| Back to INDEX | Major Historical Events of [6/15 1960 handwritten at top] A new Church designed to accommodate 350 persons was completed during the pastorate and under the supervision of Father Alphonsus H. Grannan in 1950 and was dedicated by the Most Rev. Hubert M. Newell, D.D., Bishop of Cheyenne on November the 7th 1950. On September 15 1952 arrangements were completed to purchase 4 lots adjacent to and to the North of the present Church property for the sum of $2,000.00. The property was duly acquired by Father Grannan. October 1953 saw the St John the Baptist Church free of debt. October 1,1954 Father Grannan was assigned to the Our Lady of Fatima parish, Casper as its first pastor in residence. Father James Power was transferred from Gillette to succeed him in Buffalo. The first assistant pastor to be assigned to Buffalo was Father Patrick J. McGovern, a newly ordained priest from Ireland. Since the mission of Arvada was transferred from the Gillette parish to the Buffalo parish it became necessary to have an assistant at Buffalo to take care of the Missions of St John the Baptist parish. After the arrival of the assistant Mass was begun every Sunday at Clearmont and Arvada missions and a very decided improvement was immediately evident. In October 1955 regular Mass schedule was inaugurated at the Sussex Station. Mass is held once a month since then on the 2nd Sunday. In July 1955 Father McGovern was transferred to St. Patrick’s parish, Kemmerer and was replaced by a newly ordained native priest of Wyoming, Father Thomas L. O’Flannigan. His home was in Laramie and his Alma Mater St Thomas Seminary Denver. In June 1956 a long cherished dream of the priests and people of Buffalo saw its initial realization in the laying of the foundation of a new parish hall. The site chosen by the Bishop for this was the site of the old rectory. This frame building was too small to serve its purpose and accordingly was sold to make way for the new hall. The Hall, 96x60 was completed and dedicated in October 1956 by Bishop Newell in the midst of a large congregation of parishioners and guests. Father Power supervised the construction and the contractor was Ray Williams of Sheridan. The cost of the Hall was 46,000.00 dollars. In September 1957 Father O’Flannigan, the assistant priest was transferred to Kemmerer and was succeeded by Father Gilbert Callaghan who in turn was followed by Father Michael Scullion in July of 1958. Father Scullion was made Pastor of Holy Rosary Church in Lander in August 1959. His place was taken by Father Thomas O’Flannigan who at this date is still serving as assistant. Kaycee-Sussex organized an Altar and Rosary Society in December 1959 with Mrs. Robert Taylor, a recent convert as the first president. There are 12 members. The Missions of St John the Baptist Parish, 1960, are St Catherine’s of Arvada, and St Mary’s of Clearmont. The Mission stations are Sussex, Kaycee and Story. A house with 5 acres of ground adjacent to the Church property in Clearmont was purchased in 1956 for $2500.00. The Church was redecorated in 1957. The St Catherine’s Church of Arvada was remodeled and decorated in Spring 1959 and a new set of stations were erected by Bishop Newell on April 26 1959. An Altar and Rosary Society was begun in Story in July 1955 with Mrs. Alvena Zeiser as the first president. A tract of 121/2 acres of ground was purchased May 1956 at Story for $3,000.00. Plans for the erection of a new Church are progressing for Story at this writing. In October 1955 the St John the Baptist parish celebrated its Diamond
Jubilee with a solemn Pontifical High Mass with His Excellency The
Most Rev. Hubert M. Newell as celebrant. Right Rev. Msgr. John McDevitt
of Laramie preached the sermon. A banquet, also marking the occasion
was held at Lodore Pavilion in Story after the Mass and 300 people
were served. On that occasion a check for $500.00 was presented to
Father Power for the Story Mission by Mr. and Mrs. Charles Peters,
non-Catholic residents of Story. |
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