Torrington, St. Rose 1941

Torrington, St. Rose
Bishop McGovern

[235] The history of St. Rose’s parish, Torrington, is a comparatively short one and begins with the Rev. James A. Duffy, rector of the cathedral, Cheyenne, who is believed to have been the first priest to attend Torrington. He visited the town in 1906, and held evening services in what was at that time the Congregational church. He celebrated Mass in the home of M.A. Hayes.

In the beginning of the year 1907, Rev. Patrick Long, of Wheatland, took charge of Torrington as a mission.

The first Catholic church at Torrington was purchased by John T. McDonald, in 1908, from the school district. The cost of the former school building was $1,000.00, which amount was borrowed from the diocese of Cheyenne through the bishop, and the note was signed by six or eight Catholics.

Active members of the parish were: Mrs. W.D. Hathaway, Mrs. J.T. Snow, J.A. Nolan, F.B. Nolan, T.G. Powers, A.R. Melloy, Jos. Wilde, C.D. Bruebaker, J. Loughran, M.A. Hayes, James, Jos., and J.T. McDonald, A.J. Mason and Mike and Dave Falls.

In July, 1910, the Franciscan fathers from Douglas took charge of Torrington as a mission. They continued [236] in this capacity until 1924. During their administration Mass was celebrated once a month.

With the development of Torrington and the surrounding community there was a natural increase in Catholic population, and in 1924, his excellency, the bishop, decided that the time was ripe for him to appoint a resident priest to take care of the spiritual needs of the growing flock.

Rev. John A. McAleer arrived in Torrington in July, 1924, to assume his duties as resident pastor. During his tenure a mission church was built at Veteran. The people of Veteran were deeply appreciative of their little church and have been faithful in helping the parish both temporally and spiritually.

Fr. McAleer was transferred to Cheyenne in November, 1925, and was replaced by Rev. Edward Cassidy. Fr. Cassidy found a prosperous community with a bright future. This condition coupled with the increase in parish membership made the prospect for a new church promising.

In the spring of 1928, four lots were purchased through the generous aid of Bishop McGovern who donated $1,000.00 for the purpose. It was hoped that the erection of a fine new church edifice on these lots would not be long distant.

Nineteen hundred twenty-nine was an epochal year not only for St. Rose’s parish, but for the entire diocese, [237] for in the summer of that year, work was begun on the new St. Joseph’s orphanage. The building was completed and dedicated Labor Day, September 1, 1930. Rev. John F. Henry was appointed superintendent.

The future for the new church, which had seemed so bright in 1928, was dimming. The financial depression which had engulfed the nation in 1929 had not lifted, and the prospects for a new house of worship became remote.

In January, 1932, Fr. Cassidy was transferred to Evanston, and the Rev. John J. O’Connor of Evanston took over the Torrington pastorate.

In spite of the depression the congregation continued to increase, and with no immediate hope in view for a new church, plans were made in April to enlarge the old building.

Work began in June; a sacristy and a frontal addition of 30 feet were built. Pews and statues were installed and landscaping and a few other improvements were made. The total cost of all improvements was $2,621.00. Of this amount, $1,800.00 was borrowed from the diocese of Cheyenne. Through the kindly aid of his excellency, Bishop McGovern, $750.00 of this debt was repaid in February, 1933.

The six lots, church property, were included in the city street-paving program of 1937. The cost to the [238] parish was $655.72 to be paid to the city over a ten year period with 6 per cent interest.

The final payment of the debt contracted for church improvements in 1932 was made in May, 1938. The indebtedness in December, 1938, was $516.22, representing the amount due on the street-paving program.

The building of the orphanage at Torrington has proved to be a marvelous asset to the local parish as well as to the town. It has been conducive to a general spirit of good will among all.

The Mexican situation offers serious difficulties for the parish. There are about 250 families who work as beet laborers. This work is seasonal and the remuneration insufficient for yearly sustenance. As a consequence the 100 families who remain in Torrington during the winter provide a grave economic problem. Through the cooperation of the city council, county commissioners and the welfare board a plan was devised and put into effect whereby the pastor in charge was to supply needy Mexican people with food, clothing and medicine. This program was in effect for two years, the winters of 1936-37 and 1937-38.

A class of forty-four was confirmed May 29, 1938, by Bishop McGovern. In 1938 there were thirty-eight baptisms, thirty first communions and six marriages.

At the opening of 1940 Rev. John J. O’Connor was transferred to Kemmerer, and Rev. Paul Hellrung was [239] appointed his successor. From the time that St. Joseph’s orphanage was built the pastor of Torrington made his home at this institution. It was felt that after an autonomous existence of sixteen years, the parish should be able to provide a home for its pastor, and consequently a brick rectory is now being brought to completion at a cost of $7,300.00, and with an indebtedness of $7,000.00.

Back to INDEX		Torrington, St. Rose Bishop McGovern [235] The history of St. Rose’s parish, Torrington, is a comparatively short one and begins with the Rev. James A. Duffy, rector of the cathedral, Cheyenne, who is believed to have been the first priest to attend Torrington. He visited the town in 1906, and held evening services in what was at that time the Congregational church. He celebrated Mass in the home of M.A. Hayes. In the beginning of the year 1907, Rev. Patrick Long, of Wheatland, took charge of Torrington as a mission. The first Catholic church at Torrington was purchased by John T. McDonald, in 1908, from the school district. The cost of the former school building was $1,000.00, which amount was borrowed from the diocese of Cheyenne through the bishop, and the note was signed by six or eight Catholics. Active members of the parish were: Mrs. W.D. Hathaway, Mrs. J.T. Snow, J.A. Nolan, F.B. Nolan, T.G. Powers, A.R. Melloy, Jos. Wilde, C.D. Bruebaker, J. Loughran, M.A. Hayes, James, Jos., and J.T. McDonald, A.J. Mason and Mike and Dave Falls. In July, 1910, the Franciscan fathers from Douglas took charge of Torrington as a mission. They continued [236] in this capacity until 1924. During their administration Mass was celebrated once a month. With the development of Torrington and the surrounding community there was a natural increase in Catholic population, and in 1924, his excellency, the bishop, decided that the time was ripe for him to appoint a resident priest to take care of the spiritual needs of the growing flock. Rev. John A. McAleer arrived in Torrington in July, 1924, to assume his duties as resident pastor. During his tenure a mission church was built at Veteran. The people of Veteran were deeply appreciative of their little church and have been faithful in helping the parish both temporally and spiritually. Fr. McAleer was transferred to Cheyenne in November, 1925, and was replaced by Rev. Edward Cassidy. Fr. Cassidy found a prosperous community with a bright future. This condition coupled with the increase in parish membership made the prospect for a new church promising. In the spring of 1928, four lots were purchased through the generous aid of Bishop McGovern who donated $1,000.00 for the purpose. It was hoped that the erection of a fine new church edifice on these lots would not be long distant. Nineteen hundred twenty-nine was an epochal year not only for St. Rose’s parish, but for the entire diocese, [237] for in the summer of that year, work was begun on the new St. Joseph’s orphanage. The building was completed and dedicated Labor Day, September 1, 1930. Rev. John F. Henry was appointed superintendent. The future for the new church, which had seemed so bright in 1928, was dimming. The financial depression which had engulfed the nation in 1929 had not lifted, and the prospects for a new house of worship became remote. In January, 1932, Fr. Cassidy was transferred to Evanston, and the Rev. John J. O’Connor of Evanston took over the Torrington pastorate. In spite of the depression the congregation continued to increase, and with no immediate hope in view for a new church, plans were made in April to enlarge the old building. Work began in June; a sacristy and a frontal addition of 30 feet were built. Pews and statues were installed and landscaping and a few other improvements were made. The total cost of all improvements was $2,621.00. Of this amount, $1,800.00 was borrowed from the diocese of Cheyenne. Through the kindly aid of his excellency, Bishop McGovern, $750.00 of this debt was repaid in February, 1933. The six lots, church property, were included in the city street-paving program of 1937. The cost to the [238] parish was $655.72 to be paid to the city over a ten year period with 6 per cent interest. The final payment of the debt contracted for church improvements in 1932 was made in May, 1938. The indebtedness in December, 1938, was $516.22, representing the amount due on the street-paving program. The building of the orphanage at Torrington has proved to be a marvelous asset to the local parish as well as to the town. It has been conducive to a general spirit of good will among all. The Mexican situation offers serious difficulties for the parish. There are about 250 families who work as beet laborers. This work is seasonal and the remuneration insufficient for yearly sustenance. As a consequence the 100 families who remain in Torrington during the winter provide a grave economic problem. Through the cooperation of the city council, county commissioners and the welfare board a plan was devised and put into effect whereby the pastor in charge was to supply needy Mexican people with food, clothing and medicine. This program was in effect for two years, the winters of 1936-37 and 1937-38. A class of forty-four was confirmed May 29, 1938, by Bishop McGovern. In 1938 there were thirty-eight baptisms, thirty first communions and six marriages. At the opening of 1940 Rev. John J. O’Connor was transferred to Kemmerer, and Rev. Paul Hellrung was [239] appointed his successor. From the time that St. Joseph’s orphanage was built the pastor of Torrington made his home at this institution. It was felt that after an autonomous existence of sixteen years, the parish should be able to provide a home for its pastor, and consequently a brick rectory is now being brought to completion at a cost of $7,300.00, and with an indebtedness of $7,000.00. Back to Top