Thermopolis, St. Francis 1960

Church of Saint Francis
Thermopolis, Wyoming
Historical Data – Jan. 1, 1951 to June 15, 1960

The new Church of St. Francis was dedicated on August 8, 1951 with the Most Rev. Hubert M. Newell, D.D., Coadjutor Bishop of Cheyenne, officiating. At the Solemn High Mass of dedication the Very Rev. Philip W. Krass was celebrant, the Rev. John Brady, deacon, the Rev. James McBride, subdeacon, the Very Rev. James A. Hartmann, V.G., master of ceremonies. The Most Rev. Hubert M. Newell, D.D. preached the sermon. St. Francis choir under the direction of Mrs. Basil Golden with Miss Geneva O’Connell at the organ furnished the music. Guest soloist was the Rev. William Delaney.

Mr. Frank O’Mahoney of Worland served as toastmaster at the banquet that evening in the new grade school. The principal speakers were the Most Rev. Hubert M. Newell, D.D., the Very Rev. Philip W. Krass and Mr. Joseph Gavalli, attorney-at-law and trustee of the parish.

On the day of the dedication the parish was $17,000.00 in debt. In March 1952, final payment was made on the Baldwin organ purchased for $2750 plus carrying charges. In December, 1952, new pews with padded kneelers were added at a cost of more than $5000.00. In April, 1953, curbing, gutter and sidewall were put in on the east and north sides of the church. In September, 1954, curbing and gutter were put in along the 8th street side of the old property. Eighth Street was subsequently paved.

In January, 1956, the last payment on the old $17,000 indebtedness was made and all bills paid. To celebrate the occasion, a special carry-in dinner was held at the Oddfellows’ Hall. The various speakers and entertainers were well received by a large and enthusiastic crowd. The Rev. N.J. Endres, the Rev. James McBride and the Very Rev. Philip W. Krass, the only pastors the Church of St. Francis of Thermopolis ever had, exchanged many stories of their experiences here.

Up to the present Thermopolis pastors have been obliged to live under lower standards of living than other priests in the diocese, a couple of rooms behind the old church serving as a rectory. After the debt was finally cleared, therefore, Father Krass immediately began to build up a fund for a rectory. On Jan. 1, 1960 the parish showed a surplus of $31,837.94.

In September, 1959, Richard P. Friedl and Joseph Cavalli retired as trustees of the parish and were replaced by Dr. R.E. Kunkel and Gerald A. Stack.

In March, 1960, Mr. Basil C. Golden, resident of Thermopolis for almost 50 years, turned over his property south of town (valued at $22,500) to the parish, with the proviso that he be permitted to live in the house until his death and that the parish furnish him with $1500 in government bonds, the latter to revert to the parish if not redeemed at the time of Mr. Golden’s death.

On May 8, 1960, Bishop Newell met with Father Krass, Dr. R.E. Kunkel and Mr. Gerald A. Stack, and it was decided to build a new rectory between the new church and the Burnell residence. Cushing, Terrell and Toohey, Worland architects, were engaged to draw up the plans.

Bishop Newell administered Confirmation in Thermopolis in 1951, 1954, 1957 and 1960. Prominent Catholics who died daring the ten year period were: Clara Belle Punteney, Mabel McLoughlin, Sam Kelly, Nellie Kelly, Edmund F. Walsh, Mary E. Golden, George F. Haratyk, Mary Merrill, Josephine Musolf, Naomi Foley, Frank Bullinger, John J. Conlon, V.D. Punteney, Martin R. Price, Ellis A. Merrill, Juliana A. Milek, John Kowlok, Mary M. Brown, Anna Kreps, Nora Dalene, Verona J. Golden, Jerry O’Leary, Anna Kowlok, Katharine Evetts, Mary Jane Batzer.

Back to INDEX		Church of Saint Francis Thermopolis, Wyoming Historical Data – Jan. 1, 1951 to June 15, 1960 The new Church of St. Francis was dedicated on August 8, 1951 with the Most Rev. Hubert M. Newell, D.D., Coadjutor Bishop of Cheyenne, officiating. At the Solemn High Mass of dedication the Very Rev. Philip W. Krass was celebrant, the Rev. John Brady, deacon, the Rev. James McBride, subdeacon, the Very Rev. James A. Hartmann, V.G., master of ceremonies. The Most Rev. Hubert M. Newell, D.D. preached the sermon. St. Francis choir under the direction of Mrs. Basil Golden with Miss Geneva O’Connell at the organ furnished the music. Guest soloist was the Rev. William Delaney. Mr. Frank O’Mahoney of Worland served as toastmaster at the banquet that evening in the new grade school. The principal speakers were the Most Rev. Hubert M. Newell, D.D., the Very Rev. Philip W. Krass and Mr. Joseph Gavalli, attorney-at-law and trustee of the parish. On the day of the dedication the parish was $17,000.00 in debt. In March 1952, final payment was made on the Baldwin organ purchased for $2750 plus carrying charges. In December, 1952, new pews with padded kneelers were added at a cost of more than $5000.00. In April, 1953, curbing, gutter and sidewall were put in on the east and north sides of the church. In September, 1954, curbing and gutter were put in along the 8th street side of the old property. Eighth Street was subsequently paved. In January, 1956, the last payment on the old $17,000 indebtedness was made and all bills paid. To celebrate the occasion, a special carry-in dinner was held at the Oddfellows’ Hall. The various speakers and entertainers were well received by a large and enthusiastic crowd. The Rev. N.J. Endres, the Rev. James McBride and the Very Rev. Philip W. Krass, the only pastors the Church of St. Francis of Thermopolis ever had, exchanged many stories of their experiences here. Up to the present Thermopolis pastors have been obliged to live under lower standards of living than other priests in the diocese, a couple of rooms behind the old church serving as a rectory. After the debt was finally cleared, therefore, Father Krass immediately began to build up a fund for a rectory. On Jan. 1, 1960 the parish showed a surplus of $31,837.94. In September, 1959, Richard P. Friedl and Joseph Cavalli retired as trustees of the parish and were replaced by Dr. R.E. Kunkel and Gerald A. Stack. In March, 1960, Mr. Basil C. Golden, resident of Thermopolis for almost 50 years, turned over his property south of town (valued at $22,500) to the parish, with the proviso that he be permitted to live in the house until his death and that the parish furnish him with $1500 in government bonds, the latter to revert to the parish if not redeemed at the time of Mr. Golden’s death. On May 8, 1960, Bishop Newell met with Father Krass, Dr. R.E. Kunkel and Mr. Gerald A. Stack, and it was decided to build a new rectory between the new church and the Burnell residence. Cushing, Terrell and Toohey, Worland architects, were engaged to draw up the plans. Bishop Newell administered Confirmation in Thermopolis in 1951, 1954, 1957 and 1960. Prominent Catholics who died daring the ten year period were: Clara Belle Punteney, Mabel McLoughlin, Sam Kelly, Nellie Kelly, Edmund F. Walsh, Mary E. Golden, George F. Haratyk, Mary Merrill, Josephine Musolf, Naomi Foley, Frank Bullinger, John J. Conlon, V.D. Punteney, Martin R. Price, Ellis A. Merrill, Juliana A. Milek, John Kowlok, Mary M. Brown, Anna Kreps, Nora Dalene, Verona J. Golden, Jerry O’Leary, Anna Kowlok, Katharine Evetts, Mary Jane Batzer. Back to Top