THE HERSCHEL CHURCH ~ 1947-1974
Herschel Church Building: Henry Mucke, Wayne Mucke, Bernard Schmedding and Herb Catron brought in equipment and began clearing the site on Herschel and digging a foundation. They stopped work for unknown reasons and the project stalled for many months. Bishop Edwin V. O’Hara sent a crew of workers to finish the basement. He also changed the direction of the church from facing Third Street (South-North) to facing Herschel Street (West-East). A surplus Army chapel bought from Camp Crowder, Neosho, MO, in December of 1947, was dismantled and moved to the site on Herschel where it was reconstructed and covered with asbestos shingles. It was 81’ by 37’ and seated 250, at a cost of $29,750. The crucifix and 12 candelabra were of hand carved walnut and the figure on the crucifix was hand carved of hard maple. The tabernacle was gold-plated brass and the reredos of the altar was red velvet. The women of the Altar Society made lovely linens with an antependium of hand crocheted lace with the cross and heart design. The chapel was officially dedicated on August 8, 1948, by Bishop O’Hara. After the dedication, Mass was celebrated by Bishop Joseph Marling and Bishop O’Hara preached the sermon during the Mass. In 1952 the foundation of the chapel proved to be faulty once again, and the building had to be raised while a new basement was poured. As of June 30, 1963, the total market value of the land only at Third and Hershel was valued at $3,600.00.
According to Hubert and Nadine Cavanaugh, who were married at the Herschel Church in 1965, Hubert was discharged from the service in November of 1946 after 4 years. At that time he started his plumbing shop on Main Street across from the old post office. Mr. (Arba E) Gilmore (Sr.) laid the blocks for the church on Herschel. Hubert put in the plumbing and heating from the bottom up. When the old boiler went out and needed changing, Hubert replaced the boiler with the help of Barney Klaus. This boiler cost $800.00 new. They had a group of men pick up and carry off the old iron. They did it for free as long as they got the old iron.
At that time, Father Crowell (later Monsignor) was the Missionary Pastor for Belton, Harrisonville and Pleasant Hill. The first organ for the church was purchased by Dr. John Cavanaugh D.O. and his wife Elizabeth (Betty) and put up into the loft. When the foundation began to crack and cracks formed on the sidewalk, Father Murphy called Dunn Construction Company and they laid 12 and 16 inch blocks when they raised the church. Within the year, the church had again settled.
Some of the members of the church were Herb Catron, who owned the appliance Store on Main St; Joe Pusatari, Sr., who owned a filling station; Henry Mucke, who owned the Blacksmith Shop on Main Street by the post office and worked for Sunrise Dairy; Bernard Schmedding and Maxine Dean. When Gene Wirthman did not like what was going on in church he would chew gum and put the wrapper in the collection plate. He later paid for the Chapel at Research Belton Hospital.
Rectory: In the summer of 1951 a house was purchased for use as a rectory from J.L. and Willa May Phillips by Fr F.E. Hagedorn, and transferred to the Diocese. With a resident pastor, Father Daniel T. Murphy, the Belton mission was raised to full fledged parish status on July 3, 1951. The site of the rectory was diagonal to church and located at 522 Second St. It cost $15,000 and was furnished for $4,000. The rectory was put up for sale on August 26, 1957, with an asking price of $14,500, but did not sell until August of 1962 when Raphael and Dorothy Still purchased it for $14,500.
In 1957 a Holy Name Society formed on May 5th, followed by the Legion of Mary in 1958. A Parish Census in 1959 showed 264 children, with 108 of them being of grade school age, 34 in high school, and a total of 425 adult Catholics. A school of religion was started in 1959 with 140 children, which included children from Coronation of Our Lady in Grandview and Richards-Gebaur Air Force Base. The Sisters of Notre Dame de Sion taught the children.
In 1958 in a letter dated April 18 from the Bishop of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph to Fr. Robert Byrne, it was stated that St. Sabina Parish had a debt of $48,875.00 with a quarterly payment of $300.00.
Plans for a Catholic School, Parish Center, Church to seat 600, and Convent in Lacy Estates: In October of 1957 plans were proposed to Bishop Cody for a 6 classroom school on a 15 acre site in the west part of Lacy Estates. The 15 acres were purchased from Roger Maier in July of 1959. Again in January of 1959 Fr. Byrne proposed a school staffed by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Sion, but Bishop Cody did not think it feasible. On May 8, 1960, a Campaign newsletter was published announcing that the parish’s campaign goal was to raise $65,000 for St. Sabina’s School. The Campaign Leaders were Rev. Francis Daly, Honorary Chairman and Treasurer; Herbert Catron, General Chairman; Rev. Clarence E. Wiederholt and Paul DeMar, Auditing Co-Chairmen; Lt. Col. Thomas F. Corrigan, Associate Chairman; Logan H. Stoudt, Special Gifts Chairman; Pat Simpson, Publicity Chairman; Arzy Richardson, Meetings Chairman; and Robert E. Cox and Major James G. Ford, Solicitation Chairmen. The Endorsement Committee included Dr. John E. Cavanaugh, Dr. E.L. Montgomery, Paul E. Panek, Robert E. Cummings, Henry A. Mucke, and Reginald E. Smith. The Division Chairmen were Capt. Dee J. Canale, U.S.A.F.-M.C., S/SGT. Samuel I. Bessette, James R. McDowell, Wayne Mucke and Cletus A. Rotert. 25 men joined the Campaign to serve as Team Chairmen and these men were Richard Bellm, Leo Barry, Vernon Mucke, William Fitzgibbons, George Stone, Edward Setter, Harry Sweeten, Bernard Schmedding, Clarence Martz, Lynn Rogers, Richard Quick, Leonard Rudroff, Wes Ruch, John Sauer, Capt. Louis Delisiu, Lt. Robert Singelyn, LeRoy Klocke, Capt. Gene Rockey, Capt. Ray Heliwig, T/Sgt. Steve Sedor, T/Sgt. Claude Jewell, T/Sgt. Robert Bell, T/Sgt. James Love and M/Sgt. Marvin White. On April 20, 1960, Fr. Francis Daly wrote to Sr. Marie Claudia De Sion informing her that we had 118 families in the parish with children, and at Richards-Gebaur, another 65 families with children, with a total of 135 children that would be ready to attend school in September, 1961. On June 23, 1960 Fr. Francis Daly wrote to Bishop Cody that they had raised $80,102.50 for the school so far. On December 7, 1960, Fr. Francis Daly, pastor, wrote a letter to Bishop Cody, informing him that they would have the ground breaking celebration for the school on Sunday, February 26, 1961, at 2pm and inviting him to the celebration. However, in 1961 the sisters instead staffed a new school at Coronation parish in Grandview. On December 15, 1960, Bishop Cody wrote to Fr. Francis Daly regarding Fr. Daly’s request for the construction of a proposed parish center. In the letter Bishop Cody stated that “a number of factors have arisen which compel me at this time to advise you that we must hold in abeyance the bidding of this particular project at the present time.” On February 15, 1961, Fr. Francis Daly wrote to Bishop Cody requesting an appointment with him “pertaining to the plans about the Parish as well as decisions concerning the Convent at 600 Lacy Lane.” The parish did purchase the house at 600 Lacy on April 13, 1961 from Captain Fred P. Fredericks for $15,589.00, which is the convent referred to in the letter. A 10-month lease was signed by Thomas C. Davidson beginning October 1, 1961 and ending July 31, 1962.
The house was leased for $125.00 per month. By 1974 the Lacy Estates land was sold to Roger Maier and a church was built on Trevis Avenue instead. In 1980 the Catholic School of St. Catherine’s was combined with Coronation School and St. Matthew’s and became Our Lady of Peace School located on St. Catherine’s campus. Later in 1989 St. Sabina was added to the consolidation.
GROUPS: On June 15, 1964, the Knights of Columbus organized the Pope John XXIII Council No. 5586, which remains active in 2008. On January 25, 1996, the Knights of Columbus Ladies Auxiliary was formed and remains active in 2008. On November 18, 1997, the Columbian Squires was formed and on June 17, 1998, the Circle of the Columbus Girls was formed. In 1981 Boy Scout Troop 111 was organized and in 1987 an Altar Society was renewed.
STORIES: An article in the New People Catholic newspaper on February 9, 1968, states that when Wayne Mucke was an altar boy at the White Way tavern, a passerby saw lights on and came in hoping to buy a drink. When Herbert Catron came to Belton in 1935, there were only 4 other Catholic families. His family went to St. Catherine’s. Other parish leaders in 1968 included John Devereaux, Vice President of the parish council, Bob Henderson, head of Social Committee, Eileen Bellaire, Mildred Billesbach, and Joe and Dodie Maurer. A well-established School of Religion met in a Belton Public School with 190 pupils and 10 teachers for grades 1-9. Richards-Gebaur Air Force Base had their own chapel and school.
From Elizabeth (Betty) Ann Plunkett Arnold, 2006: Betty (O’Connor) and Ralph Plunkett joined the Mission church of St. Sabina in 1944. As a mission church, Mass was held on a rotational basis. In Belton, it was at a “Beer Hall” or liquor store that had a parlor they rented out for customer parties and St. Sabina’s Masses. The next Sunday, Mass was said in Harrisonville in a building that also served as a barracks for American troops. Betty recalls leaving that building one Sunday and being stung by a wasp under her eye. The sting caused her eye to turn black, which resulted in many a raised eyebrow for the newlywed couple, mostly directed at Ralph, who wouldn’t harm a fly (but who should have killed the wasp). The third Sunday was the favorite one as everyone attended a real church in Pleasant Hill, St. Bridget’s, which was the first Catholic Church in Cass County. The next Sunday was back to Belton and the liquor store/parlor. It was in this place that St. Sabina celebrated its first baptism, the baptism of Linda Ann Plunkett, on December 16, 1945.
The first organist was Mrs. Barbara Klaus, who later resigned to start her family. Fr. Thomas Crowell asked Maxine Mucke if she would learn to play the 3 songs used for benediction. She agreed and played until a full-time organist was found. One evening as she played and sang, a June bug landed on her cheek! She decided to quit singing until it flew off (lest she eat it), but faithfully kept playing. Fr. Crowell held Saturday morning religion classes for all the children. In the summer, he had 2 Sisters of Mercy come and teach Catechism classes for 2 weeks. Fr. Crowell said Mass and then Donna and Maxine Mucke would cook breakfast for him. Afterward, Father taught the high school children, whom he felt should learn Latin. He believed a time would come when the congregation would recite the prayers with the servers. Maxine remembers having the wind blow the host onto her skirt one Sunday and Father telling her not to move as he picked it up and then she was able to receive it. Louise and Leona Mucke chaperoned the children of Belton as they used the basement of the Chapel for a skating rink.
From Christine Carr, 2006: The son of Arlene and Bob Guss would greet Fr. Roger Miller every Sunday as he came to the altar, saying “Hi Father” and he wouldn’t stop saying it until Father answered him. Fr. Miller got used to this and answered him every time. Christine is a godmother to Mary and Janet Hughes who were baptized in the Chapel. Janet was also a student in her kindergarten class when she taught for the School of Religion. Christine taught the children using Bible stories. She also lived with a widow across the street from the Chapel.