Anamosa - A Reminiscence 1838 - 1988

Chaplin is the Rev. William Devine of St Joseph's
Catholic Church, Stone City.
The present St. Patrick parochial school was
dedicated Nov. 8, 1959. The school was built under the
direction of Pastor J.A. McMahon, who established the
first pennanent grade school in 1944.
The first school was a private home converted into
school rooms to house 65 students. This building was
located on the lot now used for parking, south of the
Rectory. This building was moved to North Locust
Street and is now a family home.
The Sisters of Mercy of the Cedar Rapids Order sent
three Sisters to initiate the Parochial form of school to
the parish. They were Sisters Mary Letitia, first grade
Mary Claudia, second grade and Mary Dolorosa, third
and fourth grades.
In the Fail of 1945, with additions made to the
renovated school, the doors were opened for the full
eight grades with six Sisters, one a full-time music
teacher.
Within 14 years the enrollment doubled, and in 1958
plans began for the construction of a new grade
school. By May 25, 1958, pledges amounted to
$104,000.
On the Building Committee were: Albert Ament and
Victor Knight, Trustees; Committee Chairman, Cecil
Brannon: Committee Members, Edward Houser. John
McNamara. Glen McLaughlin, William Weber, Fred
Miller. Mrs. Louis Stoll. Mr. and Mrs. Tony Neppl.
James Connolly, J. Auggie Pearson. Leo Loyet and
Jack Fahey.
In 1988, the school composes Grades K-6.
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Catholic Church, Anamosa. before flre I926.
(Submitted by John and Bettie Miller)
St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Anamosa.
St. Paul's Lutheran Church
St. Paul Lutheran Church was organized as a
congregation August 29. 1923. Rev. J.P. Willms and
A.H. Diers. pastors of local congregations assisted the
people of Anamosa in organizing the congregation and
conducted the first worship services.
The Rev. Werner Fritschel became the resident
pastor March 1924.
Many of the Lutherans of Jones County were
immigrants from Germany and settled on farms.The
first Lutheran congregations were established in the
rural areas.
For a time, when the congregation was first
established in Anamosa. the services were held in the
German language. These services were held the first
and third Sundays of the month.
Some of these rural congregations remain today,
such as Zion Lutheran Church, Castle Grove Lutheran
Church and St. John's Lutheran Church. As the farms
became larger and machinery was developed, many of
the young people moved to town and worked in
factories. or established businesses of their own. The
need for a congregation in Anamosa became more
obvious. The Iowa Synod helped to sponsor the new
mission with a grant of $25,000, which was used to
purchase the property where the present parsonage
and garage stand.
A small frame chapel was built and dedicated in July.
1924. It was used as the worship center until 1931
when the Power's Court building was purchased. This
stone church was built by the Presbyterians, following
the destruction by fire of the Presbyterian Church on
Strawberry Hill. When that congregation dimished and
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This photo taken of the St. Paul's Lutheran Church
prior to remodeling project was built by the
Presbyterians, later used by the Catholics, andfinally
the Lutherans. (Submitted by Mildred Wessels)
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