St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church (East Camden)

One of two Catholic Churches in Camden named St. Joseph, the church lies on Federal Street in Camden, a few blocks east of 27th Street. St. Joseph's School, at the rear of the property, fronts on Westfield Avenue. The church originally stood on the corner of North 25th Street and Howell Street.

Founded in 1893, St. Joseph's church celebrated its Golden Anniversary in 1943. Below you will find the 80-page Golden Jubilee Yearbook from that year, complete with photos, a history of the church, and lots and lots of advertisements from local businesses.

A new church building was built in 1952, on the site of the old St. Patrick's Cemetery. This church was called St. Joseph's Pro-Cathedral, as its capacity — being larger than the downtown Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception — allowed it to be an alternate facility to the main church.

On April 4, 2008 Bishop Galante announced the following changes which affected churches in Camden and Pennsauken. The changes, taken from the text of the bishop's speech, are as follows:

* Merge the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (Camden), Holy Name (Camden) and Our Lady of Mount Carmel & Fatima (Camden), with the primary worship site at the Cathedral and a secondary worship site at Our Lady of Mount Carmel & Fatima.

* Merge St. Joseph Pro-Cathedral (Camden), St. Cecilia (Pennsauken) and St. Veronica (Delair), with the worship site at St. Joseph Pro-Cathedral.

* Merge St. Joan of Arc (Camden) and St. Bartholomew (Camden) with the worship site at St. Joan of Arc.

* Cluster the new parish at St. Joan of Arc (Camden) with Sacred Heart (Camden).

* St. Anthony of Padua (Camden) and St. Joseph Polish (Camden) will remain as stand-alone parishes.

‘Watch Yer Step’ to Be Presented June 15 and 16

The pupils of St. Joseph's School of East Camden are rehearsing for the rural musical comedy, “Watch Yer Step,” which they will present on Thursday and Friday evenings, June 15 and 16 in the school auditorium, Twenty-ninth street and Westfield Avenue.

The story of “Watch Yer Step” is laid in Turnipville, a small mythical community. The action centers about the mortgaged homestead of a widow, which a sly old “pinch-penny” is trying to buy “dirt cheap.” How the home is saved by two young men from the city, and how pretty Marjorie Brooks, the widow's daughter, is wooed and won makes an interesting and hilarious musical comedy.

Anna Walker plays the part of the widow Brooks, and Regina Long the role of her daughter. John Straub is the village “shylock,” while James McNeff and John Valdese are the enterprising young men from the city.

No rural comedy would be complete without the village constable and his aggressive better half, who makes life miserable for him. Marcia Schnauffer, of Merchantville, and James Danter are rehearsing for these character roles. Margaret Regan, as a pretty girl from the city; Mary O'Neill as the alert chaperone, Francis Behl and James Maher as two tramps, and James Ward and Charles Reynolds as two “deacons,” complete the cast.

Twelve tuneful musical numbers, ten of them with dancing choruses, are arranged. Miss Helen McGuigan has succeeded in bringing out the latent talent of the dancers and given them a polish that is seldom found outside of professional choruses.

The Parent-Teacher Association of St. Joseph's School is making the costumes, while Emil Meidt and Joseph McGlade have painted new scenery for the show. Phil Solari is the director of “Watch Yer Step.”

On Friday evening the graduation exercises of the school will be held prior to the play. Edward L. Whalen of Elizabeth, past state deputy of the Knights of Columbus, will address the graduates.

At popular demand the St. Joseph's Dramatic Club will give a return performance of the cabaret show which won enthusiastic acclaim at the St. Joseph's Auditorium, Twenty-ninth street and Westfield Avenue several weeks ago. It will be presented next Thursday.

Walt Stanton, popular vaudeville star, will be Master of Ceremonies for the varied bill topped by Joe Hamilton, famous Camden minstrel man, The Two Jays, Ed Donahue, the Irish lyric tenor; a revue from the Warrington School and the Mullen and Vincent team comprise the rest of the bill.

Refreshments will be served.

Members of the St. Joseph's parish of East Camden will hold a parish meeting in the school auditorium tonight in preparation for their annual carnival, which will be held Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, July 12, 13, 14, and 15.

The variety of booths should draw to the school grounds on Westfield Avenue and twenty-ninth street the largest crowds that has attended the carnival. Each night supper will be served at a very reasonable cost. The suppers prepared by the ladies of the parish have become famous with the frequenters of the carnival.

Many new novelties and amusements are being prepared by the committee. Radio entertainers and stars of the stage will be on hand to entertain the large crowds that are expected. This carnival is held each year for the benefit of St. Joseph's School.

East Camden School to Present Musical, ‘Watch Yer Step’

On Thursday night and on the next night immediately after the graduation exercises, the students of St. Joseph's School, Twenty-ninth street and Westfield Avenue, will present the rural musical comedy, “Watch Yer Step.”

Twelve musical numbers furnish the musical score. Miss Helen McGuigan has taught the girls some lively steps. The ladies of the P.-T. A. of St. Joseph's parish have created a number of stunning costumes for the dancers. Phil Colari, well-known dramatic coach, is directing the play.

Forty students will graduate Friday evening. They will be addressed by Edward L. Whelan, past state deputy of the Knights of Columbus.

Parochial Students Present Rural Musical Comedy — Performance Tonight

“Watch Yer Step,” described as a rural musical comedy, was presented last night by the students of St. Joseph's parochial school, Twenty-ninth street and Westfield Avenue.

The show will be repeated tonight after the commencement exercises. Anna Walker plays the part of the widow Brooks, and Regina Long the role of her daughter. John Straub is the village “shylock,” while James McNeff and John Valdese are the enterprising young men from the city.

No rural comedy would be complete without the village constable, and his aggressive better half who makes life miserable for him. Marcia Schnautter, of Merchantville, and James Danter are rehearsing for these character roles. Margaret Regan, as a pretty girl from the city; Mary O'Neill as the alert chaperone, Francis Behl and James Maher as two tramps, and James Ward and Charles Reynolds as two “deacons,” complete the cast.

Members of St. Joseph's parish in East Camden have definitely fixed the date for their annual carnival this year for the evenings of July 12 to 15 inclusive.

Many new attractions, in addition to the usual booths, have been arranged for this year's event. One of the features will be the suppers which will be prepared by the members of St. Joseph's Parent-Teachers Association and served beginning at 6 o'clock on each of the four nights. Races will be staged each night, while pony rides will be available for the children. Musical entertainment will be provided every night.

There will be a meeting next Monday at which the various committees will submit reports on the carnival plans.

The Parent-Teacher Association of St. Joseph's School will meet tonight to plan for a supper at the annual carnival of St. Joseph's Church July 12 to 15.

Mrs. George Meidt is chairman of the committee, which includes Mrs. Irene Ayres, secretary; Mrs. Regina Gilmore, treasurer, and Mrs. L. Agger, hostess. Members of the association will assist in serving.

Knights of Columbus Plan to Enroll 100 Here in Laymen's Movement

The second meeting of the Camden Knights of Columbus Retreat Club will be held at their home, 603 Penn Street, tonight at 8:30 p.m.

The Knights are sponsoring the Laymen's Retreat movement in Camden and have set their goal at 100 men. The retreat will be held at San Alfonso Retreat House at West End, the weekend of July 23.

Tonight's meeting will be known as “East-Side night,” and a delegation of men from St. Joseph's parish will welcome Father Joseph Turner, C. S. S. R., who will be the principal speaker.

Father Turner is one of the pioneers of the Laymen's Retreat movement in this country, being responsible for the establishment of the Retreat House at West End.

San Alfonso Retreat House was opened in 1927, with less than 50 laymen retreatants and has steadily grown each year. During the year of 1937 a total of 1800 retreatants was reached. Much of this progress is due to the efforts of Father Turner, who was the Retreat master for a period of more than two years.

Past Grand Knight Reynolds is the Retreat captain.

Background of Catholicity in Camden

Who the first Catholic was, and when he came to Camden is unknown. Col. Thomas Dongan, Governor of New York, was accompanied by the Rev. Thomas Harvey, a Catholic Priest, when he came from England in 1682. Father Harvey traveled extensively with Col. Dongan through New York and New Jersey, stopping many times in Philadelphia. It is possible that some of the Irish who settled here as early as 1690 were Catholics, though most were Friends, and possible also that they received the consolation of the sacraments from Father Harvey on these visits.

The families of William Cooper, John Kaighn, and Archibald Mickle owned all the land within the limits of the city before the absorption of the town of Stockton. The Cooper land extended from Pyne Point to Line Street, so called because it set off the Cooper land from Kaighn’s; the Kaighn property extended south to Little Newton Creek, for a long time known as “Line Ditch” because it divided the Kaighn and Mickle ground. The Mickle farm stretched from Little Newton Creek to Newton Creek. Many Irish settlers worked on these three extensive estates.

In the middle part of the eighteenth century (1744) a celebrated Jesuit, the Reverend Theodore Schneider, D.D. was companion to Father Harding, S.J., at Old St. Joseph’s, Fourth and Willings Alley, Philadelphia. Father Schneider acted as missionary to West Jersey, where he made regular stops at Bound Brook, Burlington, and Gloucester—which then included Camden. Thence he journeyed south to Cohansey (Bridgeton), and Salem, generally winding up at the glass house near Alloway, where he frequently said Mass and baptized at the house of Matthew Geiger. Upon his death in 1765 the Reverend Ferdinand Steynemeyer, better known as “Father Farmer,” took up the labors. He paid frequent visits during English and American troops stationed along the east bank of the Delaware from the revolutionary period to both the Salem to Burlington. It is also quite certain that Bishop Carroll, on one occasion at least, passed through Camden, but there is no known record of his officiating at any religious services at that time.

After the death of Father Farmer in 1786, the West Jersey missions were visited for several years by priests from St. Joseph’s, but on the organization of St. Augustine’s, July, 1796, they seem to have been transferred to the jurisdiction of the priests of that church. After 1808 and the erection of the Cathedral parish the Gloucester-Camden district was attended by the priests of the Cathedral. This arrangement continued until the Newark Diocese was established in 1853.

In the year 1773 Jacob Cooper, a Philadelphia merchant, and a lineal descendant of the first William Cooper who settled at Pyne Point, forseeing the possibility of a town on the east bank of the Delaware, employed a Philadelphia surveyor by the name of Thompson to lay out 40 acres into a town plot. The colonies were aroused at the time over the Grenville policy of taxing the colonies without representation in Parliament, a policy expressed in the famous Townshend Acts. In England at the time there was also opposition to this policy inaugurated by George III’s Prime Minister, and one of the most outspoken opponents of it was Charles Pratt, First Earl of Camden. Jacob Cooper therefore named the new town on the Delaware in his honor. In the new town only six streets ran north and south: King (Front), Queen (Second), Whitehall (Third), Cherry (Fourth), Cedar (Fifth), and Pine (Sixth). Cooper, Market, and Plum (Arch) intersected them. To the north was Cooper’s Point, to the south Kaighn’s Point. In 1828 Camden was incorporated and received its charter, and the three distinct sections became one community capable of framing laws for its own domestic affairs. In 1828 the entire population was only 1143 souls.

After 1828 the old Academy, which stood on the site of the present Court House, was used as Council Chamber, City Hall, and general utility building. In 1830 the Camden and Amboy railroad was begun, causing the tide of immigrants to turn toward Camden. Many Catholics from Ireland were attracted in the hope of good work, but they were still not enough for a separate parish. Priests from the Cathedral continued to visit the settlement periodically, although many crossed the river on Sunday to hear Mass in one of the Philadelphia churches. There were 15,000 people in Camden in 1850, of whom about 300 were Catholic.

Father Waldron was in charge of the Gloucester Mission in 1849, and after much tribulation he erected a small brick church there. Fathers Jeremiah Donahue and H. B. Finnegan succeeded Father Waldron in quick succession. In 1851 Father Hannegan was appointed first resident pastor of Gloucester, with jurisdiction over Camden, which became a separate county in 1844. Mass was celebrated in Camden every two or three weeks in a private house or in one of the public halls, principally Starr’s Hall. However, during 1852 no public Catholic services were held in Camden, the interruption being caused by the burning of Starr’s Hall.

When the mission reopened in 1853, conditions were changed. The Diocese of Newark had been erected, and Camden now came under the jurisdiction of the Most Reverend James Roosevelt Bayley, first Bishop of Newark, instead of the care of the Most Reverend John Nepomucene Neumann, then Bishop of Philadelphia. However, Father Hannegan continued for a short while longer to minister to the spiritual needs of the Camden people. On the 11th day of November, 1855, Camden was erected into an independent parish, separated from Gloucester, and placed under the pastoral charge of the Reverend James Moran. Between Gloucester and Burlington there was not a single Catholic Church, and only occasionally had the several settlements along the Delaware received a visit from a priest.

The old City Hall, or Starr’s Hall, continued to house public Catholic worship until 1859, when a new church building was erected and put into use. This, however, soon proved too small. In 1863 Father Moran was transferred and the Reverend Patrick Byrne appointed to succeed him. Under Father Byrne the new, larger church of the Immaculate Conception was built at Broadway and Market Streets in 1864. The same fine structure stands today, with the addition of the spire, completed in 1888 under Dean Fitzimmons, and is the Cathedral Church of the Diocese.

As there was no Catholic cemetery nearer than Gloucester or Philadelphia in 1863, Father Byrne set about obtaining one. He found a plot of approximately 9 acres at the junction of Westfield Avenue and Federal Street, which he purchased from William B. Cooper. This plot became St. Patrick’s cemetery, the eastern end of which is now the site of St. Joseph’s Church, School, and Rectory.

A considerable number of German immigrants in Camden necessitated the erection of a German parish, which took place under Father Thurnes in 1867. The property of the Second Baptist Church at Fourth and Division Streets was secured, and became the Roman Catholic Church of Saints Peter and Paul, May 3, 1867. The church now known as Sts. Peter and Paul Church, on the corner of Spruce and St. John Streets was erected in 1888. The building at Fourth and Division was taken over in 1903 by the Italian Catholics when Our Lady of Mount Carmel parish began. St. Peter’s parish in Merchantville also began in 1903.

In 1872 a wooden mission church was put up at Eighth and Van Hook Streets to accommodate the Catholics of South Camden. This was the beginning of the Sacred Heart parish, though the parish was not established separately until 1885.

Six other churches have been built in Camden since that time: Saint Joseph’s at 10th and Liberty in 1892; Saint Joseph’s, East Camden, 1893; Saint George’s and Holy Name in 1913; Saint Cecilia’s, Pennsauken, 1939; Saint Bartholomew’s on Kaighn Avenue, 1940.

The Story of St. Joseph’s Parish, East Camden

East Camden was originally part of Waterford Township, which is now 22 miles from Camden. Later it became part of Delaware, and still later part of Stockton township. In order to vote, early settlers had to go to Berlin. When it was in Delaware township, Ellisburg was the voting place. Waterford was set off by Grand Jury as a township in old Gloucester county in 1695. The boundary line between Waterford and Atlantic county remained indefinite until 1765, the year Samuel Clements made a survey of the land. The township retained this form until 1844, when everything north of Evesham road was set apart to form Delaware Township. The township of Stockton was taken from Delaware Township February 23, 1859. Pennsauken was set off from Stockton in 1892. The town of Stockton was set up within the township in 1894, and annexed to the City of Camden March 24, 1899. As constituted at present East Camden is a combination of Stockton, Pavonia, old Spicerville, later known as Wrightsville, Cramer Hill, Dudley, and the newer section of Rosedale.

After 1874 Mr. Alfred Cramer began to buy the land in the East Camden section and to develop it. He bought the old Horner farm, the holdings of the Pavonia Land Association and various other holdings of Samuel H. French, William Cooper and others.

The development of real estate north of Cooper Creek attracted a number of those who had migrated not long before from Germany, Poland, and Ireland. Quite a few of the German Catholics came from Saints Peter and Paul parish, and from Saint Boniface’s in Philadelphia. In order to get to Mass in those early days, Catholics had either to walk to Sts. Peter and Paul’s, or to the Immaculate, or else get the 8 or 9 o’clock ferry from north 28th street and go over to Philadelphia, where there were a number of churches within reasonable walking distance. This latter method was easier for those who lived in the vicinity of the ferry, and thus it came to pass that many East Camden people were baptized, confirmed, and married in one of the nearby Philadelphia Churches.

As the number of East Camden Catholics grew, however, it became evident that a parish church and a resident priest were necessary for proper worship, instruction, and care of the people. In 1890 a meeting was held in the Boyce home on Cooper Street, now 27th, and those present approved a petition to the Right Reverend Michael J. O’Farrell, Bishop of Trenton, to aid them in building their own church. Advice was sought several times from the priests at the Immaculate Conception Church, and Staints Peter and Paul’s Church, but the Immaculate Conception parish was trying to pay for the church spire at the time, and could not afford to erect a Mission Church; and both of the Catholic Churches then in Camden were handicapped by a shortage of priests. But early in 1892 Bishop O’Farrell directed the Franciscan Fathers on Spruce Street to establish and care for the Pavonia Mission.

Joseph Schneider, Sr., Joseph Widua, and Thomas Campbell, the members of the building committee, secured Wright’s Hall at Marlton Pike and Federal Streets for services at the charge of $10.00 a Sunday. And on the fly leaf of the account book of the Pavonia Mission we read: “Said Mass in Wright’s Hall, Wrightsville, New Jersey for the first time on Sunday, February 7, 1892, and thereafter every first and second Sunday of the month, at 9 o’clock, A.M. Rev. Peter W. Scharoun, O.M.C.” Sunday School was conducted at the home of Mrs. Boyce, and taught by her all the rest of 1892. And thus was begun Saint Joseph’s Parish in East Camden.

On April 20, 1893, “at a special meeting of the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church Corporation, the following resolution was passed:

“Whereas the spiritual welfare of Catholics living in Pavonia, Wrightsville, organize a suitable place of worship:

“Resolved that we build a church, with school rooms on the first floor, on lots purchased of Alfred Cramer, having obtained consent of the president of the corporation, the Right Reverend Michael Joseph O’Farrell, Bishop of Trenton:

“Resolved that the church be built according to the plans furnished by Architect John D’arcy of Camden. Rev. Alphonse Lehrscholl, Sec’y.”

The certificate of incorporation was filed and recorded four days later, April 24, 1893. A campaign was launched immediately for the raising of funds to buy the lots and build the church. The committee had planned to have Fridolin Spuhler buy the lots for them and pay him back later, but he happened to be in Europe at the time. It was arranged to purchase the nine lots through individuals. Joseph Schneider, Sr., agreed to buy 3, George Bigler, Sr., 1, Joseph Widua 3, Andrew Gabriel 1. The reason for this method of purchase was the reluctance generally prevalent at the time to refuse to sell ground to a Catholic Church corporation for the building of a church.

Suppers, subscriptions, ground cards, and other money raising devices were employed in the gallant effort to pay for the ground and building, but they were not sufficient at the time. Therefore on September 15, 1893, “a special meeting of the members of Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church Corporation was called to consider the means of obtaining money to pay for the building of Saint Joseph’s Church. A resolution was passed to execute a mortgage on the Church for $3,000.00, and one for $2,000.00 on the six adjoining lots.” On January 10, 1894 another mortgage of $3,000.00 was placed on the Church. The new structure was completed in October and dedicated December 16, 1893.

It is hard for us today to picture the little parish of less than 40 families, the scattered houses, the extensive farms west of River Road, south of Howell Street, and along 27th Street, but such was the case.

Father Alphonse was assigned to another parish in October, 1895. Four priests succeeded him before the turn of the century. Father Ambrose Rheiner arrived in December, 1895 and stayed till February, 1897. Father Hirschmeyer, a diocesan priest, took over March 6, 1897 and remained till September, 1899. Father Hendricks came for about one week, until the coming of the Reverend Doctor Joseph Rathner, September 17, 1899.

In July of 1892, there arrived in little Saint Joseph’s parish a man who was destined to spend the next 28 years of his life here. A saintly, scholarly, humorous, and sympathetic priest, he became in truest sense a shepherd of his flock, knowing and watching over it, his people knowing and following his leadership. Though he has been gone from the east side for more than 13 years, the memory of Father Anthony C. Shuvlin’s wisdom, erudition, and overflowing charity is still fresh and strong. He was priest and nurse during the flu epidemic, quiet sustainer of the underfed and ill-clothed all during his pastorate, but especially during the post-war slump and the trying days of the stock market crash. Creed or color never influenced his judgment of a man, and when he left, his departure was lamented by people of all races and creeds who came within range of his ministry.

In October, 1915, the old church at 25th and Howell Streets was badly damaged by fire, and the contract for repairs was awarded to James W. Draper at a cost of $3,987.00. While the building was being renovated, Mass was said in the old theater at 24th and Federal Streets.

Assembled from pages 11, 13, 15, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33 and 38 of the Year Book, which are reproduced in full below. The article was printed in twelve installments with two to four pages of advertising between them; each page is also transcribed on its own, advertisements included, so the local businesses that paid for the book are searchable too. Four passages are left exactly as the book printed them and are not transcription errors: two transposed lines in the account of Father Farmer, an incomplete “Whereas” clause in the 1893 resolution, “Staints Peter and Paul’s”, Father Shuvlin’s arrival given as 1892 where the same sentence’s own arithmetic requires 1902, and the architect’s name set as “John D’arcy” with a lower-case a.

Four hundred and ninety-four parishioners of St. Joseph’s were in uniform when the parish marked its fiftieth year in 1943. The Year Book printed their names across two pages; they are transcribed below, exactly as printed, surname first. An asterisk stands before fifteen of them. The book does not explain it on either page, and it is not a death marker — none of the fifteen appears among the Camden County World War II dead. Five surnames — Apnley, Catanelia, Nesuti, Sanflippo and Schwoerl — are set in damaged type and each reads as a more familiar spelling at lower magnification; they are given as the page prints them.

When Camden was incorporated as a city in 1828, its area was a little less than four square miles, or 2,496 acres. Its population was 1,143.

The city government was at first provided with one recorder and five aldermen, elected at a joint meeting of the Legislature, with five common councilmen elected by the people. The Mayor was elected by the council.

Although nominally a city, Camden was still actually in tutelage. Her powers were curtailed by the superior negative of Newton Township. But in 1831 this authority was removed and Camden itself was given township powers. There then ensued a period of confusion resulting from the ill-defined powers granted the city and the township.

Camden County was created in 1844, and in the same year the Mayor was elected by popular vote. In 1848 the city was divided into three wards—north, middle and south wards. Each ward was apportioned two councilmen and one chosen freeholder.

The Dudley charter of 1850 gave the City Council certain tax-levying powers not previously enjoyed. In 1857 Council was given authority to survey and map out the city and to provide that all new streets should conform to this survey.

One supplement after another was added in 1860, 1864 and 1866. In 1864 the people were empowered to elect a City Treasurer, a City Surveyor, and a City Solicitor, each for a term of two years. These officials had previously been elected by Council.

In 1870 the borders of the town were enlarged. On February 14 of the following year a new charter, attributed to Alden C. Scovel, City Solicitor at the time, was approved. This inaugurated a new era in the City’s history.

The town of Stockton was absorbed in 1899, giving the city an area of 9.56 square miles.

The commission form of government was inaugurated in 1923. The present commissioners are George E. Brunner, Mayor, Director of Revenue and Finance; David Rhone, Director of Public Safety; Frank A. Abbott, Director of Public Works; E. George Aaron, Director of Public Affairs; William C. Gotshalk, Director of Parks and Public Property.

From a little ferry town, Camden has developed into one of the ranking cities of the country. It is the home of the largest radio and talking-machine industry in the world, the largest soup canning company, the largest steam-heating plant manufacturer, the largest steel-pen manufacturer, the largest privately owned shipyard, the largest wool-scouring plant, the largest glazed-kid manufacturer, the largest manufacturer of auto polishes, waxes, soaps and lubricants. The city’s industries total about 300 firms.

Camden labor is also progressive. It is noteworthy that the first union organized under the Congress of Industrial Organizations in 1936 was Local No. 1, Union of Marine and Shipbuilding Workers. There is a practical, realistic spirit of cooperation and harmony between management and labor that augurs well for the future welfare of Camden’s industries and Camden’s citizens.

Portraits of St. Joseph’s clergy, past and present as of 1943, from pages 57 and 59 of the Year Book. Rev. James S. Foley, the first name on page 57, is the priest who succeeded Rev. William J. Brennan at St. Joseph’s in the June 1932 transfers described above.

Sister Superiors

1894 Sister M. Gertrude — 1898 Sister Frances Marie — 1904 Sister M. Lucy — 1907 Sister M. Alexia — 1910 Sister M. Elenora — 1912 Sister M. Nazarene — 1916 Sister M. Oliva — 1919 Sister M. Virginia — 1921 Sister M. Callista — 1927 Sister M. Cassiana — 1930 Sister M. Sebastian — 1935 Sister M. Amanda — 1936 Sister M. Xavier — 1942 Sister M. Engelbert.

Vocations from St. Joseph’s Parish

Also from the parish: the Reverend Richard Joseph Toal, O.S.S.T., and the Reverend Arthur Titus, O.S.A.

Boys studying for the priesthood at the time: Eugene Schramm, Clarence Groff, and Paul R. Gallagher. Boys from the parish who became lay brothers: James Long, Aloysius O’Hara, and Frederick Chilbert.

Girls of the parish who entered the religious life — Sisters of Mercy: Kathleen Conway (Sister Mary Immaculate), Veronica Robinson (Sister Mary Imelda). Immaculate Heart of Mary: Agnes Spuhler (Sister Mary Neuman). Sisters of St. Dominic: Florence Henwood (Sister Agnes Edward), Frances McNamee (Sister M. Andre). Sisters of St. Francis: Mae Peard (Sister Mary Wilfred), Rita Eichman (Sister Mary Matthew), Marie Toal (Sister Richard Marie), Clara Schneider (Sister Mary Emiline), Marie Gilmore (Sister Mary Susanne), Ruth Scholer (Sister Mary Marjorie), Anna Schneider (Sister Eugene Marie), and June Ann Brown (Sister Helen Marie).

St. Joseph's Church — 80-page Golden Jubilee Year Book, courtesy of Fred Kalt, a member of Woodrow Wilson High School Class of 1957.