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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSt. Joseph's 121703The Bryan - College Station Eagle Friday, May 2, 1997 St. Joseph's makes mark in history Church gets historical marker By MICHELLE LYONS Eagle Staff Writer Before Bryan even was incorporated as a city, members of the community were attend- ing St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Bryan. On Thursday morning, more than 800 people — including students of St. Joseph's School — gathered to see the 125- year -old church receive a historical marker from the Texas Historical Commission. The marker is located on a post outside the church at 600 E. 26th St. Two members of the school's student council were on hand to unveil the marker, and 10 other students representing the various immi- grant groups who helped found the church gave short speeches. Father John McCaffrey, pastor of St. 1 Joseph's for the past 12 years, said the children were involved in the service because they will be the next generation of church members. "We did it with the school kids because they are the future of the church," he said. "They are the ones who will be the members for the next 125 years." The original church — in stark contrast to Please see CHURCH, Page A18 Father John McCaffery of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Bryan shows students the new historical marker that was unveiled Thursday in front of the church. This, the third historical marker from the Church roro All the large structure that exists on the same site today — was a small frontier mission built in 1871 for a small active parish. Its first pas- tor was Father John Moore. A fire destroyed that building in 1876, leaving the congregation to hold worship services in a local store front until a new sanc- tuary was built. In 1883, the church acquired a Masonic schoolhouse for $500 and convert- ed it into a church for about $1,200. This building was replaced in 1904. As the continued to grow, another structure was built at East 26th and Preston streets and dedicated in 1960. The earliest members of the church also were the earliest set- tlers of Brazos County. Charles Schultz, chairman of the Brazos County Historical Commission, said that in order for an organization to be recog- Eagle photo /Dave McDermand Texas Historical Commission to be placed on the block the church stands on, describes the history of the church as it grew from a small frontier mission more than 125 years ago. 111111 111 1 111 1 111 I1 1 • nized with a marker, it first must submit a footnoted historical nar- rative that is at least three pages long. Joanne Glowski of the Polish Genealogical So Texas wrote he nary a or t. Joseph's The application then is consid- ered by the commission, Schultz said, and only sent on to Austin if the members of the commission are "virtually positive" it will be approved. Once it is approved, it takes about a year to write the text and cast the marker.