ST. JAMES THE GREATER
Apostle of Jesus; brother of St. John the Evangelist





CENTRAL ORGANIZING THESIS
THE IRISH PASTORS BROUGHT IRISH CATHOLICISM TO CHELTENHAM/DOGTOWN
1870-1952: 82 consecutive years!








In his book HISTORY OF CHELTENHAM AND ST. JAMES PARISH published in 1937, Father O'Connor says: "After the opening of the railroad, Irish, French, German and Welsh immigrants came to the village."





















1870 CENSUS DATA

1020 PEOPLE COUNTED

GERMANS: 365
IRISH: 300
SCOTS: 8
ENGLISH: 169
WELSH: 69
FRENCH: 32
SWISS: 19
CUBAN: 2
UNABLE TO TELL: 56


TOTAL: 1020 COUNTED



HOW IT ALL BEGAN:





Father John O'Sullivan -- 1860

1860-April 1891 -- First church stood and at times a back room of the church was used as a school.

In the above black and white reproduction of a one of Muegge's drawing is an image of St. James Church as it was when it was in 1860s. It is the large white building with the black roof on the upper right side of the image.

The perspective of the painting would be from about Hwy I-44 is, looking north toward Muegge's house (the very large 2-story in the foreground right).

This is the clearest of the two images of this church I have seen. It burned in 1891.

This is a part of the 1875 Dry and Compton pictorial map. At the very top of the map and in dead center is St. James Church. This is the only other image of the "first" church which I have seen.



THE EARLY PASTORS IN THE TRANSITION YEARS FROM ST. MALACHY'S MISSION 1861-1884



1870-1878: Father Henry Kelly (Born in Ireland)
Also pastor of St. Malachy’s at the same time.
  SECOND ATTEMPTED SCHOOL



1878-1884: Father Thomas Ambrose Butler (Born in Ireland)
Also pastor of St. Malachy’s at the same time.





THE IRISH ON THE PRARIES AND OTHER POEMS
By: REV. THOS. AMBROSE BUTLER

NEW YORK: D. & J. SADLIER & CO., 31 BARCLAY STREET, 1874.

Introduction

Come, heap up the logs on the hearth-stone, and shut out the wintery blast;
To-night, in our snug little shanty, I'll tell you some tales of the Past.
And while the wind howls on the prairies, and drives the white snow to the door,
I'll visit in fancy the Old Land, and stand on her Emerald shore.
'Twill lift up a load from my old heart, and calm all my longings awhile,
To live o'er the Past, and to speak of the scenes of that beautiful isle.
'Twill cheer me to fill your young bosoms with love for the suffering land
To make you feel proud of Old Erin, and ever her foemen withstand.

page 12

II

The Old Land! -- the Old Land! I love her, though naught of her form can be seen
Though thousands of miles of the prairies and billowy seas intervene
Though want and affliction surround her, and tyranny tramples her down,
And leaves her oppressed and dejected, -- deprived of her sceptre and crown.
Not thine is the fault, weeping Mother! thy children are leaving thy breast,
To seek o'er the billowy ocean a home in this land of the West.
Poor Queen! there are hearts that still love thee, and hands that would strike for thy fame,
Though traitors still fawn to the tyrants, and sycophants blush at thy name.

page 13









THREE LONGER TERM IRISH PASTORS AND ONE SHORT-TERM PASTOR

1884-1952












1884-1896: Father Patrick J. McNamee (Born in Ireland)
Also pastor of St. Malachy’s at the same time.
12 years  THIRD ATTEMPTED SCHOOL









ST. JAMES CHURCH


(AND SCHOOL/RECTORY)


BURNS TO THE GROUND:


APRIL 1891.





NEW CHURCH AND RECTORY ERECTED

Also Convent and Mrs. Moore's house built

















1891 CHURCH AND RECTORY
AS PICTURED IN 1897 HOLY CARD






"OLD CHURCH" AND RECTORY FROM 1912 PHOTO
Built in 1891






"OLD CHURCH" FROM LATER 20TH CENTURY PHOTO






1896-1916: Father Edmund A. Casey (Born in Ireland)
20 years





THE OPENING OF THE CURRENT ST. JAMES SCHOOL -- 1902.
Sister Loyola, first principal

THE "OLD" SCHOOL -- 1906 TO 1950S





GRADUATION CLASS OF 1906

From the left: M Eugene Donnelly, Annie Cody, Josephine Komoros, Helen C. Finn, Agnes Houlihan and William H. Hefele.









The School Photos of St. James Classes







Dominican Convent: Built about 1891









TOUGH ECONOMIC PROBLEMS FOR PARISH AND SCHOOL -- 1900-1908













1916-1918: FATHER MAURICE 0'FLAHERTY.









1916-1952: The young Father Patrick J. O’Connor (Born in Ireland)
First as administrator and pastor from 1929.









Father O'Connor in later life















FOUR ASPECTS OF FATHER O'CONNOR'S PASTORATE




  1. Brief comments on the personality and personal relations of Father O'Connor

  2. Father O'Connor's BUILDINGS in the parish.

  3. His emphasis on Irish culture.

    • "The Vocation of the Irish Race"
    • Several long essays on the life of St. Patrick and even discussions of Irish elections.
    • Not a single mention of St. James.
    • The use of March 17th for the celebration of St. James' feast.


  4. Father O'Connor's social theology of "Christian Communism"







SOME TITLES OF FATHER O'CONNOR'S ESSAYS
WITHIN THE THEOLOGY OF CHRISTIAN COMMUNISM









FATHER O'CONNOR'S IMPRESSIVE RECORD OF BUILDING IN THE PARISH











Some views of the current, 1928 church















St. James Convent: Built in 1939
Officially opened January 1940





FIRST HALF OF CURRENT SCHOOL

































Father Henry J. Lambert 1952--1965









RECENT PASTORS OF ST. JAMES



















At the SW corner of Clark and Ewing. Razed during demolition for Mill Creek Valley. Records at St. Matthew Church - 2715 North Sarah St., (63113)