Dean Wagner's Genealogy - Bancroft, Iowa

Bancroft History

Bancroft, Kossuth County, Iowa, USA

The History of St. John's Parish 1891 - 1991

(Part 2 - The School)

from
"Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church
Bancroft, Iowa
100 Years
1891 - 1991
Saint John Parish Centennial"
by Centennial Book Committee
Bancroft Publishing
Bancroft, IA 50517
© 1991
Pages 16-24

St. John's Parochial School

In 1897 preparations for the building of a parochial school were begun. All the ground work, the hauling of sand and stone was done by the parishioners.

In 1898 the foundation was laid, and in 1899 the building was completed, which included the latest in steam heating equipment. The cost of the school was approximately $11,000.00 including the furnishings.

John Jacobs, a Bancroft resident for over 50 years, was the contractor for both the church and school.

St. John's First School Building

Father A. J. Schemmel served as pastor of St. John's for almost 23 years. No one ever toiled more zealously or more unselfishly, nor will his glorious achievements ever be forgotten.

During those 23 years as pastor, he baptized approximately 1,024 children and adults, he prepared about 700 for their first Holy Communion, and instructed about 450 for Confirmation. He officiated at 160 weddings and 221 funerals.

Every deliberate act of a rational being is directe to an end known as desirable. This fact is obvious in the simple recording of the educational work of the first resident pastor of St. John's Parish, Bancroft.

The Reverend A. J. Schemmel possessed in an eminent degree the same courage, zeal, simplicity and intellectual insight which characterized other pioneer leaders in the field of education near the turn of the century.

What the succeeding priests have done expresses an expansion of that well-organized beginning. And, as the old St. John's School still stands connotrative of a wellspring of religion and culture, bearing fruit in intellectually and morally enriched lives, so, too, the new St. John's points forward, a master-stroke of progress, unflinchingly principled by Newman's words:

"Our strength in this world is, to be the subject of reason, and our liberty, to be the captives of the truth."

Early History

A little more than a decade and a half after the first parochial school was established in what is now territorially the diocese of Sioux City, the foundations of a Catholic educational system were laid in Bancroft.

The Reverend A. J. Schemmel officially opened St. John's School for its first term of classes, September 3, 1900.

Sisters Mary Agatha, Cortona, Arnolda and Silveria of the Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis of the Holy Family from Dubuque constituted the original faculty. St. John's was one of the 41 parochial schools which this Sisterhood was conducting in 1900. The same Community of Sisters, who specialize in the training of youth in parochial schools, has been consistently teaching at St. John's through the years following.

Within a few weeks after the opening of the initial session, the unanticipated enrollment necessitated another teacher, Sister M. Rosalinda.

Beginning with a healthy registration of 216 then fluctuating uncertainly toward a gradual increase, the statistical enrollment figures of St. John's School seem uncannily constant. The pupil enrollment during Father Schemmel's pastorate mounted to 3,452.

Ten classes, including a total of 67 members, graduated from St. John's Parochial High School during Father Schemmel's period of superintendency. An Alumni Association was organized in 1903 by the first graduates, and the members met in an annual banquet during the Christmas holidays beginning in December, 1905, and meeting each succeeding year, except 1916 and 1917, until 1920. The secretarial recordings of this association compensate in interest for the paucity of information concerning early history from other sources. Significant in each of these alumni gatherings was a talk by the pastor stressing phases in character building.

And so, with the beginning of a Catholic educational system in Bancroft firmly rooted, the prospect for future development under succeeding pastorates was heartening.

A Period of Growth

The period since January, 1914, when new pastoral appointments followed in rapid succession, has known no retrogression in the trend of education upbuilding.

Because of the excellent course of study, together with adequate facilities in other respects, St. John's Parochial High School became affiliated with The State University of Iowa in 1914 during the pastorship of The Reverend A. E. Zimmerman. St. John's was the first of the schools conducted by the Sisters of St. Francis to become fully accredited.

During 1913-1914 the total enrollment of pupils was 307, and the graduates numbered fifteen.

The Reverend E. J. Jungblut's pastorship of six school years registered 1,538 pupils, and 46 completed their high school during the same period.

Within the three -ear superintendency of the Reverend J. B. Bauemler, 787 pupils attended St. John's and 30 graduated from high school.

All of these pastors gave unselfishly their competent services in the cause of developing a high standard of Catholic culture in this community.

During the decade, November, 1923 to February, 1933, in which the Rev. J.D. Fisch - elevated to the monsignorship in 1931 - directed with commanding executive ability the educational activities at St. John's School, 2,871 pupils attended this school and high school graduates totaled 100.

In 1907, under Father Schemmel, the seven seniors from St. John's had such uniformly high test grades they were accused of cheating in some form and were required to take the test again. Father Schemmel maintained there was no collusion, just good teaching and learning and he was proven correct when they passed the second test with as high grades as they did in the first one.

St. John's New School Built In 1938

After almost forty years of service, the old school was rapidly becoming inadequate for the needs of the children. Father Schultes and the parents of the children saw this need. A sum of $55,000 was raised before the contract was let. Mr. E.O. Damon of Ft. Dodge, Iowa was chosen as the architect, and the building committee chosen by the parish included Father Schultes, H. J. Menke, Henry Deitering, W.A. Murray, Harold Hamilton and A. H. Fuchs. Mr. J.C. Mayer, general contractor of Clarion, Iowa was chosen to construct the building.

The new school showed the progressive spirit of the people of Bancroft.

Its scholastic achievements, its athletic teams and the very fine people it has produced bear witness to its well-structured goals of supernatural and natural excellence.

Facts About the New School

The new St. John's School was a two-story structure, 142' in length and 104' in width. The outside or face brick was a medium light buff color, matching the church brick. The gymnasium, also on the ground floor, flanked by north and south wings, had a 75'x45' hard maple floor and a seating capacity of about 400 people.

Modern facilities for classrooms, hallways and lavatories were also installed. Appropriate lockers were set in place, and hard maple was laid for the floors. Terrazzo, however, covered the corridors, steps, toilet, shower and locker rooms.

Towards the end of December, 1938, the new school neared completion and all furnishings were moved in during the Christmas vacation. At this time the school was opened for inspection.

On May 25, 1938, His Excellency, the Most Reverend Bishop Heelan dedicated the new St. John's School. All the parishioners who were physically able, and a large representation or admiring visitors witnessed the impressive ceremony. A Solemn High Mass followed the dedication ceremonies. Father Frank Schultes was celebrant. Father Henry Pick was deacon, Father Dennis Clark was subdeacon, Father Bernard Eischied was thurifer. Father S. A. Grady was first master of cerernonies and Father Leo McCoy was second master ofceremonies.

In his message to the parishioners of St. John's The Most Reverend Bishop Heelan extended hearty congratulations to the priests, Sisters and people of the parish. He praised Father Schultes for his zeal and leadership. He exhorted the people to use to full advantage the church and school which they had provided for so generously. At this time, the membership of St. John's parish numbered about 1,570.

St. John's New Church - 1915

To begin with, the rectory was moved back 35 or 40 feet, and excavation for the basement of the flew church was begun. The contract for the building of the new church went to Garfield & Schwartz Construction Co. of Rochester, Minn., and the firm of Parkinson & Dochendorf of LaCrosse, Wisc. was given the architect assignment.

The Alvah Hunt crew moved the old wooden St. John's Church from the present church's location to the lot where the liquor store now stands. It was raised on moving trucks and pulled by a steam engine. The building was bought by the Yeoman's Lodge and used for public community plays and other events.

It was later used as a skating rink and later still purchased by Art Murray for grain storage.

Masses were held in the school while the new church was being built.

Everything progressed with harmony and efficiency. Practically all the excavating was done by the parishioners, and they likewise were responsible for the hauling of the sand and most of the structural material.

By October, 1915, the cornerstone had already been laid. For several months after that there was still considerable work to be done in the new church. On December 25, 1915, Christmas Day, Father Jungblut had Mass in the new church for the first time. During the spring and summer of 1916, most of the landscaping around the church and rectory was done.

On October 3, 1916, the new church of St. John the Baptist was dedicated, with His Excellency, the Most Reverend P. J. Garrigan, Bishop of Sioux City officiating. Complete with altars, pews and other furnishings, the total cost of the church was about $75,000.00 - almost all of which was advanced by the time the church was completed. Thus another series of distinctly zealous and superior efforts by the people of St. John's Parish, and Father Jungblut, crystallized into a glorious achievement, which will reflect for many generations the characteristic goodness and loyalty of St. John's parishioners.

Many parishioners donated windows and various articles and many hours of manual labor to help beautify the new church. Over the years the generosity of parishioners included a hanging sanctuary lamp donated in 1916 and replaced in 1966 when the church was redecorated; the portable altar, pulpit and wine table in 1964 necessitated by the new ruling requiring the priest to face the congregation while saying Mass, a shrine east of the convent for Sister Tarcisia in 1959, and the Shrine of St. John the Baptist for Sister Tarcisia 1967; and in 1978 a beautiful organ, given in memory of a deceased parishioner, and now in the church proper on the north side, down from the Blessed Virgin Mary's Altar.

Church Is Decorated

Had it not been for many necessary repairs, of which the church was badly in need and which were not completed until later, the church would most likely have been frescoed many years ago. It was, of course, with the decoration of the church in view that Father Schultes had the tile roof relaid in 1933 and after that directed the repair of the windows and window frames throughout the church, both inside and outside.

In 1939 a new Hammond organ was purchased, replacing the old pump organ.

In April, 1941, the church was redecorated for the coming Silver Jubilee. On June 17, 1941 Father Joseph H. Schultes celebrated his Silver Anniversary in the priesthood, singing an eight o'clock High Mass. He had been at Bancroft for eight years on the occasion of his Silver Jubilee.

A Rectory Is Built

A beautiful new rectory was completed at St. John's in 1958. C. S. Herson of Laurens was the contractor. The cost of the building was approximately $71,000. The bricks and two story building were constructed to blend and match the church, school and convent. They did this marvelously well. It was well planned. It has offices for business and convert instruction, a dining room, living room and three apartments above for priests. An apartment near the kitchen was also furnished for the housekeeper. Well furnished, but not luxurious, it is encouragement for a priest to work hard.

A New High School is Planned and Built

In July, 1960, a committee was formed to consider the possibility of building a new high school for St. John's. Ten men were selected to work with the pastor, together with the two lay directors. In September, letters were sent to slightly more than 400 families of the parish. They were invited to meet with the committee, pastor and directors in St. John's Hall.

The building committee consisted of Rt. Rev. J. H. Schultes, Lawrence Menke, Frank Droessler, Joe Murray and Charles Quinn.

The following ten men made up the finance committee: H. V. Clark, chairman, A. A. Fangman, Leander Menke, sec.-treas., Joe Ford, P. J. Schiltz, Eugene Lampe, Donald Degen, Art Droessler, Al Bormann and Erwin Heldorfer.

On Tuesday afternoon, December 12, 1961, representatives of 23 construction companies met in St. John's Hall to present sealed bids for the contract for St. John's new high school and cafeteria. The three bids accepted by the pastor and building committee were: Anderson Construction Co. of Emrnetsburg, general contractor, for the sum of $247,670; Pratt Electric Co. of Algona for installation of electrical wiring and fixtures for a bid of $20,385; and Secory of Clear Lake for the plumbing and heating. The total cost was approximately $330,000.

Finally, the dreams and work of several years began to be realized with the construction work starting on the new St. John High School and cafeteria. Workmen and equipment of the Anderson Construction Co. was moved in, and on March 19 the initial work began. The first step was the removal of ten foot snowbanks from the site staked out, and the digging began.

The 68'x172' two-story high school will accomodate 300 students , and the one-story cafeteria 70'x70' is designed to seat 275 comfortably.

On March 14, His Excellency Bishop Joseph Mueller blessed and dedicated the new St. John high School and cafeteria. A procession of clergy, servers, and Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus proceeded from the rectory to the front of the new building. There the cornerstone, containing names of all the school children, faculty members and parishioners who contributed to the building fund, was blessed and put in place. The corridor crucifix was next blessed and put in place. Then the Bishop went from room to room and blessed the entire building. Another beautiful building had been blessed and established at St. John the Baptist parish.

New High School - 1963

The new 172'x68' high school and cafeteria opened in August, 1963.

A new high school band was formed under the direction of Mr. Bobby Griegs of Blue Earth, Minn.

Father Victor Ramaeker became the first priest administrator as St. John's School in June 1966 - followed by Father Thomas E. Geelan in 1971 - Father Eugene Murray in 1975 - Father Cleo Seuntjens in 1977 - Father Patrick O'Kane in 1984 and Father McGuirk in 1988.

Shared-time with the Swea City Community School - North Kossuth - became a reality in 1969.

The first School Bazaar was held in the fall of 1944 under the direction of Sister Rita Clare Becker and the Sodality; the co-chairmen were Mary (Droessler) Oliver and Richard Garry, together with their committees in charge. In 1954, Mr. V. J. Meyer and the senior class took over the event which has grown yearly in popularity and financially since its beginning. The entire staff, student body and community worked hard on each and every bazaar to provide the monies, which were divided four ways, for the high school, grade school, fine arts department and the athletic department.

On February 14, 1988, Bishop Soens visited the parish and informed them that St. John's High School was to close the following year. The class of 1989 became the final graduating class of the high school.

Athletic Department

No parish history would be complete without a word of praise for the fine athletic department developed in St. John's.

Many state baseball titles have been won by the St. John's athletes. The first was in the fall of l943 - to the summer title in 1985. In the years between, over 36 trips were made to the state tournament, spring, summer and fall.

In basketball, several diocesan tournaments were won and several teams advanced to sub-state, playing in the Iowa Athletic Association competition.

Boys cross country and track began in 1970. State cross country titles were won in 1976 and 1977. Second place state titles were won in 1978 and 1979. The girls, too, were a credit to St. John's in softball, volleyball, cross country and track.

Mr. V. J. Meyer has been the man behind the strong athletic program. He took 32 teams to various state tournaments, winning over 1,200 games, including eight high school titles. He was an inspiration to the entire community and was known state and nationwide for his accomplishments.

The New Convent

Msgr. Wm. Mason of Emmetsburg laid the cornerstone of the new convent on Sunday, November 14, 1954. A procession formed of Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus, altar boys and visiting priests started at the rectory and proceeded to the site of the new convent. After the laying of the cornerstone, a sermon was preached by Rev. Bernard Montag of Ledyard, and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament was held in the church.

The ladies of the parish presented the Sisters with a 24-piece setting of Rogers silverware and a new vacuum cleaner. In April the Catholic Daughters purchased new beds, desks, chairs and rugs for the new convent. All the furniture was purchased at the local Fuchs Furniture Store. Other donations made were the furnishings for the chapel, the community room, the larger parlor, the smaller parlor on the east side; and the stained glass windows. Ladies were organized to purchase furnishings and sew draperies for the Sisters' private rooms. The cost of the building, exclusive of furniture, was $127,000. An open house for all the parishioners was held on August 21.

"The old school", a 56'x78 three-story frame structure, which also served as living quarters for the Sisters since they came to the parish in 1900, was sold at public auction to the highest bidder.

The "70's" and "80's"

The Lutheran Church closed its doors in 1974. St. John's Parish purchased the organ and a nuinber of pews. The organ was installed in the choir loft, and the pews are used in the church basement.

The D.D.P. Program was initiated in 1974.

1975 saw new doors on the church proper. The bell tower was repaired extensively. The eighth grade of St. John's erected a shrine to the Blessed Mother on the school property.

Msgr. Schultes had ten o'clock Mass on Christmas Day. He celebrated his 60th anniversary on June 17, 1976. A Latin Mass was sung for him.

In 1977 extensive work was done on the cemetery plats.

A tree was planted by St. John's FFA in memory of Sister Tarcisia.

The north confessional was converted to a reconciliation room.

Forty Hours was held in March of that year.

May 8th the blessing of seeds and soil.

Communion in the hand was initiated.

The tabernacle was lighted.

In 1978 a class of 100 received the sacrament of Confirmation.

Blessing of the soil was May 4th and blessing of all vehicles was May 20-21.

A flew tabernacle was purchased and donated by a parishioner.

September 17, 1978 many parishioners journeyed to Des Moines for the Pope's visit to Iowa.

In 1979 a beautiful carillon was donated by a parishioner in memory of their daughter. Seasonal tapes and hymns are played at noon and at six otclock daily. A beautiful addition to St. John's.

Open house was held April 8, 1979. Parishioners conducted tours throughout the church, rectory, convent and school. Ladies of the parish served coffee and cake.

In 1980, the apartments in the convent were constructed.

A Men's retreat was held April 3-5, 1980, with Father Halloran of Stacyville as retreat master.

The blessing of homes, land and machinery continued.

A chair-lift was donated by a family in memory of their parents.

In 1980, the centennial year for the town of Bancroft, an outdoor Mass was held on July 5th.

An anonymous donor provided new carpet for the center and side aisles of the church.

In 1982, the Foresters helped repair all the kneelers in church. That year also, the church basement was remodeled with monies donated by parishioners, including a large donation for that specific purpose from an estate.

New Improvements

In October of 1984, new windows were installed in the entire school. Venetian blinds, also, replaced the old shades. These could be shut as desired to provide the darkness needed for the many films used in the curriculum.

New fans were installed that year in the church.

A new plaque was also installed at the cemetery entrance.

In 1984, the attic of the rectory was insulated and the soffits painted.

In April, 1985, a phone which had been installed in the church basement was changed to local calls only. Reason - expense.

In May, 1985, a piano was donated to the church by a former parishioner. It was installed in the church, directly across from the organ.

In 1987, new railings on the north and south entrances to the church were installed.

Anew restroom was put on the north side of the church, and the two existing restrooms were remodeled. Painting and general repair of the church proper and hall were also done.

In April, 1987, new electrical work was done on the upper floor or the grade school.

In May, 1987, the school boilers were checked and repaired. That same year the pews around the organ were cut out in such a way that they could be replaced. This made it available for parishioners to use the pews and get in and out easily.

In July, 1987, the asbestos was removed from the first floor of the high school. Volunteers removed all the equipment, desks, etc.

That same year new cafeteria lights were installed and new wiring in the gym was completed.

The organ belonging to a deceased parishioner was installed in the choir loft, and the old choir loft organ was donated to Sacred Heart Church in Ledyard.

Because countless donations, both large and small, have enriched St. John's Parish over its 100 years, names of individual donors have not been listed.

Spiritual Growth of St. John's Parish

In 1891, St. John the Baptist Church had 85 envelope holders; today, 1991, 520 comprise the congregation.

Throughout the years many spiritual services have been held to further and instill love for God: daily Mass, many, many retreats, Forty Hours, May Crowning, Missions, yearly blessing of the sick, blessing of cars, seeds, soil and hornes, Novena to the Sorrowful Mother, Friday Stations during Lent, Benediction, Vespers (years ago), Rosary said before Mass, daily and before the two Sunday Masses, special holy Week Services, Renew Program, Weekly Mass for the school children, special Masses for C.D.A. Altar Society, KC's and Foresters.

Confessions are heard on Saturday, before Mass on Sunday, and before special feast days.