“Making way for starting work on the new government post office building at Sixth and Gay streets, Dr. George Martin, owner of the church of the Holy Redeemer abandoned property, consisting of the church building and rectory, has let the contract to remove the buildings to Kendall Hunter, who will begin work at once. The contractor receives the salvage. Soon, the familiar old church, that served the congregation for so many years and until the splendid new house of worship was built on Gallia street, will be but a memory. The following prepared sketch will be interesting reading to Catholics and the public generally.”
“Catholicism in Scioto County covers a period of more than a hundred years. The first mass was celebrated by Father Stephen Baden1, the first priest ordained in the United States who visited this city while enroute from Baltimore to Covington, Kentucky, in 1812. From 1812 to 1842 mass was celebrated at various times and places in the city. Father Baden’s last visit here was in 1835. The city had grown considerable during his absence of more than 24 years. There was then the Commercial bank of Scioto, a hotel (the Ohio), two newspapers, the Western Times and the Tribune-a Methodist and a Presbyterian church and several private (Protestant) schools. The first Catholic church in the city was originally organized in 1842 by Father G O’Mealy2 and was composed of German and English speaking members. Mass was celebrated in not only the humble apartments of some of the members; in the few small halls available, but also in the first Catholic school house. This house was a one-story structure on the order of a cottage, and occupied a site on the south side of Second, or what was known at the time as Back street, below Madison street (Now No. 220). The school house stood and was occupied as a private home until in the ’60’s and is recalled by older persons yet living in the West End, who as children received their training there. Many of these pupils later attended school in the rectory that adjoined the Church of the Nativity at Third and what is now Madison street. Among the pupils yet living who attended the school there are Henry Goodman, Jacob Schafer, Val Herbst and others.”
“It was in 1842 that Father O’Mealy purchased the ground at Third and Madison streets and built the church and rectory and which was dedicated Christmas day in 1844. The second floor of the rectory served as a home for the sisters. The old church was abandoned in 1871 when St. Mary’s was built and was sold to Conrad Gerlach, who used it as a storage house for salt, lime, ice, etc. A small graveyard surrounded the church and rectory on the north and west.”
“Early members of the church included the Krickers, Hubbards, Zimmermans, Grimes, Reitz’s, Allmans, Morans and Charles Damarin and his sister. Mr. Damarin was one of the acolytes to Pope Pius VII at the coronation of Napoleon, who afterwards cast His Holiness into prison.”
“Other members of the Church of the Nativity included Vincent, Stephen, Peter and Paul Brodbeck, who later withdrew and became organizers of the First German Methodist church built in 1847 at No. 442 West Fourth street, which was abandoned for the then (in 1868) German M.E. church at Fourth and Washington streets. The old building remains and is occupied as a private residence. It has been owned for years by Vincent Brodbeck’s grandson, Dr. Charles W Wendelken. At one time a private German school occupied one lower corner room taught by Professor Petre, and again by Professor Baum. The church proper was reached by an outside stairway from the sidewalk.”
“Reverend O’Mealy was succeeded at the Church of the Nativity by Reverend Father Thierpont3 and he in turn by Reverend Father Gilmore4 in 1852. During the pastorate of Father Gilmore the congregation requested that an arrangement be made for separate churches, one for the English and one for the German speaking members. The separation was accordingly made. Father Gilmore took charge of the English speaking part of the congregation and at once made arrangements to built the Church of the Holy Redeemer, on Sixth street east of Gay. Father Gilmore purchased the lot from AW Finley5, for $900. The erection of the new church was pushed rapidly forward and the new edifice was completed and the first mass held in 1851. During the time the new church was under construction Father Gilmore rented the old First Presbyterian church on Second street, west of Market, and mass was held there until the new church was completed. This Presbyterian church had been built in 1822 and costs $1651.73. In 1850 the present First Presbyterian church was built and the old building abandoned. It was sold to TM Lynn6, who utilized it as a livery stable until 1871, when it was destroyed in the Taylor House-Massie block fire.”
“Father James J O’Donohue was priest of Holy Redeemer church after Father Gilmore. During the pastorate he built the rectory and started the school under a lay teacher.”
“Reverend Michael Ahern succeeded Father Donahue in 1866. He put the school under the supervision of the Sisters of Charity of Cedar Grove. In August, 1867, Reverend John Curley was appointed pastor. He remained only a few months, when Reverend Father AO Walker7 was appointed as his successor. Father Walker is recalled as a most popular pastor by both Catholics and non-Catholics.”
“Father Walker purchased the ground on the northwest corner of Sixth and Gay streets and built a school there, a two-story brick structure and introduced the Dominican Sisters as instructors to the children. A cottage to the west of the school was acquired and here the teachers made their home. The property was sold in recent years and became one of the numerous tire and gasoline stations.”
“Father Goldsmith8 was appointed pastor in 1873. During his pastorate the Dominican Sisters were recalled to their Mother house, where upon the Sisters of St. Francis, of Joliet, Illinois, were engaged.”
“Reverend DB Cull9 was the next pastor. He built the school on the lot purchased by Father Walker and secured the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, Kentucky. He remained here until July, 1878, when he was succeeded by Father Steyle10. Father Steyle purchased the cemetery and had it laid off in lots. Upon the retirement of the Nazareth Sisters of Charity, Father Steyle secured the Sisters of St. Francis, and these faithful Christian workers served the school for many years.”
“In October, 1884, Reverend JJ Slevin11 was appointed to succeed Father Steyle, and he remained here until 1896, when he was transferred to Wellston. Reverend Joseph Schmidt succeeded Father Slevin and was pastor until January 15, 1889. He remodeled and painted the interior of the church. January 15, 1889 Monsignor JE McGuirk12, now a patient in Mercy hospital, was appointed rector, and he served the congregation for more than 40 years. He was appointed to Holy Redeemer church by the Right Reverend Bishop Waterson DD13. Father McGuirk was born in Pittsburg in 1853.”
“The old church was damaged by fire shortly after Christmas in 1905. While it was being repaired mass was celebrated in the old Evangelical church on the south side of Fifth street, which is now occupied by the Ohio Valley Wholesale Company.”
“It was during the pastorate of Father McGuirk that Holy Redeemer church on Gallia street at Glover was built and the Sixth street church abandoned. The new church was dedicated October 5, 1908.”
“The old church building has been used for a market house and used car garage. Dr. Martin has owned the property for several years, along with the former parish house on the west. The dwelling property has been used by Martin for his suite of offices.”
“Dr. Martin sold the property to the government as part of the site for the new $400,000 post office for $30,812.50.”14
- Reverend Father Stephen Theodore Badin
- As recorded in the April 1997 Barquilla de la Santa Maria, on July 16, 1842, Reverend Joseph O’Mealy was appointed by the Bishop, Pastor of the Congregations of Portsmouth, Aberdeen, Ripley and other stations on the Ohio River.
- Reverend Father Emmanuel Thienpont
- Reverend Father Richard Gilmour
- Alexander W. Finley
- Trustom Mearns “Trusty” Lynn
- Osman A. Walker
- Reverend John Caspar Goldschmidt
- Reverend Daniel Bartholomew Cull
- Reverend Father Phillippe Steyle
- Reverend Father James Joseph Slevin
- Monsignor John Edwin McGuirk
- Bishop John Ambrose Watterson
- Old church razed. (1932, May 15). Portsmouth Times, p. 1.
