This pamphlet was conceived in enthusiasm by men and women who are bristling with PEP to build a Beautiful Church in St. James Parish. They are impatiently waiting: they are clamoring for action. They want YOU to know what they propose doing. They hope you will be with them. Don't look for a seat in the Grand Stand-People who do things move-the disinterested sit and watch -- Our Parish Big Drum is beating a marching tune – “LET'S GO."
My dear Parishioner;
We met an unexpected disappointment when we found the bids for the New Church $30,000 above the estimate. Mr. Schuler, the contractor who gave the estimate, and Mr. O’Meara, the architect, were so embarrassed and humiliated when the bids were opened, the building committee and myself refrained from censuring them. The architect had no defense, he at once signified his willingness to comply with the contract he made with us, to redraw the plans free of charge if his estimate of cost was not correct. We were sympathetic because we realized he overreached himself in an effort to create something that would be extremely beautiful. He specified the most expensive interior decorations and a tower that would be a magnificent creation, this he had intended at first to be low but the scientific requirements of correct architecture demanded that it should form a perfect square above the roof ridge equal in linear measurement, to the width of the nave.
I did not realize what a massive affair this was intended to be until the blueprints were too far advanced to make a change. Each pillar carrying the tower would have to uphold a weight of 120 tons. I was hoping the Blessed Mother in whom I have great confidence would not permit us to make a calamitous mistake, which might arise should a cyclone or an earth tremor strike the locality, but the practical side of the question appealed more accusingly to my conscience, the tower was only a decoration and was too expensive for a parish that had set out to build a plain correct parish church.
I had therefore a secret satisfaction that the construction could not In undertaken, and that there was an opportunity for reconsideration; to keep the main structure and beautiful interior and eliminate the tower was the only solution, the architect suggested a copper spire to take its place. Professor Ferrand of Washington University approved very heartily of this, the building committee were in favor of being more economic and eliminating it entirely.
A sketch, showing a church without a spire and one with it, was presented to the congregation at the two late masses on a recent Sunday and they were asked to express their choice by a display of hands, the majority regardless of expense were in favor of retaining the spire and interior decorations. The building committee thought the judgment of the congregation too hasty and not sufficiently economic. I remained neutral, and asked the Archbishop to express his judgment. He was enthusiastic about the spire and much better pleased with it than the tower, I knew the question was settled, and informed him that the building committee would acquiesce if he permitted me to state to them his opinion and render it as a decision. He deliberated a minute and with a twinkle in his eye, said, “Do you think you will he able to pay for it?” I said, “I am not at all sure, we will borrow not more than $75,000 and when that and the fund already created is spent we will come to a full stop and await another harvest.”
I think everything is for the best, the architect is making alterations in the plans and specifications and expects to give them to the competing contractors tomorrow. Bids will be asked for June 16th not much time will be lost as the excavations on the foundations which are already let have not progressed because of the continued wet weather. It is to be presumed the general contract will be let before the excavating is finished.
Through all this irritating responsibility and thought requiring effort. I have one great abiding consolation, the building committee and the Boosters Club are sharing with me the anxiety of the problem and the whole parish is most sympathetic and kindly disposed.
Under the guiding hand of God through the intercession of the Blessed Mother, I am confident everything will come out right, and hope we will all live to see a church in St. James Parish more beautiful than we can at present conceive.
Yours in Christ,
PATRICK J. O’CONNOR, Adm.
On the 17th and 19th of June the school children will give their annual closing entertainment in the Airdome. Of the numbers they have prepared it would be hard to say which will prove “The Best.”
The baby girls with pillows under their arms tell you ----
"We have been sent off to bed, but now are here instead to say good night to you."
If the audience enjoy the pranks of the little "Brownies" as much as the little Brownies themselves, all will be sorry when the curtain falls to send them back to Elf Land.
The little girls of the Second and Third Grades will prove to you that "Every baby is a sweet bouquet."
The boys and girls of the Third and Fourth Grades act the part of a real train as they tell you what happens when your “ENGERSOL” is slow and you miss the 5:15.
Sunshine and roses run second to "Sun Bonnet Sue" performed by the intermediate boys and girls.
Did you ever see wooden soldiers and "Sure enough" dolls on parade? As the clock strikes twelve (stage time) there’s going to be a wonderful parade.
We all know, or think we know, what we would do if we were millionaires, but in the costume of real news boys, the intermediate boys will give us some new ideas of what a real live, regular, first-class, cross my heart millionaire could do.
Some children from the Fifth, Sixth and Seventh Grades have an Indian stunt while others from the same classes will jaunt down to Kerry in an Irish Jaunting Cart. After which the boys of the Seventh and Eighth Grades present "An Irish Heart is just as true as Irish Eyes are blue."
The Eighth Grade boys and girls in "College days" sing several songs and give you some valuable advice.
Babies, Brownies, Indians, Sun-Bonnet Sue, Millionaires, Irish, College Days, Train and all join in the Grand Finale – "THE GOOD OLD UNITED STATES."
Each year, during the month of June, promoters of the Apostleship of Prayer endeavor to have homes and families in the parish consecrated to the Sacred Heart. A picture of the Sacred Heart is provided for each home and the names of each member of the family is signed under the act of consecration.
Father O’Connor, the Spiritual Director, formally assists at the consecration and usually visits of an evening all the families in a neighborhood who have made application for the blessing before the end of the first week in June.
Only those homes are consecrated where all are members of the Apostleship of Prayer. Everyone must be present when the home is consecrated. There is required also two candies, the unframed picture and pen and ink.
The outgoing officers desire to close their account before the election which will take place this month and request all who were responsible for the sale of tickets during the past year to make returns at the monthly meeting which will be held in the school hail Thursday, June 9th.
Proper business methods make it imperative that all tickets he accounted for and the financial committee will be compelled to make calls on members who remain delinquent after this notice.
The Dramatic Club intends presenting a check for all the surplus receipts at the annual banquet to Father O’Connor, and as they are anxious to swell the fund for the stained glass window the generous co-operation of the alumni is hereby requested.
The St. James Alumni will hold its annual Banquet at the Statler Hotel, in the new Spanish Dining Room, Sunday evening, June 26th. The Graduates of 1927 will be honored guests and will be officially accepted into the Alumni the night of the Banquet.
A meeting of the parishioners was held May 9th to give a final decision as to whether the church should be brick or stone, and to elect building committee.
Sergt. Martineau, who was unable to be present, sent a letter to advocate a brick church, which was read. He expressed so fully the ideas or all who preferred brick to stone there was little to be added to his remarks by those that approved of them. He said, in brief, he was in favor of a brick church for three reasons, it would cost the parish in all probably $25,000 less than stone, it looked as well when properly trimmed, and the parish needed the money to complete the group of parish buildings.
Mr. Lederle approved of the suggestion and urged economy, because as a business man he had a better outlook of the future and he feared bard times were imminent.
Mr. J. P. O’Gorman thought the parish could afford the difference in cost and urged the erection of a stone church.
Mrs. Bovard said, "I have in mind a picture of a wonderful church and would favor a stone church provided we can have a rectory and convent to match and a first class school."
Mr. Duggan, "I am in favor of the best we can afford, I would rather see the parish build a frame church than sacrifice the school. We should add to the estimate for new church, $5000 for the completion of the school."
Mr. Pierce approved of Mr. Duggan’s suggestion.
Mr. Gesell, a new parishioner recently from St. Roses Parish, would like to please the pastors. "I am," he said, "a convert, I never had the privilege of a Catholic education, but I know its worth, it is one of the grandest benefits a parent can give a child. I have two children who were educated under the direction of the church, they hold good positions because of it."
Mrs. Nixon wanted to build a church worth while and one of stone, so did Mrs. LaGrace, Mrs. McDonnell, Mrs. O’Hare, Genevieve Mahon, and for that matter the thirty or forty ladies who were present.
Father O’Connor said there was a practical and a sentimental side to the question, it reminded him of the one who married for love and good looks and died in the poor house.
There was no doubt, he said, the ladies are in favor of good looks, and those who are practical are wondering how if the parish builds a stone church, poverty can be kept from the door.
Father Pohl encouraged the parishioners to aim high.
Mr. Pieschell said he and Mr. Hense were in a committee that were considering giving a picnic to raise funds to complete the school.
Mrs. McShaffrey, Frank Walsh, Martin Coad, Ray Dolan, B. P. Brady, and J. Corbett spoke and when a vote was taken all were in favor of a stone church regardless of cost.
Mr. Duggan asked Father O’Connor if the school would also be taken care of and if his answer would be published in Let’s Go.
Father O’Connor said that depended on the secretary and he would give assurance the school would be put in good shape as soon as the part used for a temporary church was vacated.
Father O’Connor asked the parishioners to elect a building committee who would act for the parish in all questions pertaining to the church construction and suggested that men be selected who had a practical knowledge of the building trades. He said important questions would come up front time to time and he would call upon them to speak and act for the parishioners. Messrs. Crotty, Pahl, Ludden, John Houlihan, Ed Pierce and Wm. Boman were elected by acclamation.
A committee to solicit funds from parishioners who have not been sending in their contributions was also appointed consisting of Mrs. McDonnell, Mrs. Bovard, Pat Murphy, Michael Maloney, Pat Winters, Ollie Dolan and Sam Gittens.
Twenty-nine pupils from St. James Parochial School will be awarded diplomas on Sunday evening, June 19th. The following is a list of the graduating class:
Verda Bersch, Dorothy Beuscher, Glennon Burke, Bernard Brady, Helen Chiaurro, Virginia Coad, Bessie Coble, Charles Corbett, Mary Corbett, Frank Dailey, Robert Duggan, George Eckhoff, Woodrow Foley, Jack Houlihan, Betty Kavanaugh, Grace Kelly, Eugene Lively, Margaret Matreci, Augusta Mergenthaler, Ida McCauley, Loretta Oates, Margaret O’Shaughnessy, Lucille Plengemeier, Bernard Quinn, Louisa Schatzle, Joseph Sharamitaro, John Spiez, Bennie Sugden, Teddy Thiele.
It is common knowledge that the Forest Park Improvement Association has been only a name during the past year and had ceased to function because every time a meeting was called the Free Bridge came up for discussion, no tune or attention was given to local matters and the citizens lost interest in the organization, the debaters did not cease to debate till they had no one to listen to them, and the organization died – “talked to death by friends.”
It was represented to Father O’Connor and the Boosters Club of St. James Parish that an effort was being made to reorganize the association and that a meeting was to be held at the George Dewey School for this purpose on May 19th.
The large attendance of Citizens seeking membership was a sufficient indication of the desire the community has to get behind a movement for the betterment of this locality.
Unfortunately those responsible for the meeting had pre-arranged, it appears, a continuation of the discussion on the Free Bridge, and a few of the champions took the floor and monopolized the debate till they had irritated their audience to a point beyond endurance.
They gave abundant evidence that the Forest Park Improvement Association could not subsist as long as the Free Bridge continued to be a bone of contention, and whilst the new members were quite willing to leave the contenders settle the argument about the Free Bridge, they made it clear they wanted to have an end to the discussion so that there might be some attention paid to local improvements.
Early in the meeting a cleverly couched motion was made which involved a two-fold resolution, the big one apparently being to stop all further discussion on the Free Bridge, and the little one, the joker of the night, a knock-out blow for Mr. Frank H. Gerhardt and the resolutions offered to the Board of Aldermen by the Citizens’ Free Bridge Associated Committee.
Father O’Connor tried to prevent the association going on record as approving or disapproving of these resolutions, and might have succeeded if he could get the floor for five minutes, but the contenders were so intent in battle, they ignored his request and brought the matter to a vote with the result that the association has gone on record being opposed to the recommendations made by the Citizens’ Free Bridge Committee.
This is really a school boy’s resolution, it is not representative of the opinion of the community or the organization -- only eleven voted in its favor, and there must have been fifty present when the vote was taken -- why did not the others vote? They saw there was a feud being staged among neighbors and they had no Inclination to be partisan. The majority present were sorry that the discussion was broached at so inopportune an occasion and Father O’Connor and the members of St. James Booster Club want it clearly understood that they took no sides in the discussion and only voted on the second part of the motion which was carried by a majority, and it is -- There shall be no further discussion in Forest Park Improvement Association of the Free Bridge.
A beautiful hand-made lace antependium has been donated to decorate the Altar by Miss Agnes Kern, and one in gold lace by Miss Genevieve Mahon.
Martha Dolores Guglielmucci, 5822 Clayton Avenue.
Genevieve Gertrude Murray, 1326 Louisville Avenue.
Lucille Mary Malone, 1344 Central Avenue.
Timothy Harrington, a railroad watchman, who resided at 6251 Famous Ave., was murdered whilst in discharge of his duty as a boxcar watchman on May 30th. Though he resided in St. James Parish for a number of years he was not very well known as he usually went to one of the down town churches on completing his night watch. He was buried from St. James church on June 3rd. His remains were conveyed to Calvary Cemetery. Sincere sympathy is extended to his bereaved wife and family.
R. I. P.
A cast selected from St. James Parochial School Dramatic Club admirably presented the playette entitled Easy Payments at Yale Hall on the evenings of May 24th and 26th.
The perseverance of these young people and the practice they have had has borne fruit to an almost unbelievable extent. They have attained a poise and a technique that rarely is found in amateurs.
The characters suited their parts, and the setting of the play was almost perfect, and is a tribute to the ability of the director, Mr. Sam Halley.
Joe Wiss has starred so many times he has become essential to the success of any play presented by the club. Easy Payments was getting a poor reception until he appeared on the stage, and immediately the attention of the audience was captured, the setting of the picture became real and the other characters began to assume their proper importance.
Dan Murphy, as the blustering but kindhearted Scotchman, did not seem to be over familiar with the Scotch accent though his movements as the director of a golf link and his genuine friendship for Tom Brisby, together with his repeating that he began life with 3 pound 6 and 4 pence, made a pleasant appeal to the audience.
Genevieve Martineau was clever, and played well the part of the bride in trouble. She was romantic, enthusiastic and hopeful till the furniture was being removed from the love nest, and when she realized that her husband’s wealth was mostly a delusive dream made possible by purchases on the installment plan, she concealed her embarrassment with a tact of a little lass who had plenty of grit and sufficient regard for her husband to see the thing through. Her best acting was in a scene where she became jealous and suspicious of Tom’s fidelity. She talked and wept and sulked with a splendid hysteria, and made up, and believed, and was comforted by a reasoning that was as much at fault as was that which caused her jealousy.
Mary McCauley gave indications of much promise. Bernadine Quinn, whose articulation was very perfect on the first night, dropped many of her words at the last performance and the audience had difficulty following her role. She appeared to be tired and was probably somewhat nervous in her anxiety to make good.
Margaret McDonnell played a strong impressive part as the maid who became irritated because she could not give a satisfactory reply to those who sought payment from her master. She and John O’Connell had parts that provided comedy and kept the audience in a hilarious mood all through the evening.
John O’Connell’s representation of the Jew was nigh perfect. His sardonic laugh and true to nature movement of the hand made one feel that the specter of seizure is never far from the door of those who purchase through Easy Payments.
This was the moral of the play and undoubtedly has its lesson for young couples who begin life without money and trust too much to hope, and love, and easy payments.
Minor parts were taken by Charlie Jones, Mary Devanney, Norman Fehrensen, Orville Harnes, John McAnnar, and John Mahon, John O’Shaughnessey ; and a more prominent part was given to Clarence Adler. As understudies for future performances Mr. Halley was given an excellent opportunity of judging the ability of each of the above. The Dramatic Club has extended the opportunities of the Alumni association and is a credit to it.
Mrs. John P. Lavin, 6017 Manchester Ave., age 28, died at her home May 12th and was buried from St. James Church on the 16th. She leaves a husband and two boys. She had been suffering from diabetes during the past year and endeavored to go to church every Sunday. She was deeply religious and fervent, and was much admired for her retiring manner and gentle ways. She was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Sam Glass. Her only sister, Mrs. Epsen, died a year ago, a few months after getting married. May they rest in peace.
Rev. George Ryan, of Holy Angels Church, preached an instructive sermon on the occasion of the Crowning of the Statute of the Blessed Virgin. The church was crowded. Father Burke, a priest front Dublin, Ireland, and Fathers Rob, McKeon, Dan Ryan, Edward Ryan were in the Sanctuary. The celebration was perhaps more impressive than in any former year.
In the bids submitted for the new church the alternate for brick with stone trimmings, and all stone was Gillespie and Daly, $9.000; Schulen, $10,000; Humes & Deal, $9,000; all the others were above $16,000. These figures, therefore, represent the difference between brick and stone.
Mr. Frank Walsh, a popular parishioner and enthusiast of the Boosters Club, has opened a store at 1317 Tamm Ave. where he has established a Cleaning, Dyeing and Pressing shop and a general agency for wash machines, electrical appliances and radio sets.
Mr. Walsh has for many years been connected with the Thor Wash Machine Co., and was regarded as one of their best salesmen. His knowledge of this industry gives him an advantage in purchasing, and he is confident that he can give as good a price on Tamm Ave. as can be had in the biggest department stores.
We wish him success in his venture and recommend him to St. James parishioners, who will probably remember him as the genial Chairman of the Parish Barbecue.
Sam Mathew Gatton of Taylorville, Ill., and Goldie Mary Graves of Benton, were married at St. James Church May 23rd, 1927. Edd L. Loyat and Miss Margaret 0’Toole were bridesmaid and best man. The couple now reside at 2100 Forest Avenue
John C. Bruce and Anna M. Cody were married in the Rectory May 25, 1927. R. J. Baker and Gertrude Baker were the official witnesses. The young couple went to Kansas City on their honeymoon.
Father Pohl will be on Retreat the week from June 12, and Fr. O’Connor the following week.
Father Pohl had for several days fought against an attack of the mumps. On Decoration Day he began to run a high fever and since then is confined to his room. Father Barton, a Jesuit Father has been Locum Tenens.
The cars for the school children’s picnic will arrive at the Tamm Avenue loop on Tuesday morning, June 14th, at 8:45. Those coming from the west end and Benton will have their baskets hauled from Mrs. Bovard’s, and Mrs. McDonnell’s stores, and also from the office of the Dolan Real Estate. The trucks will pick up the baskets not later than 8:30.
Cars will be chartered for all parishioners and the children who make application for a reserved seat by the purchase of a ticket before Monday evening at 5 P.M.
On the return trip, one car will be switched to the Manchester line. The Ramona Hills is in the neighborhood of Ramona Park and is, we are informed. a modern and up-to-date picnic grounds. Dance music will be provided.
A shock came to the community on the evening of May 17th when it was announced that Mrs. Edw. Dwyer, Tamm Ave., was found unconscious in back of her home where she had been planting flowers and that her death was expected.
It will be recalled her husband, Edward, an officer in the Mounted District and a splendid specimen of manhood, was killed a few years back by a fall from his horse, and her sister, Mrs. Kerr, died about the same time. Since then her face was marked with a subdued sadness and her health was not good.
Her life became more spiritual as her crosses bore heavy upon her. She went to daily mass whenever her health permitted her and she was at communion the morning of the day she died.
She and her late husband were for many years actively interested in everything that pertained to the welfare of the parish. They assisted at fairs and festivals and did odds and ends around the rectory.
Mrs. Dwyer had been a school teacher prior to her marriage and was refined and cultured. She was tactful and sympathetic with her neighbors and much beloved by all who knew her.
Her funeral was well attended by old parishioners, and St. Anns Sodality went in procession before her remains when it was carried into the church. She leaves three children; and her mother still survives at their old home in Illinois.
May she rest in peace.
Mary Hester Bovard was operated upon for appendicitis by Dr. R. Brent Murphy at St. Mary’s Hospital Saturday, May 28th. Her condition is very favorable.
Mrs. Pearl Myers Walter, 6106 Wilson Ave., a voting mother, has lost her third child in four years and is now childless. Her only consolation is that she will meet them in Heaven, they were all baptized.
John Lawrence who died Saturday morning was 5 months old and was a healthy baby until he took a spasm which was followed by death a few hours later.
His remains was taken to St. James Church on Decoration Day and buried in Calvary Cemetery.
Betty, 5 year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Walsh of Lloyd Avenue, was seriously injured when struck by a truck on Manchester Avenue near Tamm on her way home from school Thursday afternoon, June 2nd.
On Ascension Thursday 33 parochial school children and 20 from the Public School received their first communion at the 7 :30 Mass at St. James Church. The children were instructed by Father O’Connor to give a place in their hearts to Christ and to close their eyes after they had received the Blessed Sacrament. One little tot who was noticed looking around was asked next day why he did not comply with the instruction and he said, “I gave Jesus a place in my heart right away, but I forgot to close my eyes till I went home.”
dear charlie
the other satiday nite I wus in father Pohls confession line waiting for a chanct to unburden myself, an it happen that the nex day was St Anns Communion sunday and sally Dolan was standin their and she says to me “are you goin to comunion with St. Anns sodalitie?” well charlie wot woud you do if sumone give you a dig like that? i was certinly soar on acount of i hav offen been call a old woman but i figger sallys remark wus uncall for an out of place and when i got home i tole the mrs. that if she wud of pull that stunt eny place else but in church i wud of probably give her a peace of my mind an the mrs. says “i woodent be 2 generous if i wus you cause you probably hav net got eny more than you need.” an it goes to show that if a feller expects to get any sempathie in his own home he wont find it envwares esceptin he luks in the dickshunary.
the dramatic club give another good show on the 24th and 26th day of the mo. an it was call “easy payments on account of young joe Wiss losin his head over gettin maried to genevieve martineau an buying a lot of furnishure on credits an then he lose his job and find the “easy” payments ‘hard” to make. Joe keep mushin around miss Martineau lik he was tryin to get in solid with the sargent, an if he dont mend his way an quit bying things which he can not pay for he will be in kneed of sum friend on the force. charlie, you coudent reelize how cleever them yungesters is until you see them ack there part an i coudent say wich 1 is best on account of they are all good, an it speek wel for the class of student they turn out from St. James, an mabie if me an you wood of gradeate from their we mite no sumthing to, aint it so?
They wus a fire in the nahorhood the other day and wen i herd the engins passin i run out to sea ware they wus goin an i wus jus in time to sea father PohI an John bersch drivin by like they wus in a hury to get their ahed of the firemen an they Iuk lik they wus havin the time of their lif an I gess they was tryin to esemplify the words of the poet Cooper wen he sed, “no man is reely a man if he is lost out of him all of the boy” and father Pohl has so much of it lef he has the mumps mow and I think he will yet have to get the meezles an hooping coff.
Sum of the peeple around hear has ben all excited lately about the kentucky derbie wich take place the other satiday and a Iot of the folks thout that freds son or sumthin like that wood win but the oney 1s wich is braggin is the 1s which bet on a horse by name of Whiskery, on account of they say that everieone knowd that he wood win cause he wus the favorit, an with a name like that he ought to be. Dan sheehan an joe an marie Ryan and minnie deRuntz all went down to sea the derbie and they cum back smilin on account before they start they ask eddie wot was his choice and he mus of had his mind sumwares else wen he ancered an they misunderstood him and thought he said Whiskery and so they are smart betters an all enthust about racin an i understand they
UNCLE HENRY'S LETTER
June 5, 1927.
dear charlie
are talkin about bying a horse and minnie and marie wants to he jockies but i think joe an eddie is better suited.
that remind me that las yr. charlie Heil and martin Codd went to the derbie and give a heavy play to sum nag wot run up an alley an i understand they used father O’Connor’s system of pickin the winner an it is a wunderful system, account of the 1 they pick wus so good luckin he mus of relized it an pranced up an doun in frunt the gran stand givin the folks a treet, an never got 50 ft fruni the barrier, an wen the other horses cum round to the finish he Was actin as a recepshun commity. If father knowd as much about horses as he does about church finanses it wood be all rite, but no human bein coud posibly no so much about 2 different subjeks.
Wel Charlie, our new church aint finish yet an it aint comence neether on account of we been havin a lot of discushion abot wot kin of a tower do we want on it, an wile we wus discusen it forth and back, the contracker make up our mind for us by puttin in such a high bid that we decide we dont lik towers of no kine an i never seen everythin get so unpopler an so i guess we will bild a spire insted.
Your particlar friend and uncle,
HENRY
BACK TO LET'S GO, 1927
BACK TO LET'S GO, 1925-1932
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