenced early in October, 1889. but shortly after Father Smith AVIIS
transferred from Vermillion and Huron. From October to the folloAving
January both places Ave re without, a priest. In January, 1890, the Rev.
Ignatius J. Wonderly Avas appointed pastor of Vermillion, with charge
of Huron also. He pushed the church to rapid completion, so that the
holy sacrifice AVIIS offered in it for the first time on Pentecost Sunday,
May 25, 1890. Its dedication took place a.feAv weeks later—on Sunday,