Show UI 1 UV 50 Historical Church Destroyed During zero Sub zero Weather a JV wi- wi a P. a S f I At 1010 pm p.m. Tuesday the shrill fire siren called the fire laddies to a blaze at St. St Marys Mary's church upper Park avenue The department used all the equip equip- equipment equipment equipment ment available fought to control the flames in 18 below zero weather and were able to save the church parson parson- parsonage parsonage parsonage age on the north of the church and the school on the south from damage Approximately 25 minutes after the firemen arrived flames broke through the roof of the structure and the entire building b was soon a a. mass of flames defying efforts of firemen to play water on the building from all available sources Tho roof and Interior of the church I created a torch which cast a a. glow over the entire community and drew almost all of our citizens out to aid if possible In fighting the fire and to watch the flames eat at the historical edifice According to Fire Chief Hays the fire started in the rear of the church near the altar and was of unknown origin The loss is estimated at Tho The work of clearing away the debris started this morning and as soon as asI I possible work will begin rebuilding the church St. St Marys Mary's is our oldest church and I its mission in this city has been the same ups and downs as the city Itself Tho rho following Is taken from the Cen Cen- Centennial Centennial Centennial tennial history of Utah and will give a brief insight into the early day his his- history history tory of St. St Marys Mary's of the e Assumption EARLY HISTORY OF ST. ST MARYS MARY'S The history of the early days of Park City Is the secret of the past There are no existing records of it The fhe avail avail- available available able information Is from the memory of the tho Old Timers The history of the Catholic church In Park City Is singularly singularly singularly arly different from that of other Utah towns Park City was a Gentile camp from the very beginning and St. St Marys Mary's was Its very first church I Insofar as can be ascertained Father Scanlan was the first priest to visit this mining town he came as early as 1873 and from that time until 1878 made regular visits Mass was said In Simons Simon's hall where now stands the New Park Hotel i About forty people attended the services Occasionally Mass was said In Dignan's hall on the site of the present Episcopal church Various priests came from Salt Lake to administer to the spiritual needs of the people Between I the years 1881 and 1883 came Father Father Donohoe Father Tierney and Father Blake The congregation soon found the hotel lobby too small and decided to build a Catholic church It was the first church churchIn In Park City A plot of ground was obtained on the tho western slope of the canyon and a frame church and school begun in the fall of 1881 were occupied I i jin in the spring of 1882 Father Blake be- be beI beI I I came the first resident priest Fire de destroyed de- de deI destroyed the church and school July J 4 1883 I 1883 It appears that a certain man had been told to leave town He boasted that he would burn the town up before leaving An unsuccessful attempt to burn bum the old Marsac mill made Park I City an unhealthy spot for him to live To even up he decided to bum burn the I church of the men who insisted that he be I leave at once The people were gathered on the ball grounds for a Fourth of July celebration the town was deserted II I I and the man from Texas took advant advant- advantage advantage age of the opportunity to start the fire I that destroyed the church and school I Both buildings were burned to the tho ground An Irishman possessed p sed of more I Christian charity than his bis friends made made- lit It possible for him to leave town other other- otherwise otherwise otherwise I wise he would never have seen Texas I again The Catholic people were not discouraged by the loss of their prop prop- property i II erty Under the direction of Father Blake money was raised to erect a achurch achurch i church and school that now stand as asa asa I Ia a monument to their undaunted faith I The rapid The rapid growth growth- of the the- Catholic the I population is indicated by the fact that four years after the first visit of Bishop Scanlan in 1888 two seventy-two children were ready for confirmation But to tell adequately the story etory f of St. St Marys Mary's church one must tell the story of Father Thomas Galligan n that God fearing I priest whom Providence I Ito directed to Park City Father Galligan I Iwas 1 was born In County Cavan Ireland He HeI came come to America when a small boy and I received his primary education in the I schools of Baltimore Maryland He studied for the priesthood at St. St I Bonaventure's Seminary Allegheny New NewYork NewYork York and was ordained June 21 1880 I by Archbishop Ryan of Philadelphia He came west immediately after his ordina ordina- ordination tion After Atter a period of three years spent at Sliver Silver Reef Nevada he Joined the ranks of ot the missionary priests of Utah and was transferred to the tho city of Salt Lake In 1883 His Hh first visit to Park City was In the summer of 1886 In the fall of of the same year he took permanent charge of the parish where he remained until his death June 26 1918 I The name of ed the beloved priest will live forever in the hearts of Park City people it has become a a. family tion reverently handed down from gen- gen genI generation to generation And It is not the tho I exclusive treasure of the Catholics Protestants Jews and Gentiles still stillI I think kindly of the gentle priest who had hod a n cheerful word for everyone and andI who iwho visited their homes in time of I frequently getting there before their own minister His devotion to the I sick and wounded was admirable He HeI possessed I the fearless spirit of his peo peo- The old miners love to tell how they would look for him on the surface when an accident occurred in the mines He was always there ready to forgive sins and prepare the soul of the miner for its long Journey to the King of the earth I earth Father Galligan grew old with Park City The years were light upon his shoulders On June 20 1906 he cele cele- celebrated celebrated celebrated his Silver SUver Jubilee of Priesthood For thirty-four thirty years he gave his be beloved be- be beloved loved lo people the best of his priesthood life me An acute shortage of priests existed at the time of Father Galligan's death Many priests were temporarily appoint appoint- appointed ed to St St. Marys The Tho Reverend Fathers J. J W W. Sullivan John F F. Johnson Chas ChasA A. A Eck and Daniel Slattery were In Jn Park City during the next few months On October 25 1918 Father J. J J. J McNally was appointed by the late Bishop Glass I as pastor He remained until June 1 1 1920 Reverend Father J. J Di succeeded him Father loather Diss purchased the Judge Shields home on Park avenue and gave the tho former fonner rectory to the Sisters for their home Father Diss was recalled to Kansas by his superiors in September 1921 Reverend John D D. Lagan was transferred from Ogden to Park City In inthe n the tho fall of 1921 In June of the follow follow- following followIng following ing year he accepted appointment to St. St Patricks Patrick's church at Eureka Utah i Reverend Cuthbert E E. Hogan his suc suc- successor successor I cessor was called back to his home in Ireland in August 1924 Reverend W W. J. J Giroux was then made pastor The pre pre- present present present sent pastor is the Reverend Re William Kennedy TI E St. St Marys Mary's one of the first monuments monuments monuments ments erected to God in these parts by bya a little band of faithful ones who had bad none of the worldly goods goods but but a beautiful beau beau- beautiful faith was gutted by fire Tuesday night nigh t. t I Through the heroic efforts and effi effi- efficiency efficiency of the local fire Ire department un un- under under un- un under der the leadership of their fire chief saved the rectory and St. St Josephs Joseph's school You will pardon me if I 1 extend my thankS to our fire department and the tho people of Park City who Irrespective of age or creed lent a helping hand hand If If not Iby by fighting fire by serving hot drinks and refreshments to the frost bitten firemen FATHER FA WM VM KENNEDY I The officers and members of the Park City Volunteer Fire Department wish to extend their hearty thanks to those who whoso so generously furnished hot coffee to warm warn the inner man and to those who i warmed the outer man in their homes during the fire Ire at St St. Marys Mary's church I Tuesday night I |