Close Window
- Worship Sites :: St. Joseph Equality |
- St. Joseph Ridgway |
- St. Mary |
- St. Patrick
St. Joseph, Ridgway 1870*
1840s: German and French settlers arrived. Thomas S. Ridgway, president of the Springfield and Illinois Southeastern Reilroad (later part of the B&O) named the town in honor of himself. It was nicknamed "Stumpville" because of the number of trees that had to be cleared to make way for the railroad.
1870: Father Anton Demming of Shawneetown said the first Mass in a private home.
1879: Father James A. Rensmann, the first pastor, moved to Ridgway.
1885: Precious Blood sisters began teaching school.
1894: A new German gothic church was built.
*This brief history is taken from A Time of Favor: The Story of the Catholic Family of Southern Illinois by Betty Burnett. Those with more detailed and more recent information are encouraged to contact Leon Raymer to have the information included.
