ST. ANTHONY’S CHURCH, Cody, Wyoming History 1940-1950

ST. ANTHONY’S CHURCH
CODY. WYOMING
History 1940 - 1950

By decree of His Excellency, the Most Reverend P.A. McGovern, D.D., Bishop of Cheyenne, St. Anthony’s Church, located in Cody, Wyoming, was elevated to the status of a parish on Oct. 23, 1940. At that time the Reverend F.J. Kimmett, pastor of St. Barbara’s Church, Powell, Wyoming, was appointed administrator of the newly created parish until the bishop could supply a pastor.

Although the actuality of war was realized late in 1941, along with restrictions and the rationing of many commodities, the schedule of Masses in Yellowstone National Park was maintained throughout the summer of 1942. Father Kimmett also found the means to paint the Cody church and reshingle the roof before the end of 1943.

The early days of 1944 brought a change in the new parish. Father Kimmett had received permission from the Most Reverend Bishop to apply for a chaplaincy in the Army. As soon as his application had been accepted, the Bishop appointed the Reverend Francis T. Penny, assistant superintendent of St. Joseph’s Orphanage at Torrington, to the pastorate of St. Anthony’s Church, Cody (1/10/44), and administrator of St. Barbara’s Church, Powell, with residence in Powell. This condition existed until some time after World War II.

During the summer months of 1945 serious attention was given to the location and extent of the real property of the Church in Cody. The pastor and the trustees felt that a better site with more ground should be sought for the future development of the Church. Mr. and Mrs. Clarence J. Linn had for sale at this time twelve lots on Rumsey Avenue. The asking price was $7,500.00. A lower figure was offered the Linns and after some deliberation they decided to accept the offer. Accordingly on Sept. 30, 1945, the members of the corporation of St. Anthony’s Church, Cody, Wyoming, in resolution agreed to buy lots 7 to 16 inclusive in Block 7, the original Town of Cody, Wyoming, for a total consideration of $6,500.00 from Clarence J. Linn and Gertrude M. Linn, husband and wife. In the transfer of the property the Linns accepted a small house and lot on Beck Avenue from the Church for a consideration of $3,000.00 and the balance of $3,500.00 was tendered them in cash.

As World War II was now over, plans were made by the pastor to take up residence in Cody. Father Kimmett had written that he would return soon to Powell, so some sort of abode was necessary in Cody. On Feb. 3, 1946, the trustees in meeting with the pastor decided that a campaign for funds to build a new rectory be inaugurated. It was soon apparent, however, that it was impossible for the new parish to construct a suitable rectory. Rising building costs and the scarcity of materials had made permanent construction not feasible. Upon consulting the Most Reverend Bishop it was decided to remodel the quarters in the rear of the Church and to add to them. Carpenters and laborers were hired and the new temporary quarters were soon made habitable. So on April 26, 1946, the first resident pastor of St. Anthony’s Church actually began to live within the confines of the parish.

The post-war years made Cody a prosperous community. The population soared as the town doubled in size. The summer schedule of Masses was resumed in Yellowstone National Park in 1946. Mass was said each Sunday at Old Faithful Lodge, Lake Lodge, Canyon Lodge, and at the government chapel at Mammoth. Two Sunday Masses were said in Cody. Such were conditions through 1948. In the spring of 1949 it was felt that a campaign for funds should be organized to build a new Church. In that summer of 1949 two more Masses were added to the summer Mass schedule at Cody to care for the increased number of tourists. Early in the fall the fund-raising campaign was started. The campaign itself -was successfully accomplished in a few weeks. However, disturbing signs began to appear in the community. The first of these signs appeared in the oil fields adjacent to Cody and upon which Cody depended for much of her prosperity. Black oil, pumped in these fields and used extensively in roadwork, no longer had a great demand, so production was cut to a minimum. Men were laid off, or transferred to other fields. The building boom, which had reached Cody after the war, had reached its saturation point and this, too, threw many men out of work. By 1950 many of the parishioners of St. Anthony’s Church had moved away permanently; some were still living in Cody but working in surrounding towns. Then in the late fall of 1950 the pendulum swung the other way. The oil fields resumed production at a greatly increased daily capacity. At the same time many new government employees, connected mainly with the Bureau of Reclamation, moved to Cody. This influx of workers brought the Catholic population back to the 1949 level.

In the spring of 1950 a need to acquire different land holdings within the City of Cody was felt. A site in the west end of town was selected. Paul Stock owns this property, a millionaire oilman of Cody. Mr. Stock has agreed to donate this valuable property to St. Anthony’s Church as a site for a new church and rectory, provided that certain legal obstacles can be surmounted. As the property lies within a restricted residential district, the main restriction being that all building must be confined to one-story residential buildings, this restriction must be removed to permit the construction of a new church on the property. All interested parties have agreed orally to its removal and Mr. Stock’s lawyer has been instructed to take the necessary legal steps. Some day, it is hoped, a beautiful Catholic church will grace this land that lies at the feet of Cedar and Rattlesnake Mountains.

In the past decade St. Anthony’s Church has seen 177 Baptisms, 36 Confirmations, 90 First Holy Communions, 48 Marriages, 34 Deaths and 25 Converts.

Back to INDEX		ST. ANTHONY’S CHURCH CODY. WYOMING History 1940 - 1950 By decree of His Excellency, the Most Reverend P.A. McGovern, D.D., Bishop of Cheyenne, St. Anthony’s Church, located in Cody, Wyoming, was elevated to the status of a parish on Oct. 23, 1940. At that time the Reverend F.J. Kimmett, pastor of St. Barbara’s Church, Powell, Wyoming, was appointed administrator of the newly created parish until the bishop could supply a pastor. Although the actuality of war was realized late in 1941, along with restrictions and the rationing of many commodities, the schedule of Masses in Yellowstone National Park was maintained throughout the summer of 1942. Father Kimmett also found the means to paint the Cody church and reshingle the roof before the end of 1943. The early days of 1944 brought a change in the new parish. Father Kimmett had received permission from the Most Reverend Bishop to apply for a chaplaincy in the Army. As soon as his application had been accepted, the Bishop appointed the Reverend Francis T. Penny, assistant superintendent of St. Joseph’s Orphanage at Torrington, to the pastorate of St. Anthony’s Church, Cody (1/10/44), and administrator of St. Barbara’s Church, Powell, with residence in Powell. This condition existed until some time after World War II. During the summer months of 1945 serious attention was given to the location and extent of the real property of the Church in Cody. The pastor and the trustees felt that a better site with more ground should be sought for the future development of the Church. Mr. and Mrs. Clarence J. Linn had for sale at this time twelve lots on Rumsey Avenue. The asking price was $7,500.00. A lower figure was offered the Linns and after some deliberation they decided to accept the offer. Accordingly on Sept. 30, 1945, the members of the corporation of St. Anthony’s Church, Cody, Wyoming, in resolution agreed to buy lots 7 to 16 inclusive in Block 7, the original Town of Cody, Wyoming, for a total consideration of $6,500.00 from Clarence J. Linn and Gertrude M. Linn, husband and wife. In the transfer of the property the Linns accepted a small house and lot on Beck Avenue from the Church for a consideration of $3,000.00 and the balance of $3,500.00 was tendered them in cash. As World War II was now over, plans were made by the pastor to take up residence in Cody. Father Kimmett had written that he would return soon to Powell, so some sort of abode was necessary in Cody. On Feb. 3, 1946, the trustees in meeting with the pastor decided that a campaign for funds to build a new rectory be inaugurated. It was soon apparent, however, that it was impossible for the new parish to construct a suitable rectory. Rising building costs and the scarcity of materials had made permanent construction not feasible. Upon consulting the Most Reverend Bishop it was decided to remodel the quarters in the rear of the Church and to add to them. Carpenters and laborers were hired and the new temporary quarters were soon made habitable. So on April 26, 1946, the first resident pastor of St. Anthony’s Church actually began to live within the confines of the parish. The post-war years made Cody a prosperous community. The population soared as the town doubled in size. The summer schedule of Masses was resumed in Yellowstone National Park in 1946. Mass was said each Sunday at Old Faithful Lodge, Lake Lodge, Canyon Lodge, and at the government chapel at Mammoth. Two Sunday Masses were said in Cody. Such were conditions through 1948. In the spring of 1949 it was felt that a campaign for funds should be organized to build a new Church. In that summer of 1949 two more Masses were added to the summer Mass schedule at Cody to care for the increased number of tourists. Early in the fall the fund-raising campaign was started. The campaign itself -was successfully accomplished in a few weeks. However, disturbing signs began to appear in the community. The first of these signs appeared in the oil fields adjacent to Cody and upon which Cody depended for much of her prosperity. Black oil, pumped in these fields and used extensively in roadwork, no longer had a great demand, so production was cut to a minimum. Men were laid off, or transferred to other fields. The building boom, which had reached Cody after the war, had reached its saturation point and this, too, threw many men out of work. By 1950 many of the parishioners of St. Anthony’s Church had moved away permanently; some were still living in Cody but working in surrounding towns. Then in the late fall of 1950 the pendulum swung the other way. The oil fields resumed production at a greatly increased daily capacity. At the same time many new government employees, connected mainly with the Bureau of Reclamation, moved to Cody. This influx of workers brought the Catholic population back to the 1949 level. In the spring of 1950 a need to acquire different land holdings within the City of Cody was felt. A site in the west end of town was selected. Paul Stock owns this property, a millionaire oilman of Cody. Mr. Stock has agreed to donate this valuable property to St. Anthony’s Church as a site for a new church and rectory, provided that certain legal obstacles can be surmounted. As the property lies within a restricted residential district, the main restriction being that all building must be confined to one-story residential buildings, this restriction must be removed to permit the construction of a new church on the property. All interested parties have agreed orally to its removal and Mr. Stock’s lawyer has been instructed to take the necessary legal steps. Some day, it is hoped, a beautiful Catholic church will grace this land that lies at the feet of Cedar and Rattlesnake Mountains. In the past decade St. Anthony’s Church has seen 177 Baptisms, 36 Confirmations, 90 First Holy Communions, 48 Marriages, 34 Deaths and 25 Converts. Back to Top