Eden
Eden Township, Marshall County, South Dakota, USA
St. Joseph's Parish of Eden Park
from "Marshall County"
by the Marshall County Historical Society
©1979
pages 111 - 112
The following account of the beginning of St. Joseph's parish
at Eden Park was written in 1904 in German by Father Anthony C.
Helmbrecht, pastor of Frank and Eden at that time. It was written
in German script and has been kept in the parish files until
now. The following was translated by Mrs. Eddie Buck, Sisseton,
S.D. in July 1977 and printed for the parish by Msgr. C.W.
Trautner, August 19, 1977. (Pastor of Sacred Heart Church of
Eden and St. Joseph's of Lake City)
On October 28, 1891 His Excellency Bishop Martin Marty of Sioux
Falls, S.D., dedicated St. Michael's Parish Church in Frank, Day
County, S.D. At that time the membership numbered about 80
families. Everything seemed harmonious except for the fact that
the parishioners living to the north in Marshall County found
it difficult to come to church, because of the great distance
they had to drive to church. As the parish in Frank continued
to grow and expand the people to the north began toying with
the idea of building their own. As early as Sept. 16, 1900 the
families living in this northern part of the parish in Marshall
County held a meeting in which they decided to go ahead with
the building of their own church. They voted on a building
committee to which Joseph Patsch, John Thuringer and Alois
Deutsch were elected. This committee immediately went to work
with courage and ambition to organize a picnic to raise money
for the new church.
Mr. Joseph Patsch and Mrs. Eva Thuringer gathered their courage
and went from house to house asking for donations from the kitchens
for the planned picnic. Several members of the parish gladly gave
other items for an auction in connection with that picnic. FOR
INSTANCE: Mr. Ferdinand Kista donated a foal that brought $7.50.
Mrs. John Kotschevar donated a calf and several other items that
brought $9.45. Mr. George Oreslan gave a table cloth that brought
$4.35. Mrs. Theresia Unger gave a doll that brought $4.40. Mrs.
Veronica Deutsch gave a harmonica that brought $5.00. This first
picnic was a great success and at the end they had raised the
nice sum of $145.46.
On December 27, 1900, in the public school building, the new parish
experienced for the first time the great fortune of having Holy
Mass offered in their midst. But their happiness did not last
long for soon they had disagreements about money matters and
their Priest, Father J.M. Buscher, who was the Pastor of Frank,
would not come to read Mass anymore. And so a new battle was about
to begin. At the first meeting it was already decided to build
a church. Only the location was left to be dediced on. The question:
"Where do we build the Church?" created great problems for the
priest and for the elders - and seriously threatened the very
life of the parish as a parish. To end the arguing and fighting
Father J.M. Buscher went to his Excellency, Bishop Thomas
O'Gorman of Sioux Falls, S.D. and he decided on the site where
the church is now located.
On April 1, 1901 a new committee of councilmen were voted in. They
were: John Thuringer, Anton Deutsch, Joseph Patsch and Martin
Koppy. They went to work on the new Church and the first lumber
was bought in May. At that time they had $400.00 in notes and
$30.00 cash. Because of the quarrels and disagreements among the
members of the parish, many who had been in favor of building the
new church fell away instead. And so it happened that only 8 men
remained to carry the workload. They were John Thuringer, Anton
Deutsch, Joseph Patsch, Martin Koppy, John Kotschevar, Mathias
Tscherne, Michael Janisch, Joseph Janisch. It was discouraging
for these 8 men to watch their fellow parishioners sit back and
do nothing. But they remained faithful and did not lose their
courage and continued with the work they had started. To get the
building started Lawrence Herges from St. Martin, Minn. was hired
as carpenter for $165.00. Adolf Sckerl took over the masonry work.
On June 24, 1901, without fanfare, the cornerstone of the new
church was laid. Mr. Joseph Patsch, a member of the council at
that time, helped without pay. Sometimes he assisted the carpenter
and other times the mason. He was a faithful worker. May God the
giver of everything good reward him and all others who so
diligently worked. The building progressed nicely so that on
Sept. 19, 1901 the first Holy Mass could be offered there. The
steeple was still missing and the approaches unfinished
... And ... the building fund was empty. The council now had
the unpleasant job of going from door to door asking for
donations so the church could be completed. By June 28, 1902 they
had raised the sum of $256,80 and so they quickly set to work to
complete the church. Mr. Art Richard and Mr. Adolf Sckerl agreed
to build the steeple for $75.00. But before the steeple was
finished tragedy struck the new parish. A windstorm like a
tornado moved the building from its foundation. It cost $170.00
to repair that damage.
On April 20, 1902, the feast of St. Joseph, the church was blessed
and dedicated to St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
as the Patron of the parish. May all members of this parish feel
real devotion for their patron saint and follow his example of
a holy life, inner peace and satisfaction in work and may they
always seek his protection, especially in the hour of death. O,
St. Joseph, Pray for Us! On the day of the dedication a picnic
was held to raise more money. They took in the nice sum of $87.70.
But again many unpleasant things happened. On May 15th, Mr. Art
Richard and Mr. Adolf Sckerl began to plaster the Church for the
sum of $385.00. The building fund was down to '0' again! So
another picnic was held on Sept. 21, 1902. And again! Great
troubles arose but they succeeded in raising the sum of $206.00.
At present everything is moving ahead as planned and hopefully
it will always be this way. May the good Lord bless and protect
this parish, preserve peace and harmony among the members, so
that they may serve Him with a happy heart in His Church that
was built with such great sacrifices. And may He welcome and
reward them in heaven. Amen.
Written on March 19, 1904 by Rev. A.C. Helmbrecht, Rector of
Eden and Frank
E-mail: dwagner2@isd.net
©2002 DJW
Last Modified:
October 12, 2002