A Brief History Of St. Louis Catholic Church in Batesville Indiana
This is an article about the history of St. Louis Catholic
Church in Batesville Indiana
The town of Batesville was founded at the time the railroad, was built
through here in 1852. The first Catholics went to church either in Oldenburg
or Morris. The Franciscan Fathers of Oldenburg started having Mass in
Batesville about 1867. The children went to school at Oldenburg. Two
non-Catholics, Messrs. Boehringer and Schrader donated the ground on which
the church now, stands. Plans for building the church were begun in 1867.
In the fail of 1868 Batesville was made a mission to be visited from
Greenburg where Rev. John Gillig was pastor. He conducted services twice a
month in a private residence on, Pearl St. (then known as Broadway}.
Services were conducted in Boehringer Hall. The Charles Johnson family lived
in the same building, which was destroyed by a fire in the 1940's.
Services were held there until 1870.
Fr. John Gillig began the construction of the church but before it was half
finished the parish was turned over again to the Franciscan Fathers of
Oldenburg and Fr. Louis Haverbeck, O.F.M. (died 1934 at the age of 93)
finished the church. The church was blessed on September l8, 1870 by the
Franciscan Superior, Fr. Otto Jair, O.F.M., Fr. Appolinar Hattler, O.F.M.
preached the sermon. Eight newly invested novices from Oldenburg, which was
the novitiae, attended (except Fr. Marcus Krete of Enochsburg, was in bed
with fever). The parish originally was called St. Ludwig's, probably in
honor of Fr. Louis Haverbeck.
In 1871 Ft. Louis Haverbeck, O.F.M. built the first school on the present
site of the Sisters' house. The four classrooms were on the first floor
and the Sisters lived on the second floor. The Franciscan Sisters of
Oldenburg took over the school on September 1, 1872 with Sister M. Julitta
and Sister M. Blanche as the first teachers. Years later the Johnson
residence across the street was purchased and used as the Sisters'
residence until 1928 when the new Sisters' home, the present one, was built
at the cost of $21,000,
Fr. Bernadine Holthouse, O.F.M. built the Rectory in 1876, which is still in
use. Fr. Matthias Heile, O.F.M. added four rooms in the rear about 1941.
After the fathers from Oldenburg had taken care of the parish for seven
years, Fr. Peter Baptist Englert, O.F.M. (died 1927 in Louisville) was made
the first resident pastor in January of 1877. In 1883 the congregation
consisted of 70 families. In 1964 there were 650 families. Now the parish
numbers 1280 families.
A new school was built and dedicated on November 23, 1923 by Fr. Adalbert
Rolfes O.F.M. at the cost of $130,000. When this became too small, Fr.
Friedbert Adams, O.F.M. built an addition in 1952. When the school became
too small again Fr. Stephen Schneider, O.F.M. built another addition in
1961. The school became a "free School" January 1, 1920., i.e. the pupils
did not have to pay tuition.
The first festival was organized by Fr. Clementine Broerman, O.F:M.
(1906-1912) who told the people to come even if they could not spend any
money. They came and Father was happy to announce later that they cleared
a hundred dollars. In 1971, Fr. John Turnbull, O.F.M., moved the festival
outdoors under 2 large and 3 small tents. The gross was nearly $30,000. The
1987 festival grossed $84,000.
The first, Mr. George Hillenbrand donated the present high altar for his
wedding. The altar was made in Louisville. The stations were donated by
families (the old stations and also the present ones carved by Mr. Wm.
Weberding).
The Hillenbrand and Romweber families bought and donated the land on which
the present school stands. It had been a lumber yard with some shacks on it.
This happened at the time of Fr. Clementine Broerman, O.F.M. (1906-1912).
The George Schultz family conveyed the property to the parish which is now
St. Louis Cemetery.
In 1890 the original stubby church tower, with its two bells, was replaced
by the steeple and cross and a third bell was added. Mr. Louis Meyer, who
lived near Oldenburg, donated the new bell and it was dedicated to his
memory and bears his name, Louis, (all bells have names). The tower clock
was donated by Mr. John Hillenbrand.
St. Louis Church was remodeled and enlarged in 1902. In 1962 the church was
redecorated. The school auditorium had been set up as a temporary church.
All the pews were removed to Romweber Company's warehouse, the finish
removed and redone. The floor was shored and leveled as best it could be;
rubber tile was laid wall to wall by Home Mart. Attic joists were
reinforced, the ceiling was covered with acoustical tile and soffits built
the length of the nave to give it more appearance of length and to conceal
indirect lighting. All new wiring and lights were installed.
The Weberding Carving Shop produced new stations of the cross using the
pictures from the old ones as models. They also manufactured a tabernacle
and pulpit and redesigned the confessionals.
'
Walnut paneling was applied around the entire nave. Work was begun on June 8
and completed on December 7 of the same year.
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A new baptistery was added to the church in 1963.
During the summers of 1979-80-81-82, Brother Norbert Bertram remodeled the
interior of the Friary. This past year new Anderson windows were installed.
In 1985 the old Hoff House, across the street from the church was torn down
and a new storage building erected behind the convent. That same year,
the roof on the 2 additions to the school was replaced, and the buildings
were tuck pointed.
The parish continues to grow and flourish, as evidence by the recent
renovation, begun in March and completed September 11, 1987.
Many of the facts and events reported in this brief history
were taken from some notes compiled by Fr. Herculan Kolinski, O.F.M in 1964.
A Brief History Of St. Louis Catholic Church in Batesville Indiana
