Evanston, St. Mary Magdalene 1941

Evanston, St. Mary Magdalene
Bishop McGovern

[82] St. Mary Magdalen’s parish, Evanston, started life in 1873, when the first priestly ministrations in that vicinity were performed by the Rev. Eugene Cusson, who was in charge of the Laramie pastorate at that time. On his first visit to Evanston Fr. Cusson found twelve Catholic families.

Mass was celebrated in the school building until 1877. In that year, Fr. Cusson purchased a house of worship from the Baptist Home Mission Society for $1,100.00. The people of the parish paid for their new church within one month from the date on which it was bought.

The Catholics of Evanston were attended from Rawlins from 1879 to 1884 by Rev. M.F. Cassidy, who in the former year was given charge of the western part of Wyoming.

The first activity that we have note of since the purchase of the church building came during the tenure of the first resident pastor, Rev. Christopher Fitzgerald. This good priest took time from his ministrations to the living to remember the dead, and in 1885, secured a plot of ground (5.46 acres) for a Catholic cemetery.

[83] To replace Fr. Fitzgerald came the Rev. Peter Casey in 1895. In 1897, the coal fields in the northeastern part of Uinta County were opened and with their development came a number of Catholics to work in the mines. Fr. Casey attended the new coal camp, which was named Kemmerer, in 1898. He took heed of the increasing Catholic population in the Kemmerer neighborhood and in 1899, through his efforts, a neat, little church building was constructed.

In July, 1902, Fr. Casey was transferred to the charge of Rawlins, where he died in February, 1903. From his departure until the pastorate of Rev. John F. Moreton there is nothing of importance to chronicle.

In 1920, the property, house and lot, adjoining the church on the east side was acquired from a Mrs. Fiero. The cost of the property was $4,750.00, which amount was borrowed. It is interesting to note that this house is the remodeled school building in which Mass was first celebrated in Evanston.

The existence of the parish was uneventful for the next few years, disturbed only by the rumor that Evanston was to be abandoned as a railroad terminal. The disturbing rumor materialized on March 11, 1926, and the home terminal for the freight conductors and brakemen was changed to Ogden. On August 31st of the same year the roundhouse and shops were closed and Evanston was no longer a railroad division; only [84] the locomotive engineers and firemen remained. The effect on the parish was discouraging as many of the old Catholic families were transferred elsewhere. The citizen’s committee was successful in having the shops reopened November 8, 1926, but this was only temporary. January 23, 1927, the railroad Reclamation Plant replaced the shops, beginning operations with a force of one hundred men, which was later much increased.

The temporal affairs of the parish were laid aside May 1, 1927, when a class of eight was confirmed by his excellency, Bishop McGovern.

In 1928 another substantial payment was made on the debt. There were thirty-five families on the parish roster in 1928.

Thirty-six miles east of Evanston is historic Fort Bridger, which is situated in an agricultural and ranching district. In 1928, there were sixteen Catholic families scattered throughout the vicinity. Mass was celebrated twice a month in a hall whenever the roads to Fort Bridger were passable. September 1, 1928, a class of eleven children made their first communion, the first regular class in the history of the town.

May 1, 1931, the Most Rev. P. A. McGovern, D.D., bishop of Cheyenne, confirmed a class of forty-three. In this year also there was a noticeable increase in first communions in Evanston and Fort Bridger.

[85] At the end of 1931, the debt had been cut to $1,300.00. In January, 1932, the Rev. Edward Cassidy relieved Rev. John J. O’Connor of his charge.

Seventeen candidates were confirmed June l7, 1934, by his excellency, Bishop McGovern. In the same year it seemed advisable to plan for a church at Fort Bridger. There were twenty families in that district, and the hall in use was not suitable for services. An application was made to the Catholic Church Extension Society for help and it generously responded with a gift of $3,000.00. The church was dedicated November 11, 1935, free from debt.

In 1937, the last payment was made on the Evanston debt.

A class of twenty-four was confirmed by his excellency, Bishop McGovern, May 24, 1938. During the year a class of fourteen made their first holy communion; there were five baptisms, and two marriages. At the close of the year there was $500.00 in the treasury. The parishioners of St. Mary Magdalen’s were still attending the church that had been bought in 1877 by Fr. Cusson. It was true that a few changes and improvements had been made, but substantially it was the same. The pastor and his flock were eager to have a new church, and plans were discussed for a campaign to start a building fund.

[86] Providence intervened and in the early morning of January 4, 1939, a fire completely destroyed the church and living quarters. The total insurance came to $4,500.00, of which amount $4,200.00 was received by the parish. A building fund was immediately organized and $7,500.00 was raised.

The parish built a beautiful new church of native stone, with a seating capacity of 156. It is well furnished, and presents a most attractive appearance, both interiorly and exteriorly. The first Mass was celebrated in the new St. Mary Magdalen’s on Christmas day, 1939. The building and furnishings cost $33,000.00, and the debt is $13,000.00. It was solemnly dedicated May 22, 1940, by Most Rev. P.A. McGovern, D.D., in the presence of Bishop Hunt, of Salt Lake City, two monsignori, and 25 priests from Wyoming, Utah, Nevada and California. Bishop McGovern preached on the Infallibility of the Roman Pontiff to a congregation that filled the auditorium and gallery and was made up of Catholics and non-Catholics.

A total of four missions were given during the years from 1925 to 1939.

The following priests have had charge of the Evanston parish: Rev. Eugene Cusson (attended from Laramie) 1873-1879; Rev. M.F. Cassidy (from Rawlins) 1879-1884; Rev. Christopher Fitzgerald, 1884-1895, first resident pastor; Rev. Peter Casey, 1895-1901; Rev. [87] Thomas Hayes, 1902-1903; Rev. Patrick Walsh, 1903-1904; Rev. Thomas Barrett, 1904-1907; Rev. D.M. Tully, 1907-1908; Rev. M.A. Kennedy, 1908-1910; Rev. P.J. Lynch, 1910-1911; Rev. R.B. Groener, 1912-1914; Rev. Michael Stagno, (November to December, 1914); Rev. John F. Moreton, 1915-1923; Rev. John J. O’Connor, 1923-1932; Rev. Edward Cassidy, 1932 to the present.

Back to INDEX		Evanston, St. Mary Magdalene Bishop McGovern [82] St. Mary Magdalen’s parish, Evanston, started life in 1873, when the first priestly ministrations in that vicinity were performed by the Rev. Eugene Cusson, who was in charge of the Laramie pastorate at that time. On his first visit to Evanston Fr. Cusson found twelve Catholic families. Mass was celebrated in the school building until 1877. In that year, Fr. Cusson purchased a house of worship from the Baptist Home Mission Society for $1,100.00. The people of the parish paid for their new church within one month from the date on which it was bought. The Catholics of Evanston were attended from Rawlins from 1879 to 1884 by Rev. M.F. Cassidy, who in the former year was given charge of the western part of Wyoming. The first activity that we have note of since the purchase of the church building came during the tenure of the first resident pastor, Rev. Christopher Fitzgerald. This good priest took time from his ministrations to the living to remember the dead, and in 1885, secured a plot of ground (5.46 acres) for a Catholic cemetery. [83] To replace Fr. Fitzgerald came the Rev. Peter Casey in 1895. In 1897, the coal fields in the northeastern part of Uinta County were opened and with their development came a number of Catholics to work in the mines. Fr. Casey attended the new coal camp, which was named Kemmerer, in 1898. He took heed of the increasing Catholic population in the Kemmerer neighborhood and in 1899, through his efforts, a neat, little church building was constructed. In July, 1902, Fr. Casey was transferred to the charge of Rawlins, where he died in February, 1903. From his departure until the pastorate of Rev. John F. Moreton there is nothing of importance to chronicle. In 1920, the property, house and lot, adjoining the church on the east side was acquired from a Mrs. Fiero. The cost of the property was $4,750.00, which amount was borrowed. It is interesting to note that this house is the remodeled school building in which Mass was first celebrated in Evanston. The existence of the parish was uneventful for the next few years, disturbed only by the rumor that Evanston was to be abandoned as a railroad terminal. The disturbing rumor materialized on March 11, 1926, and the home terminal for the freight conductors and brakemen was changed to Ogden. On August 31st of the same year the roundhouse and shops were closed and Evanston was no longer a railroad division; only [84] the locomotive engineers and firemen remained. The effect on the parish was discouraging as many of the old Catholic families were transferred elsewhere. The citizen’s committee was successful in having the shops reopened November 8, 1926, but this was only temporary. January 23, 1927, the railroad Reclamation Plant replaced the shops, beginning operations with a force of one hundred men, which was later much increased. The temporal affairs of the parish were laid aside May 1, 1927, when a class of eight was confirmed by his excellency, Bishop McGovern. In 1928 another substantial payment was made on the debt. There were thirty-five families on the parish roster in 1928. Thirty-six miles east of Evanston is historic Fort Bridger, which is situated in an agricultural and ranching district. In 1928, there were sixteen Catholic families scattered throughout the vicinity. Mass was celebrated twice a month in a hall whenever the roads to Fort Bridger were passable. September 1, 1928, a class of eleven children made their first communion, the first regular class in the history of the town. May 1, 1931, the Most Rev. P. A. McGovern, D.D., bishop of Cheyenne, confirmed a class of forty-three. In this year also there was a noticeable increase in first communions in Evanston and Fort Bridger. [85] At the end of 1931, the debt had been cut to $1,300.00. In January, 1932, the Rev. Edward Cassidy relieved Rev. John J. O’Connor of his charge. Seventeen candidates were confirmed June l7, 1934, by his excellency, Bishop McGovern. In the same year it seemed advisable to plan for a church at Fort Bridger. There were twenty families in that district, and the hall in use was not suitable for services. An application was made to the Catholic Church Extension Society for help and it generously responded with a gift of $3,000.00. The church was dedicated November 11, 1935, free from debt. In 1937, the last payment was made on the Evanston debt. A class of twenty-four was confirmed by his excellency, Bishop McGovern, May 24, 1938. During the year a class of fourteen made their first holy communion; there were five baptisms, and two marriages. At the close of the year there was $500.00 in the treasury. The parishioners of St. Mary Magdalen’s were still attending the church that had been bought in 1877 by Fr. Cusson. It was true that a few changes and improvements had been made, but substantially it was the same. The pastor and his flock were eager to have a new church, and plans were discussed for a campaign to start a building fund. [86] Providence intervened and in the early morning of January 4, 1939, a fire completely destroyed the church and living quarters. The total insurance came to $4,500.00, of which amount $4,200.00 was received by the parish. A building fund was immediately organized and $7,500.00 was raised. The parish built a beautiful new church of native stone, with a seating capacity of 156. It is well furnished, and presents a most attractive appearance, both interiorly and exteriorly. The first Mass was celebrated in the new St. Mary Magdalen’s on Christmas day, 1939. The building and furnishings cost $33,000.00, and the debt is $13,000.00. It was solemnly dedicated May 22, 1940, by Most Rev. P.A. McGovern, D.D., in the presence of Bishop Hunt, of Salt Lake City, two monsignori, and 25 priests from Wyoming, Utah, Nevada and California. Bishop McGovern preached on the Infallibility of the Roman Pontiff to a congregation that filled the auditorium and gallery and was made up of Catholics and non-Catholics. A total of four missions were given during the years from 1925 to 1939. The following priests have had charge of the Evanston parish: Rev. Eugene Cusson (attended from Laramie) 1873-1879; Rev. M.F. Cassidy (from Rawlins) 1879-1884; Rev. Christopher Fitzgerald, 1884-1895, first resident pastor; Rev. Peter Casey, 1895-1901; Rev. [87] Thomas Hayes, 1902-1903; Rev. Patrick Walsh, 1903-1904; Rev. Thomas Barrett, 1904-1907; Rev. D.M. Tully, 1907-1908; Rev. M.A. Kennedy, 1908-1910; Rev. P.J. Lynch, 1910-1911; Rev. R.B. Groener, 1912-1914; Rev. Michael Stagno, (November to December, 1914); Rev. John F. Moreton, 1915-1923; Rev. John J. O’Connor, 1923-1932; Rev. Edward Cassidy, 1932 to the present. Back to Top