ANNALS OF THE CHURCH OF ST. ANTHONY-CASPER 1940-1950

ANNALS OF THE CHURCH OF ST. ANTHONY-CASPER
1940-1950

[1] With the declaration of war by the United States on the Axis nations in December 1941, upwards of 220 young men and women left the parish for the various branches of military service. Casper was soon to have first hand evidence of the mighty war effort, and in the spring of the following year construction of a new Army Air Base, 10 miles west of Casper, was begun. Men and planes began arriving in early fall of 1942, and from October of that year squadrons of the huge war planes were familiar sights in the skies until the end of hostilities in 1945. No Catholic chaplain having yet been assigned, the priests of the parish assumed the duties of auxiliary chaplains caring for the spiritual needs of the men until the appointment of a military chaplain in late 1943. Masses were celebrated every Sunday and confessions heard regularly in the field chapel. Marriages of military personnel were numerous as the soldiers brought their sweethearts from home before leaving Casper for overseas duty, many of them never to return.

Father Grannan was appointed pastor of Buffalo and was succeeded in Casper by Rev. John Brady. In October of 1943 a most successful mission was conducted in the parish by Father Cousins, now Bishop Cousins, and Father Hoffman of the Chicago archdiocesan mission band. The aealous efforts of these excellent missionaries drew the admiration of the people who found much solace during the trying years of the war in their renewed to prayer and religious practices. During these years devotion to Our Blessed Mother received a marvelous impetus as anxious parents participated in the Friday evening novena devotions to Our Sorrowful Mother. Indeed to her powerful intercession is attributed the fact that out of so many who saw military service comparatively few failed to return. The increased population of the city of Casper was reflected in the proportionate increased number of parishioners.

In May, Bishop McGovern confirmed a class of 86 in St. Anthony’s church. In May 1943, the two-story frame building located immediately north of the church was purchased from Mrs. M. Hiestand for the sum of $8000, and was sold five years later for $5000 to Harold Strader with the understanding that it be removed from its location. One of the largest buildings ever to be moved in Casper, this house attracted much attention as it was being hauled to its new site at 17th and Elm St. in Casper in October 1948.

[2] In 1944 Father McCormick, appointed pastor of St., Thomas Church in Monarch, was succeeded by Rev. James Godley who remained in Casper until the following year, when he took up post-graduate studies at the Catholic University, Wasnington, D. C.

The sustained generosity of the people and careful husbanding of funds enabled the pastor to reduce the parish indebtedness by a substantial sum each year until at the end of 1944 sufficient funds were on hand to relieve the parish holdings of all financial encumbrances. Final payment was made January 15, 1945. With the cessation of hostilities in1945 and subsequent closing of the Casper Air Base, the community gradually returned to peace time standards. The oil exploration program instituted during the war attracted practically all the major oil companies to Wyoming, to participate in the hunt for “black gold.” Real estate values skyrocketed as housing facilities in Casper became fully inadequate duo to the sudden influx in people directly or indirectly associated with the oil industry in this region. This condition was reflected in the increased enrollment at the parochial school where the facilities provided in 1927 became entirely inadequate to care for the number seeking enrollment. Some fears were entertained that the period of prosperity would be short lived, and that Casper might again experience the economic reverses that characterized the period following the construction of the refineries and still remembered as “The Boom Days.” Such fears, however, proved to be ill-founded and businessmen began to adjust their perspective to envision a larger, busier and more progressive city than they knew in the pre-war years.

Never having been frescoed, the parish church after 28 years was now noticeably in need of attention. The pastor invited Carl Matthias Wise, architectural and decorative designer, of St. Louis, Missouri, to submit a scheme for the restoration of the interior of the church. A contract was awarded Mr. Wise and the work was undertaken and completed during the summer months of 1948 at a total cost of $8,600. It was this same year that the parish corporation acquired title to a tract of land, approximately two and one-half city blocks in area and situated at the extreme south end of Center Street. This property, purchased from the Casper Hospital Association, Inc. for $5,300 is being held as a possible site of a hospital to be operated under Catholic auspices. In July of the same year an additional 10 acres was purchased from Harry Yesness for $10,000. This [3] acreage situated along the highway to Rawlins at the City’s south confines, will, it is hoped, provide sufficient building sites should a new parish be deemed advisable in later years.

The new coadjutor Bishop, Most Rev. Hubert M. Newell, consecrated September 1947, was accorded a cordial welcome upon his first visit to the parish in the spring of 1948. Bishop Newell received the parishioners in a simple function held in the auditorium of the Elks Bldg. A most interesting feature of this program was the recounting of the growth and development of the parish over the fifty year period since the first pastor took up residence in Casper.

The ever increasing growth of the parish with all its proportionate over-taxing of school facilities made it imperative that more class-room space be provided at the parochial school. For this purpose a campaign for funds was launched in January 1949, according to the plan of the American City Bureau, Chicago, Illinois. ***[letter inserted at end of this ten year history. Ed.] Under the able leadership of William A. Schulte as general chairman of the campaign, the endeavor met with the hearty approval of the parishioners who gave generously of their time and means to bring the effort to a successful conclusion. Fired by the ardent enthusiasm of the general chairman, committee personnel worked arduously through the parish receiving contributions and assurances in the form of signed pledges toward the quota assigned to them. The final in a series of many meetings was held on Easter Monday evening 1949 and with the announcement that the goal of $230,000 had been exceeded by $12,000 the spontaneous outburst and jubilation gave ample evidence of the earnest enthusiasm and cordial cooperation that marked every phase of the campaign. With funds for construction now assured, plans for the building, already prepared by Goodrich and Wilking, associated architects, Casper, Wyoming, were given final approval. To provide the site for the school expansion the building which had served as a parish hall for over thirty years was sold to the local council of the Knights of Columbus, for the sum of $3000. The building was moved half a block to the corner of Wolcott and Seventh streets, where with its additions and improvements, it was dedicated in December, 1949, and stands today as a suitable Knights of Columbus Club and meeting hall for all council activities. Bids for the school addition were opened on the feast of St. Anthony, June 13, 1949 and a contract awarded to the Casper firm of L. D. Liesinger Company for the sum of $154,750.

[4] The parish, already happily provided with a fine church edifice, was now assured a school building suited to parochial needs. The time had come when more efficient parish administration required that a new rectory, affording proper living quarters and office space, be provided. Plans for a new rectory had already been prepared by the local firm of architects and bids for construction were opened on August 15, 1949. The low bid of $74,802, submitted by Cahill & Mooney Construction Company, was accepted and the work of construction began forthwith. The work on school and rectory went apace throughout the fall, winter and spring months. First to be completed was the rectory at 624 S. Center next door to the church, and the priests uttered a fervent “Deo Gratias” when they took residence on July 25, 1950.

The new school wing, providing six additional class-rooms together with a modern library, combination auditorium-gymnasium, lavatories, and principal’s office, all completely furnished, was ready for school opening in September the same year. Three more teachers of the order of the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary who had so successfully been in charge of the school since 1927 were added to the staff. The ceremonies of blessing and dedication were held on September 24, 1950 with the Most Rev. Hubert H. Newell delivering the sermon in the parish church before a large congregation of children, parents and many visiting priests. The dedication banquet was held the same evening in the school’s new auditorium where places were set for some three hundred guests. Speakers on this most jubilant occasion were the Most Reverend Bishop and Rev. Raphael M. McCarthy, S.J., president of Regis College, Denver, Colorado. The anticipated increase in enrollment made it advisable to secure more play ground for the children of the parochial school and, with this in mind, the Wilbur Foshay property adjoining the convent building was acquired in the month of June preceding school re-opening.

During the ten years from 1940-1950 there were varying changes in the clergy personnel attached to St. Anthony’s Church. In addition to those already mentioned, assistant pastors included Rev. Charles Bartek, Rev. Herbert Kraus, Rev. Thomas Cleary, Rev. M. McBrien, Rev. William Delaney. The assistants now serving at St. Anthony’s are the Rev. W. J. McCormick and the Rev. Charles Brady. The sacrament of confirmation was administered in the parish in May l949, on which occasion one hundred and sixty-five received the sacrament at the hands [5] of the Most Rev. Hubert M. Newell. In the month of October, 1950, a two-week mission was conducted by the two Dominican Fathers, Rev. Leo M. Shea and Rev. Joseph L. Kelly. In the ten year period 1940-1950 five young ladies of the parish have entered the religious life and one priest, Rev. Clement Lafferty, O.S.B., was ordained while three students from St. Anthony’s parish are preparing for the diocesan priesthood. It is of interest to note by way of depicting the parish growth that while the total number of baptisms in the parish in 1940 was ninety-nine, the total number in the year 1950 was one hundred ninety-eight.

***

April 10, 1952

AMERICAN CITY BUREAU

The Right Reverend Monsignor T. F. O’Reilly

The Church of St. Anthony

Casper, Wyoming

Right Reverend and dear Monsignors

While Easter Week is perhaps not the most satisfactory one during which to try to complete certain details involving the Church, I thought it best to pass the following information on to you and to His Excellency Bishop Hubert M. Newell at Cheyenne, through a copy of this communication, before too much time elapsed. I therefore am sending you at least a partial report on our attempt to develop for you some interest in an order of nursing nuns for your consideration in connection with the proposed new hospital at Casper.

We have screened here, through our own knowledge and by personal telephone calls, and through contacts with a number of our friends and former clients, and have developed at least the tentative interest of three possibilities. We have hesitated to go directly to the top echelon in any of these cases but have been assured by the Superiors with whom we have had discussions regarding your problem, that a formal inquiry from you and Bishop Newell will be welcome.

At the present time, we are serving Notre Dame College at South Euclid, Cleveland 21, Ohio. This institution is operated by the Sisters of Notre Dame, whose Motherhouse is located in Rome. The Cleveland Province is located at 1325 Ansel Road, Cleveland 6, Ohio, and Mother Mary Anselm is the Provincial Superior. This Order operates two hospitals and is anxious, we have been told, to expand this phase of operation. At the present time they are concerned primarily with educational institutions, operating in the Archdioceses of Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington, and in the Dioceses of Cleveland, Fort Wayne, Nashville, Richmond and Youngstown, and in Patna, India.

[2] Sister Mary Denis is Dean of Notre Dame College, our present client. She paid us a visit about one week ago during which time we had the opportunity to suggest your problem to her. She expressed great interest in your situation and requested that a letter be addressed to Mother Mary Anselm at the address above, outlining the particulars. She assured us that she would support the program in a direct personal discussion with Mother Provincial at the first opportunity. This may be a timely lead.

As I explained, we do have a very fine relationship with the Chancery Office here in the Chicago Diocese. Another lead for your Hospital developed through a visit of one of our staff members to the Chancery Office, where he was referred immediately to the Sisters of St. Casimir, whose Motherhouse is located in Chicago at 2601 West Marquette Road. Reverend Mother M. Josepha is the Superior General. Sister Mary Devota is the Executive Director of the Order and makes her headquarters at the Holy Cross Hospital, which the Order operates at 69th Street and California Avenue in Chicago. Mother General has been out of the city until day before yesterday and we plan to see her, if possible, shortly after the Easter season.

The Sisters of St. Casimir operate three hospitals: Holy Cross and Loretta Hospitals here in Chicago, and St. Joseph’s Hospital, an institution of limited facilities, at Osmond, Nebraska, in the Omaha Diocese. In addition, the Order also administers one normal school, four high schools, thirty-three grammar schools, one foreign mission and one home for the aged, located in the Archdioceses of Baltimore, Chicago, Omaha, Philadelphia, Santa Fe and Washington, and in the Dioceses of Fort Wayne, Harrisburg, Manchester, Providence, Rockford, Scranton, Sioux City and Springfield, Massachusetts, and in the Archdiocese of LaPlata, South America.

We have not served any of the institutions administered by the Sisters of St. Casimir but are working with them now tentatively on one or two of their financial problems. We are assured, however, that an inquiry to the Mother General will receive interested consideration.

A few years ago we conducted a most active campaign for St. Elizabeth’s Hospital at Dayton, Ohio, of the Cincinnati Diocese. Since the campaign, the Superior at the Hospital has been transferred but I did have occasion yesterday to talk by telephone with Sister Celine, secretary to the new Superior. She seemed most appreciative of our suggestion and requested that a letter be addressed to Mother M. Innocenta, Provincial Superior, St. Clare Convent, Compton Road, Hartwell, Cincinnati 15, Ohio. She further stated that she would certainly have an opportunity to support this inquiry when consulted by the Mother Superior.

The Order is the Sisters of the Poor of St. Francis, Province of St. Clare. The General Motherhouse is in Rome.

[3] The Order operates ten hospitals, three nurses’ training schools and four convents for social service work. It is represented in the Archdioceses of Cincinnati and Indianapolis and in the Dioceses of Columbus, Covington, Kansas City, Kansas, and Lansing, Steubenville and Springfield, Illinois.

Further more detailed data will probably be provided through your own facilities for checking; therefore, I shall not go into great detail here.

Of these three, it seems that the Sisters of Notre Dame and the Sisters of St. Casimir probably are the better opportunities. While we do not have any particular influence with these, it would be our guess that the Sisters of St. Casimir are the most interested. At any rate, it would seem to me that proper overtures from you and His Excellency would receive considered study as I am sure all will be interested.

In my talks with these groups, I have tried to point out what appears to us as the economic value in the operation of a hospital in Casper and the opportunity presented, in our judgment, for their serious consideration. In each case we were reminded of the shortage of nuns. To this it was pointed out that probably three years would be required before staff would have to be provided, which may help considerably in any planning which is indicated.

While all of this is at the moment rather nebulous, I do hope it will be of some value to you and to Bishop Newell. Certainly you know that if we can be of any further assistance you have but to call.

We have one or two other “feelers” out and will forward whatever information is developed on these from time to time. It will be appreciated if you would be good enough to keep us advised as to your progress in order that we might try to be of maximum assistance in this important matter.

With kindest regards and best wishes, I am,

Sincerely yours.

Robert A. Dobbin

Back to INDEX		ANNALS OF THE CHURCH OF ST. ANTHONY-CASPER 1940-1950 [1] With the declaration of war by the United States on the Axis nations in December 1941, upwards of 220 young men and women left the parish for the various branches of military service. Casper was soon to have first hand evidence of the mighty war effort, and in the spring of the following year construction of a new Army Air Base, 10 miles west of Casper, was begun. Men and planes began arriving in early fall of 1942, and from October of that year squadrons of the huge war planes were familiar sights in the skies until the end of hostilities in 1945. No Catholic chaplain having yet been assigned, the priests of the parish assumed the duties of auxiliary chaplains caring for the spiritual needs of the men until the appointment of a military chaplain in late 1943. Masses were celebrated every Sunday and confessions heard regularly in the field chapel. Marriages of military personnel were numerous as the soldiers brought their sweethearts from home before leaving Casper for overseas duty, many of them never to return. Father Grannan was appointed pastor of Buffalo and was succeeded in Casper by Rev. John Brady. In October of 1943 a most successful mission was conducted in the parish by Father Cousins, now Bishop Cousins, and Father Hoffman of the Chicago archdiocesan mission band. The aealous efforts of these excellent missionaries drew the admiration of the people who found much solace during the trying years of the war in their renewed to prayer and religious practices. During these years devotion to Our Blessed Mother received a marvelous impetus as anxious parents participated in the Friday evening novena devotions to Our Sorrowful Mother. Indeed to her powerful intercession is attributed the fact that out of so many who saw military service comparatively few failed to return. The increased population of the city of Casper was reflected in the proportionate increased number of parishioners. In May, Bishop McGovern confirmed a class of 86 in St. Anthony’s church. In May 1943, the two-story frame building located immediately north of the church was purchased from Mrs. M. Hiestand for the sum of $8000, and was sold five years later for $5000 to Harold Strader with the understanding that it be removed from its location. One of the largest buildings ever to be moved in Casper, this house attracted much attention as it was being hauled to its new site at 17th and Elm St. in Casper in October 1948. [2] In 1944 Father McCormick, appointed pastor of St., Thomas Church in Monarch, was succeeded by Rev. James Godley who remained in Casper until the following year, when he took up post-graduate studies at the Catholic University, Wasnington, D. C. The sustained generosity of the people and careful husbanding of funds enabled the pastor to reduce the parish indebtedness by a substantial sum each year until at the end of 1944 sufficient funds were on hand to relieve the parish holdings of all financial encumbrances. Final payment was made January 15, 1945. With the cessation of hostilities in1945 and subsequent closing of the Casper Air Base, the community gradually returned to peace time standards. The oil exploration program instituted during the war attracted practically all the major oil companies to Wyoming, to participate in the hunt for “black gold.” Real estate values skyrocketed as housing facilities in Casper became fully inadequate duo to the sudden influx in people directly or indirectly associated with the oil industry in this region. This condition was reflected in the increased enrollment at the parochial school where the facilities provided in 1927 became entirely inadequate to care for the number seeking enrollment. Some fears were entertained that the period of prosperity would be short lived, and that Casper might again experience the economic reverses that characterized the period following the construction of the refineries and still remembered as “The Boom Days.” Such fears, however, proved to be ill-founded and businessmen began to adjust their perspective to envision a larger, busier and more progressive city than they knew in the pre-war years. Never having been frescoed, the parish church after 28 years was now noticeably in need of attention. The pastor invited Carl Matthias Wise, architectural and decorative designer, of St. Louis, Missouri, to submit a scheme for the restoration of the interior of the church. A contract was awarded Mr. Wise and the work was undertaken and completed during the summer months of 1948 at a total cost of $8,600. It was this same year that the parish corporation acquired title to a tract of land, approximately two and one-half city blocks in area and situated at the extreme south end of Center Street. This property, purchased from the Casper Hospital Association, Inc. for $5,300 is being held as a possible site of a hospital to be operated under Catholic auspices. In July of the same year an additional 10 acres was purchased from Harry Yesness for $10,000. This [3] acreage situated along the highway to Rawlins at the City’s south confines, will, it is hoped, provide sufficient building sites should a new parish be deemed advisable in later years. The new coadjutor Bishop, Most Rev. Hubert M. Newell, consecrated September 1947, was accorded a cordial welcome upon his first visit to the parish in the spring of 1948. Bishop Newell received the parishioners in a simple function held in the auditorium of the Elks Bldg. A most interesting feature of this program was the recounting of the growth and development of the parish over the fifty year period since the first pastor took up residence in Casper. The ever increasing growth of the parish with all its proportionate over-taxing of school facilities made it imperative that more class-room space be provided at the parochial school. For this purpose a campaign for funds was launched in January 1949, according to the plan of the American City Bureau, Chicago, Illinois. *[letter inserted at end of this ten year history. Ed.] Under the able leadership of William A. Schulte as general chairman of the campaign, the endeavor met with the hearty approval of the parishioners who gave generously of their time and means to bring the effort to a successful conclusion. Fired by the ardent enthusiasm of the general chairman, committee personnel worked arduously through the parish receiving contributions and assurances in the form of signed pledges toward the quota assigned to them. The final in a series of many meetings was held on Easter Monday evening 1949 and with the announcement that the goal of $230,000 had been exceeded by $12,000 the spontaneous outburst and jubilation gave ample evidence of the earnest enthusiasm and cordial cooperation that marked every phase of the campaign. With funds for construction now assured, plans for the building, already prepared by Goodrich and Wilking, associated architects, Casper, Wyoming, were given final approval. To provide the site for the school expansion the building which had served as a parish hall for over thirty years was sold to the local council of the Knights of Columbus, for the sum of $3000. The building was moved half a block to the corner of Wolcott and Seventh streets, where with its additions and improvements, it was dedicated in December, 1949, and stands today as a suitable Knights of Columbus Club and meeting hall for all council activities. Bids for the school addition were opened on the feast of St. Anthony, June 13, 1949 and a contract awarded to the Casper firm of L. D. Liesinger Company for the sum of $154,750. [4] The parish, already happily provided with a fine church edifice, was now assured a school building suited to parochial needs. The time had come when more efficient parish administration required that a new rectory, affording proper living quarters and office space, be provided. Plans for a new rectory had already been prepared by the local firm of architects and bids for construction were opened on August 15, 1949. The low bid of $74,802, submitted by Cahill & Mooney Construction Company, was accepted and the work of construction began forthwith. The work on school and rectory went apace throughout the fall, winter and spring months. First to be completed was the rectory at 624 S. Center next door to the church, and the priests uttered a fervent “Deo Gratias” when they took residence on July 25, 1950. The new school wing, providing six additional class-rooms together with a modern library, combination auditorium-gymnasium, lavatories, and principal’s office, all completely furnished, was ready for school opening in September the same year. Three more teachers of the order of the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary who had so successfully been in charge of the school since 1927 were added to the staff. The ceremonies of blessing and dedication were held on September 24, 1950 with the Most Rev. Hubert H. Newell delivering the sermon in the parish church before a large congregation of children, parents and many visiting priests. The dedication banquet was held the same evening in the school’s new auditorium where places were set for some three hundred guests. Speakers on this most jubilant occasion were the Most Reverend Bishop and Rev. Raphael M. McCarthy, S.J., president of Regis College, Denver, Colorado. The anticipated increase in enrollment made it advisable to secure more play ground for the children of the parochial school and, with this in mind, the Wilbur Foshay property adjoining the convent building was acquired in the month of June preceding school re-opening. During the ten years from 1940-1950 there were varying changes in the clergy personnel attached to St. Anthony’s Church. In addition to those already mentioned, assistant pastors included Rev. Charles Bartek, Rev. Herbert Kraus, Rev. Thomas Cleary, Rev. M. McBrien, Rev. William Delaney. The assistants now serving at St. Anthony’s are the Rev. W. J. McCormick and the Rev. Charles Brady. The sacrament of confirmation was administered in the parish in May l949, on which occasion one hundred and sixty-five received the sacrament at the hands [5] of the Most Rev. Hubert M. Newell. In the month of October, 1950, a two-week mission was conducted by the two Dominican Fathers, Rev. Leo M. Shea and Rev. Joseph L. Kelly. In the ten year period 1940-1950 five young ladies of the parish have entered the religious life and one priest, Rev. Clement Lafferty, O.S.B., was ordained while three students from St. Anthony’s parish are preparing for the diocesan priesthood. It is of interest to note by way of depicting the parish growth that while the total number of baptisms in the parish in 1940 was ninety-nine, the total number in the year 1950 was one hundred ninety-eight. * April 10, 1952 AMERICAN CITY BUREAU The Right Reverend Monsignor T. F. O’Reilly The Church of St. Anthony Casper, Wyoming Right Reverend and dear Monsignors While Easter Week is perhaps not the most satisfactory one during which to try to complete certain details involving the Church, I thought it best to pass the following information on to you and to His Excellency Bishop Hubert M. Newell at Cheyenne, through a copy of this communication, before too much time elapsed. I therefore am sending you at least a partial report on our attempt to develop for you some interest in an order of nursing nuns for your consideration in connection with the proposed new hospital at Casper. We have screened here, through our own knowledge and by personal telephone calls, and through contacts with a number of our friends and former clients, and have developed at least the tentative interest of three possibilities. We have hesitated to go directly to the top echelon in any of these cases but have been assured by the Superiors with whom we have had discussions regarding your problem, that a formal inquiry from you and Bishop Newell will be welcome. At the present time, we are serving Notre Dame College at South Euclid, Cleveland 21, Ohio. This institution is operated by the Sisters of Notre Dame, whose Motherhouse is located in Rome. The Cleveland Province is located at 1325 Ansel Road, Cleveland 6, Ohio, and Mother Mary Anselm is the Provincial Superior. This Order operates two hospitals and is anxious, we have been told, to expand this phase of operation. At the present time they are concerned primarily with educational institutions, operating in the Archdioceses of Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington, and in the Dioceses of Cleveland, Fort Wayne, Nashville, Richmond and Youngstown, and in Patna, India. [2] Sister Mary Denis is Dean of Notre Dame College, our present client. She paid us a visit about one week ago during which time we had the opportunity to suggest your problem to her. She expressed great interest in your situation and requested that a letter be addressed to Mother Mary Anselm at the address above, outlining the particulars. She assured us that she would support the program in a direct personal discussion with Mother Provincial at the first opportunity. This may be a timely lead. As I explained, we do have a very fine relationship with the Chancery Office here in the Chicago Diocese. Another lead for your Hospital developed through a visit of one of our staff members to the Chancery Office, where he was referred immediately to the Sisters of St. Casimir, whose Motherhouse is located in Chicago at 2601 West Marquette Road. Reverend Mother M. Josepha is the Superior General. Sister Mary Devota is the Executive Director of the Order and makes her headquarters at the Holy Cross Hospital, which the Order operates at 69th Street and California Avenue in Chicago. Mother General has been out of the city until day before yesterday and we plan to see her, if possible, shortly after the Easter season. The Sisters of St. Casimir operate three hospitals: Holy Cross and Loretta Hospitals here in Chicago, and St. Joseph’s Hospital, an institution of limited facilities, at Osmond, Nebraska, in the Omaha Diocese. In addition, the Order also administers one normal school, four high schools, thirty-three grammar schools, one foreign mission and one home for the aged, located in the Archdioceses of Baltimore, Chicago, Omaha, Philadelphia, Santa Fe and Washington, and in the Dioceses of Fort Wayne, Harrisburg, Manchester, Providence, Rockford, Scranton, Sioux City and Springfield, Massachusetts, and in the Archdiocese of LaPlata, South America. We have not served any of the institutions administered by the Sisters of St. Casimir but are working with them now tentatively on one or two of their financial problems. We are assured, however, that an inquiry to the Mother General will receive interested consideration. A few years ago we conducted a most active campaign for St. Elizabeth’s Hospital at Dayton, Ohio, of the Cincinnati Diocese. Since the campaign, the Superior at the Hospital has been transferred but I did have occasion yesterday to talk by telephone with Sister Celine, secretary to the new Superior. She seemed most appreciative of our suggestion and requested that a letter be addressed to Mother M. Innocenta, Provincial Superior, St. Clare Convent, Compton Road, Hartwell, Cincinnati 15, Ohio. She further stated that she would certainly have an opportunity to support this inquiry when consulted by the Mother Superior. The Order is the Sisters of the Poor of St. Francis, Province of St. Clare. The General Motherhouse is in Rome. [3] The Order operates ten hospitals, three nurses’ training schools and four convents for social service work. It is represented in the Archdioceses of Cincinnati and Indianapolis and in the Dioceses of Columbus, Covington, Kansas City, Kansas, and Lansing, Steubenville and Springfield, Illinois. Further more detailed data will probably be provided through your own facilities for checking; therefore, I shall not go into great detail here. Of these three, it seems that the Sisters of Notre Dame and the Sisters of St. Casimir probably are the better opportunities. While we do not have any particular influence with these, it would be our guess that the Sisters of St. Casimir are the most interested. At any rate, it would seem to me that proper overtures from you and His Excellency would receive considered study as I am sure all will be interested. In my talks with these groups, I have tried to point out what appears to us as the economic value in the operation of a hospital in Casper and the opportunity presented, in our judgment, for their serious consideration. In each case we were reminded of the shortage of nuns. To this it was pointed out that probably three years would be required before staff would have to be provided, which may help considerably in any planning which is indicated. While all of this is at the moment rather nebulous, I do hope it will be of some value to you and to Bishop Newell. Certainly you know that if we can be of any further assistance you have but to call. We have one or two other “feelers” out and will forward whatever information is developed on these from time to time. It will be appreciated if you would be good enough to keep us advised as to your progress in order that we might try to be of maximum assistance in this important matter. With kindest regards and best wishes, I am, Sincerely yours. Robert A. Dobbin Back to Top