History of St. Anthony’s Church, Cody Wyoming 1950-1960

History of St. Anthony’s Church
Cody
1950-1960

In the decade just finished St. Anthony’s Church made considerable strides in the expansion of the parish, both physically and spiritually. As the parish grew it became imperative that a new church building is provided. Accordingly in the spring of 1952 an entire city block was purchased in the Stock Addition. Mr. John K. Monroe an architect in Denver, Colorado, was contacted and plans for a new church and rectory were drawn up. In the spring of 1953 the contract for the church was let to the Welch Construction Company of Cowley, Wyoming. The Big Horn Plumbing Co. was awarded the mechanical and plumbing contract and the Benson Electric was given the electrical work. The new church was dedicated on Nov. 7, 1954.

In August of 1955 St. Anthony’s Church was able to dispose of some property the church owned on Rumsey Avenue in Cody. The selling price of $14,000.00 materially reduced the debt on the new church. At Christmas of 1956 Father Penny was able to announce to the people of the parish that the entire debt of $50,000.00 on the new church had been paid.

In the spring of 1958 the front walk of the new church was widened for the entire length of the block on the side facing Monument Street.

In 1958 the plans for the new rectory were revised. The revision was mainly the addition of a basement to the original plan. The Bishop approved this plan in 1959 and steps were taken to have various contracting firms bid on the project. Bids were opened towards the end of December 1959, and it was found that the Corrigan Construction Co., of Cody was the low bidder with a bid of $73,577.70. This bid included the general and electrical as well as the mechanical and plumbing contracts. The electrical was sublet to the Cody Electric of Cody, and the plumbing to the Kurtz Plumbing of Cody. Although the contract price was approved in 1959 the actual letting of the contracts did not take place until the spring of 1960.

At the beginning of the decade Kenneth H. Davis and Burke McDonald were the lay members of the corporation of St. Anthony’s Church. Early in 1952 Mr. Davis moved to Billings and Richard C. Kranz was elected to take his place on the church board. In Sept. of 1955 Mr. McDonald indicated that he wished to resign from the church board. He had served from October of 1949 and had served well all during the building of the new church. George Angelovic was elected to take Mr. McDonald’s place. In January of 1956 Mr. Kranz moved to Ontario, Oregon. Mr. Kranz had served as Chairman for the Building Committee for the new church, as well as secretary of the corporation. Mr. Fred W. Felsheim was elected to take his place. In November of that same year Mr. Angelovic moved to Green River and Mr. Louis Thiel took his place on the church board. Mr. Fred W. Felsheim and Mr. Louis Thiel are still the lay members of the board of St. Anthony’s Church.

Back to INDEX		History of St. Anthony’s Church Cody 1950-1960 In the decade just finished St. Anthony’s Church made considerable strides in the expansion of the parish, both physically and spiritually. As the parish grew it became imperative that a new church building is provided. Accordingly in the spring of 1952 an entire city block was purchased in the Stock Addition. Mr. John K. Monroe an architect in Denver, Colorado, was contacted and plans for a new church and rectory were drawn up. In the spring of 1953 the contract for the church was let to the Welch Construction Company of Cowley, Wyoming. The Big Horn Plumbing Co. was awarded the mechanical and plumbing contract and the Benson Electric was given the electrical work. The new church was dedicated on Nov. 7, 1954. In August of 1955 St. Anthony’s Church was able to dispose of some property the church owned on Rumsey Avenue in Cody. The selling price of $14,000.00 materially reduced the debt on the new church. At Christmas of 1956 Father Penny was able to announce to the people of the parish that the entire debt of $50,000.00 on the new church had been paid. In the spring of 1958 the front walk of the new church was widened for the entire length of the block on the side facing Monument Street. In 1958 the plans for the new rectory were revised. The revision was mainly the addition of a basement to the original plan. The Bishop approved this plan in 1959 and steps were taken to have various contracting firms bid on the project. Bids were opened towards the end of December 1959, and it was found that the Corrigan Construction Co., of Cody was the low bidder with a bid of $73,577.70. This bid included the general and electrical as well as the mechanical and plumbing contracts. The electrical was sublet to the Cody Electric of Cody, and the plumbing to the Kurtz Plumbing of Cody. Although the contract price was approved in 1959 the actual letting of the contracts did not take place until the spring of 1960. At the beginning of the decade Kenneth H. Davis and Burke McDonald were the lay members of the corporation of St. Anthony’s Church. Early in 1952 Mr. Davis moved to Billings and Richard C. Kranz was elected to take his place on the church board. In Sept. of 1955 Mr. McDonald indicated that he wished to resign from the church board. He had served from October of 1949 and had served well all during the building of the new church. George Angelovic was elected to take Mr. McDonald’s place. In January of 1956 Mr. Kranz moved to Ontario, Oregon. Mr. Kranz had served as Chairman for the Building Committee for the new church, as well as secretary of the corporation. Mr. Fred W. Felsheim was elected to take his place. In November of that same year Mr. Angelovic moved to Green River and Mr. Louis Thiel took his place on the church board. Mr. Fred W. Felsheim and Mr. Louis Thiel are still the lay members of the board of St. Anthony’s Church. Back to Top