Civil War: St. Benedict Church

Wabash Valley profiles: A series of tributes to hometown people and events that have shaped our history

Description:	One typed page including photograph of St. Benedict Church before the fire in 1930. A brief history of St. Benedict Church. WABASH VALLEY P R O F I L E SA series of tributes to hometown people and events that have shaped our history.St. Benedict ChurchThe first St. Benedict Church was erected 135 years ago to cater to the growing German-speaking Catholic population, moderately estranged by language from the fellow parishioners at St. Joseph Church, Terre Hautes mother parish since 1837. An organizational meeting, facilitated by Benedictine monks who assumed administration of St. Joseph Church and school during the Civil War, was held Jan. 17, 1864. Father Martin Marty presided. Lay founders included John Burget, Ernest Bleemel, Xavier Hahn, Marcus Schoemehl, Henry Rotz, George Hoffman, George Goeting, John Nische, John Kunz, Mauritz Gasanoke, William Before the fire in 1930. Kilz and Anton Held. On Feb. 7, the St. Boniface Building Society was established to accept donations and elected to purchase land on S. Ninth St., between Ohio and Walnut streets. The cornerstone for the church, which faced Ohio St. was placed on Oct. 2. In December, Casper Doebbener was appointed the first parish priest and dedicated the initial structure in early 1865. Doebbener served until replaced by Father Edward Faller in 1867. Fallers successor, Nicholas Gaelweiler, was appointed in March 1871. When the two Terre Haute parishes were entrusted to the Franciscan Order in May 1872, Rev. Pius Kotterer became St. Benedicts pastor, enlarging the church and building St. Benedict School (attended by young Theodore Dreiser). Within a few years, it was deemed too small, so an 1887 fund drive -- spearheaded by Herman Hulman, Frank Prox, John F. Brinkman, Joseph Frisz and Father Bonaventure Zoller -- resulted in the current building at Ninth and Walnut streets. Steps to build a larger church were initiated Dec. 3, 1895, under Father Peter Schroun. Adolph Druiding of Chicago was chosen as architect. Ground was broken on July 21, 1896. Noted artists and sculptors -- including Joseph Sibbel and Thaddesus von Zukotynski of New York, George Hepfinger of Milwaukee and August Schiemann and Victor Vonderhorst of Germany -- decorated the interior with world class frescoes, murals and statues. The imposing building with a massive dome topped by a bronze model of St. Michael the Archangel was dedicated June 18, 1899. Declared the citys most magnificent structure and Indianas finest church, the new building faced Ninth Street. On June 30, 1930, a horrendous fire of unknown origin, which began in the Grand Dome, reduced St. Benedicts to smoldering ruins, leaving only the exterior walls standing. The nation was in the throes of the Depression, but the congregation, with abundant community support, pledged to resurrect the church even if total restoration was impractical. On Dec. 13, 1931, Bishop Joseph Chartrand officiated at ceremonies dedicating the refurbished church, spectacular in its own right, though missing the Grand Dome, its vault and much of the lavish interior. The main altar is similar to its majestic predecessor.TERRE HAUTE(812) 238-6000NATIONAL BANKAlways Close to HomeDate published: August 31, 2000Filename: St. Benedict Church profile
Origin:	2000-08-30
Created By:	McCormick, Mike
Publisher:	Terre Haute Tribune-Star
Source:	http://indianamemory.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/vchs/id/586
Collection:	Vigo County Historical Society
Rights:	http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/UND/1.0/
Copyright:	Copyright Undetermined
Subjects:	United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 Catholic churches Churches Religious facilities Wars & Conflicts Civil War -- Image Architecture Religion Education

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