Roman Catholic Church - Rochester

 

Roman Catholic Church. — In 1863 Rev. James Morris had charge of the district. He resided at Rochester and held services at Peter's Hall. He saw that Rochester was the market town of the county and he resolved to make it a central point for the Catholics of the surrounding country.

In 1864 he bought three lots from McCollough opposite the court-house grounds as a site for a church. In 1865 ill health compelled him to remove to another state.

In 1866 Rev. Thos. O'Gorman was appointed to the charge of this district and Peter's Hall still remained the place of worship.

In 1867, as Peter's Hall was found too small, they congregated at Heany's Hall.

In April, 1868, the old court-house hall was engaged for a place of worship. The church was completed, in 1872, at a cost of $40,000. The edifice is 110x42 in size and is built of limestone.
The Rev. Wm. Riordon took charge of the district July, 1881.

The membership is now about six hundred, and the organization is almost free from debt.

The Catholic school is known as the Academy of Lourdes. The building is 58x86 in size, is three stories high and cost (grounds included) $24,000. The parochial school building is two stories high and 80 X 36 on the ground. The attendance in both schools aggregates about 170 pupils.

Source:

The History of Winona and Olmsted Counties, 1883

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