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ST JOSEPH COMMUNITY CENTENNIAL 100 1883 - 1983 FLORIDA

ST. JOSEPH, FLORIDA ------------------- COMMUNITY CENTENNIAL 1883 - 1983 Schedule of Events ------------------- Friday, September 2 ------------------------- 7:30 p. m. Ice Cream Social Card Party Saturday, September 3 ———— 2:00 p. m. 6:00 p. m. 8:30 p. m. Rt. Rev. Charles H. Mohr. O.S.B. D.D. Abbot of St. Leo Abbey, Florida Gerard Gude Jos Schindler Jno B. Barthle ————<>——<>————

ST. JOSEPH COMMUNITY CENTENNIAL celebrates the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Barthle Settlement which later becames know as St. Joseph. Andrew Berthle explored the site of the settlement in March 1883 and Bernard Barthle established the first perma- ment home of the community in June 1883. 1883 - 1983 Explanation of Symbol- The lily and staff used in the centennial logo is a symbol of St. Joseph commonly used in earlier years. The symbol in based on popular Legend.

Page 5 ST. JOSEPH, FLORIDA A BRIEF HISTORY The St. Joseph community traces its origins to March 1883 when Andrew Barthle, the second of three sons of Andrew Barthe, Sr., arrived from Minnesota to explore the countryside, After spending a short while in Florida, he returned north and apparently reported the good news of the sunny sountland to his family and friends in St. Joseph, Minnesola and the neighboring vicinity. Bernard A. Barthle, Andrew's older half broth- er, then moved to Florida with his wife, Agnes, and their family of eight children. In June 1883 they established the first permanent home of the St. Joseph community. The forty acre site where they settled is located on what is now County Road 578, just west of Scharber Road. Andrew returned to Florida in January 1885, bringing with his wife, Elizabeth, and their five children. They built their home on the forty acre plot opposite Bernard's. This properiy now belongs to the Frassand family. A short time later, Charles, the youngest of the three Barthle half brothers, also come to join the community. He and his wife, Mary, and their five children made their home on the fory acre section just east of Andrew's. Andrew, however, soon re-located to the corner tract of land west of Sacred Heart Church and Charles eventually moved to San Antonio where he founded the St. Charles Hotel. Bernard's youngest son, John B. Barthle, inherited his father's land when he died in

Page 6 1990. John, in turn, then maintained the original Barthle homestead until his death in 1964. Andrew Barthle, Sr., father of the three half brothers, also settled in the area which was first know as "Barthle Settlement" or "Barthle Crossing." by 1888, however, the community was called St. Joseph Settlement, presumably after the town in Minnesota where the original settlers had migrated from. The Barthles were German Catholic immigrants who came to the United States from Wurttemberg, Germany in the mid-nineteenth century. They set- tled first in Ohio before moving to Minnesota and finally Florida. They were soon joined by other families, many of them also from Minnesota. As early as 1888 the roster of pioneer families included the Barthles, the Blommels, the Boettingers, the Buttweilers, the Fritzlers, the Gerners, the Nathes, and the Zier- dens. Numerous descendants of the Barthle, Blommel and Nathe families still reside in St. Joseph, the Nathe family arriving in 1887 and the Blommel fam- ily coming in (date uncertain). By 1888, the settlement had grown considerably, thus necessitating a church and school closer than that located about four miles south in San Antonio. Accordingly, a group of the pioneer settlers ob- tained approval from Father Gerard Pilz, O.S.B., pastor in San Antonio, to build their own German Catholic school and chapel on five acres of land they had acquired from the Plant Investment Company. (They also asked to reserve one acre of this land for a cemetery. Approval for the latter was not granted but in August 1889 August Gerner donated an acre of land for the cemetery located on what is now Hwy 577 north.) The five acre site acpuired from the Plant Investment Company, located on what is now County Road 578, soon boasted a small frame structure

4 Sacred Heart Church lic school or a church, we resolved to erect thereon a building that can be used as a school and chapel, and we shall begin its construction as soon as arrange- ments are made. One (1)acre should be reserved as a cemetery. We remain Very respectfully, (signed) Bernard Barthle, Andrew Barthle, Frank Gernar, August Gerner, Joseph Nathe, Peter Buttweiler, Ch. Barthle, Peter Zierden, Christ Fritz- ler, Jos Boettinger, Bernard Blommel, A. E. Barthle, Caspar J. Nathe, Christoph Nathe." "Excluding the last point in re the cemetery, I hereby give my approval for the erection of the school, etc. (signed) Gerard M. Pilz, O.S.B." V. Rev. Gerard M. Pilz. O.S.B. + 1891

St. Joseph, Florida DEDICATION OF THE CHAPEL THE FIRST MASS THE OPENING OF SCHOOL N the spring of 1888 five acres of land were acquired for a school and a church....The school house was completed Sept. 30. On the following Monday, Oct. the 1st, 1888, it was dedicated by the Very Rev. P. Gerard M. Pilz, O.S.B., Rector of San Antonio, Florida. The school is a frame structure, one story high, with a bell tower in the rear. ...In the front of the school hall is a platform on which stands a beautiful altar——for meanwhile the school house will be used also as a church.......After the Dedication Rev. Father Gerard celebrated THE FIRST MASS IN THE SETTLEMENT, and at its close the congregation sang 'Grosser gott' Then follower the formal opening of the school and the installation of its teacher, who, for the pres- ent, is Mr. Bernard A. Barthle."—Der Wanderer.

6 Sacred Heart Church DEDICATION OF THE CHURCH N Sunday November 13th, 1892, the Church, begun last May, was dedicated by the Rt. Rev. John Moore, D. D., Bishop of St. Au- gustine, Florida, assisted by the Rev. Benedictine Fathers Charles, Roman, Benedict and James of St. Leo College, Saint Leo, Florida. The Clergy were joined en route to St. Joseph by the San Antonio Brass Band, Whose lovely marches re-echoed cheerfully through the balmy pine forests. When they arrived at the Church everything was ready for the dedicatory servicers. The dedica- tion was immediately performed by the Rt. Rev. Bishop. Then Rev. Father Benedict, O.S.B., Pastor sang highmass, the Bishop and the Fathers assisting in the sanctuary. After the Gospel of the Mass the Bishop explained the ceremonies of the Dedication and then preached on the text. "Go, ye, therefore into the whole world, and preach the Gospel to every creature." After Mass the Rt. Rev. Bishop gave Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. In conclusion the congregation sang the "Grosser Gott" (Te Deum) with great emotion. The choir was conducted by Mr. Henry Klein. The San Antonio Brass Band did its best and gave the people a real musical treat before, during and after the services. The school children, taught by one of the Benedictine Sisters of Holy Name Convent, San Antonia, Florida, tendered the Rt. Rev. Bishop an entertaining reception."— San Antonio (Fla.) Herald.

7 St. Joseph, Florida THE JUBILEE CHAPEL. NOW THE SCHOOL SACRED HEART CHURCH

8 Sacred Heart Church Rt. Rev. Wm. J. Kenny, D. D. Present Bishop of St. Augustine, Florida

9 St. Joseph, Florida PARISH SOCIETIES Sacred Heart Male Choir, established September 1888. St. Joseph Acolythical Society, October 1, 1888. The Confraternity of the Scapular, October 30, 1892. Trustees of the Sacred Heart Church, Nov. 13, 1892. "San Pepi" Arborists, December 20, 1892. Christlicher Miitter Verein, January 15, 1893 Holy Childhood, April 2, 1893. Sodality of the Blessed Virgin Mary, May 31, 1893. Altar Sodality, May 31, 1893. League of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, June 11, 1893. Sacred Heart Church Library, September 22, 1894. PRESENT TRUSTEES: Andrew Barthle, Caspar Joseph Nathe and Joseph Egyptien, Sr. CHOIR DIRECTORS: Henry Klein 1888-1890; John Klein 1891-1892. ORGANISTS: Maggie Klein 1892-1897; Rosa Klassen 1897-1899; Mrs. Joseph Fritz 1899; Ed. Eisele 1900-1901; John Schwegler 1902; Anna Petters 1902-1904; Bernard B. Barthle 1904-191_. PRESENT CHOIR MEMBERS: Bernard B. Barth- le, Organist; Joseph Gude, Clement Gude, Peter Barthle, Frances Gude, Rosa Gude and Emma Gude, Singers.

10 Sacred Heart Church LIST OF PASTORS Very Rev. Gerard M. Pilz, O.S.B., 1888-1889. Rev. Roman Kirchner, O.S.B., 1889-1890. Rev. Benedict Roth, O.S.B., 1890. Rev. Basil Singer, O.S.B., 1891. Rev. Leo Penoch, O.S.B., 1891-1892. ——<> + <> —— Very Rev. Benedict Roth, O.S.B., 1892-1901; 1910- 191_. Rev. Albert Schaller, O.S.B., 1901. Rev. Alezander Fink, O.S.B., 1902-1905 Rev. Augustine Feller, O.S.B., 1905-1909 Rev. James Schabaker, O.S.B., 1910. LIST OF PRIESTS WHO SAID MASS HERE Rev. Constantine Leber, O.S.B. " Paul Behrens, O.S.B. " George Lester,O.S.B. " J. Hasel. " C. N. Widtmann, S. J. Rt. Rev. Abbot Charles H. Mohr, O.S.B., D.D. Rev. Louis Panoch, O.S.B. " Martin Bunning. " John Schlicht, O.S.B. " Francis Hanke. " Joseph Corsini. " Ignatius Laub, O.S.B. " Joseph Joos, O.S.B. " Felix Ullrich, O.S.B. " Aloysius Delabar, O.S.B. " Joseph Haldmaier, O.S.B. " Jerome Wisnieski, O.S.B.

11 St. Joseph, Florida VERY REV. BENEDICT ROTH. O.S.B., PASTOR

12 Sacred Heart Church THE FIRST BAPTISMS, ETC. In the Chapel, the following were the first BAPTISED: Caspar Andrew Barthle, 20th Aug., 1890. ALTAR BOYS: Jno. B. & Chas. J. Barthle, Oct. 1, 1888. FIRST COMMUNICANTS: John B. Barthle, Charles J. Barthle, Walburga F. Barthle. Mary G. Barthle and Catherine Lilley, 25 May, 1890 Married: Frank Christ and Anna Barthle, 18 June '89. BURIED(from): Mary Fr. Gerner, 9 November 1889. PEW HOLDERS: Andrew Barthle, Bernard A. Barthle, Frank Gerner, August Gerner, Joseph Nathe, Peter Buttweiler, Chas. Barthle, Peter Zierden, Christoph Fritzler, Joseph Boettinger, Bernard Blommel, A. E. Barthle, Caspar Jos. Nathe and Christopher Nathe COMMITTEE: Andrew Barthle, Peter Zierden and Jos. Boettinger. In the Church, the following were the first BAPTISED: Agnes Matilde Buttweiler, 5 Febr'y 1893 ALTAR BOYS: Chas. J. Barthle, Jno. B. Barthle, Ber- nard B. Barthle, Edward Neumann and Joseph Miiller, 13th November, 1892. FIRST COMMUNICANTS: Anna Barthle, Elizabeth Nathe, Rosa Klassen, Mary Barthle and Anna Miiller, 11 June 1893 CONFIRMED: Bernard Benedict Barthle, Joseph John Miiller, Barbara E. Cath. Barthle, Helen Agnes Buttweiler and Anna Mary Miiller, 22 April 1894. MARRIED: Caspar J. Zierden and Anna Klein, 21 No- venber 1893. BURIED (from): Albert Andrew Barthle, 1 Nov. 1892 ENTERED RELLIGION: Wenzeslaus Kindel, now Bro- ther Killian, O.S.B., St. John's Abbey, Minn., and Antoinette Buttweiler, now, Sister Aria, O.S.F., Milwaukee, Wis. ADULT CONVERT: Charles Finlayson, 11 April 1898. SILVER WEDDING: Charles and Mary Barthle, 30th June 1900 TRUSTEES: Andrew Barthle, B. Blommel & P. Zierden

13 St. Joseph, Florida HE SACRED HEART CHURCH is attended from St. Leo Abbey, Saint Leo, Fla., and has all the advantages of a city church. Not only are there services on Sundays and Holy Days, but the Corpus Christi Procession. Forty Hours' Devotion and All Souls; Day are celebrated with be- coming ceremonies. During Lent the Way of the Cross is said twice a week, and , during May, October conducted by the Senior of the Parish. From 1889- 1900 Professor Bernard A. Barthle and 1900-1910 Mr. Andrew Barthle acted as Seniors. From 1910 till date Mr. Gerard Gude holds that position. All Church devotions are largely attended. Catechism and Bible History classses are conduct- ed by the Rev. Pastor after the Sunday Mass, and, on week days, by the teacher, a Benedictine Sister All members of the St. Joseph Mission are great believers in "frequent Communion". This accounts for the piety and wholesomeness of their lives and the special blessings vouchsafed them from on High.

15 St. Joseph, Florida THE SCHOOL S THE PARISH SCHOOL is the life and hope of every Catholic Congregation, the PIONEERS proceeded at once to erect one. Professor Bernard A. Barthle was the first teacher. Many, who are now fathers and mothers, learned the Rudiments from him and hold his memo- ry in tender benediction. In 1889 Very Rev. Prior Gerard M. Pilz, O.S.B., succeeded in getting Benedictine Sister from Alle- gheny, Penna., for San Antonio and the Missions. Though the distance is four miles and over bad roads, the Sisters of San Antonio are faithful to their charge. The children receive a religious and a secular training and in their annual entertainments and commencement exercises show much skill. The school is conducted on the Stillwater-faribault plan. Average attendance is about thirty-five pupils. A recent graduate from this school holds a State certi- ficate and taught one of the public schools.

September 2-5. 1983 ST. JOSEPH, FLORIDA