History
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Father A. L. Leininger
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THE HISTORY OF sAINT NICHOLAS CHURCH
- In 1815 a printer from Philadelphia, William C. Colerick, moved to Zanesville. He worked for the Zanesville Express. He is believed to be the first Catholic to reside in Zanesville.
- In 1817 John Dugan and his family moved from Brownsville, Pennsylvania to Zanesville. They managed the Green Tree Tavern located at Fifth and Main streets in Zanesville.
- In 1818 Mr. Dugan’s sister and her nine children also moved to Zanesville.
- The oldest Catholic church in Ohio, St. Joseph’s was established at Somerset in 1818 by Dominican priests.
- Circuit riders based in Somerset visited small Catholic communities and celebrate the liturgy in the wilderness of Ohio.
- When they visited Zanesville they would celebrate Mass in the upstairs of the Green Tree Tavern.
- Fr. Nicholas Young visited Zanesville every few weeks.
- The Zanesville community was comprised mostly of Irish immigrants.
- The first catholic church in Zanesville was built in 1820. It was known as Trinity Church.
- A second larger church was built in 1827 at the present sight of St. Thomas Church. It was known as St. John’s.
- Then there was an influx of Catholics from Germany who were uncomfortable with the English language. They desired to worship in their native language.
- On July 24, 1836, 82 persons, twenty of whom were converts, where confirmed by Bishop Rev. Stahlschmidt. That same day Bishop Stahlschmidt baptized two adult converts and preached at the funeral of Mrs. Trux. This documents the first gathering of German Catholics in Zanesville.
- Bishop Purcell of Cincinnati granted permission to the German Community to establish their own parish in 1836.
- The first church committee members were Frank Rink, John Gerspach, John Hoff and William Koss. The first members of St. Nicholas church were: John Albert, Michael Albert, Mathew Armburst, Wendelin Christ, Casper Durant, George Durant, Casper Deidenbech, Martin Deidenbech, John Emmert, Casper Englehart, Bernard Fix, Mathew Freimann, John Gersbach, John Holiman, Casper Hochel, John Hoff, Jacob Hoff, Martin Hoosan, Paulus Hoffman, Casper Heibel, John Kellar, Andrew Kimmel, Michael Kiener, William Koss, William Klein, Philip Lehmann, Felix Long, Anton Minger, Jacob Osche, Jacob Paul, Valentine Paul, Iguatius Roll, Martin Riule, Francis Riule, Jos. Rush, Peter Schramm, Christian Lauer, Joseph Soller, Anton Saup, John Weidig and Adam Voll.
- The first St. Nicholas church building was built on East Main Street where the rectory now stands. The original dimensions of the church were 45X60 feet.
- Rt. Rev. John Baptist Purcell, D.D., Bishop of Cincinnati dedicated the church on December 1, 1842. The building was enlarged twice as the congregation grew. (Muskingum County was originally part of the Diocese of Cincinnati).
- On December 26, 1842, Rev. Joseph Gallinger, missionary from the Archdiocese of Munich, Germany became the first resident pastor. He remained until April 4, 1847.
- Rev. Otto A. Borgess became pastor and remained until August 15, 1849.
- Rev. Henry Rensen became pastor and remained until October 7, 1849.
- Rev. Michael Deselaers became pastor and remained until April 16, 1850.
- Two priests were assigned to St. Nicholas on April 21, 1850 when Rev. M. St. Herzog and Rev. Otto Borgess arrived.
- On July 27, 1850 the famous Jesuit Rev. Francis Xavier Weninger visited St. Nicholas and erected a cross on the lot of the church. It is documented that he baptized one person during his visit. To learn more about Fr. Weninger click here.
- Rev. J.C. Kramer was pastor from October 7, 1855 through December 4, 1855.
- Rev. J.W. Brummer was pastor from December 4, 1855 through July 1, 1857. He was replaced by Rev. Augustine Berger. Fr. Berger purchased an organ for the church.
- Rev. Francis Joseph Goetz was pastor for a short time from July 22, 1859 until November 13, 1859 when Fr. Berger returned.
- During his time here Fr. Goetz founded the Knights of St. John Union.
- Rev. G. Uhling replaced Fr. Berger on March 4, 1860.
- Rev. A. Heckinger was pastor from July 13, 1860 until February 16, 1862. During his pastorate the church was enlarged by an additional 36x45 feet.
- Rev. Joseph Rauch was pastor from February 23, 1862 until January 18, 1869. Fr. Rauch was born in Fulda on March 5, 1817 was ordained in Fulda and remained in Fulda until 1852. (No distinction is made as to whether it is Fulda, Ohio or Fulda, Germany).
- Rev. J.G. Nordmeyer was pastor from January 18, 1869 to April 25, 1869.
- Rev. Magnus Eppink replaced Fr. Nordmeyer and was pastor when the pressed brick school and convent were built. The school contained five large airy rooms and the convent has six rooms. He then built a pastoral residence. He died July 27, 1884. Regarding Fr. Eppink, the Signal July 29, 1884 edition reported “When the dread scourge, small pox, appeared at St. Nicholas’ congregation and threatened to devastrate, not only it, but the entire city—when the people were panic stricken and fleeing from the disease—Fr. Eppink was in the midst of every family attached, encouraging the dying and consoling the living, doing his duty with a simple heroism greater than many deeds praised by generation after generation.” It was reported that his charitable and self-denying life made him a great many friends regardless of faith and the funeral was the largest attended at that time. Bishop Rt. Rev. John A. Watterson, Bishop of Columbus officiated his funeral and he was buried at the St. Nicholas Catholic Cemetery on old Wheeling Road. (nka Wheeling Avenue). His remains have since been moved to Mt. Olive Cemetery and reside on the hill at the entrance of the Cemetery.
- On November 2, 1884 Rev. Philip Meschenmoser was appointed pastor where he remained until his death in 1893. Fr. Meschenmoser was born in Augsburg, Bavaria in 1836 and during his time as pastor, the front lot on Greenwood Avenue was purchased and the hill was terraced resulting in forty stone steps which led to the front of the church. The church was also renovated, and new pews and windows were added.
- A Golden Jubilee of St. Nicholas’ Church was celebrated on December 6, 1892.
- Fr. Meschenmoser was replaced by Rev. John Schneider who served as pastor from October 23, 1893 until December 6, 1893.
- Fr. A. L. Leininger became pastor of St. Nicholas Parish in 1893 and the church was once again bursting at the seams. Fr. Leiniger decided to construct a new building. He was installed on December 6, 1883 and it is reported that he was reluctant to accept the position. The Hocking Sentinel reported in December, 1983: “Rev. Leininger of St. John’s Catholic Church of this place has been transferred to Zanesville, and established as pastor of St. Nicholas as one of the largest congregations in the diocese. The appointment to this charge is a deserved and honorable promotion. During his short stay in Logan, Fr. Leininger has made excellent needed improvements and repairs to the church property, and by his piety and zeal has inspired his congregation with devotion and true Christian spirit. He has endeared himself to his congregation and all the people who know him, and in leaving Logan, he and his household, mother and sister, occasion deep regret from the parting, they take with them the earnest prayers and hearty good wishes of the people of Hocking for a happy and pleasant home in their new location in the good old city of saints on the Muskingum.”
- Regarding Fr. Leininger, the October 20, 1894 Zanesville Courier reported on Fr. Leininger’s visit to the Reunion of the Nineteenth Veteran Volunteers, held in Memorial Hall on October 18, 1894: “Three notable and brilliant address were made and the COURIER regrets that space cannot be given to their reproduction entire. Rev. Father Leininger, the scholarly young priest in charge of St. Nicholas’ Catholic Church, appeared before the general public for the first time in this city and he captivated every listener. It is not often that clergymen of this denomination are heard at soldier campfires, not because they are not patriotic and liberty loving; they are busy men and as a rule the duties of their holy office require their undivided attention. Fr. Leininger is thoroughly American from the crown of his head to the soles of his feet. He believes in the flat and its supremacy, and he believes in an unswerving obedience to the law, and the right. He is opposed to race prejudice and the abridgement of the political rights of citizens in Ohio-or any other state. He took and advanced ground on the “enjoyment of liberty,” and defined the duties and rights of the citizens under the law in language forcible and brilliant. The reverend gentleman is a thinker and student. He evidenced a knowledge of American history and traditions quite beyond what one expects to find outside the professional politician. In a word, Fr. Leininger’s address was one of the most polished, dignified, forceful and patriotic a Zanesville audience has listened to since the days of the war. He is an easy, graceful speaker, and terribly in earnest in the statement of what he believes to be the truth.”
- Fr. Leininger’s plans for an Italian Renaissance style church with a Florentine dome was presented to the congregation on January 16, 1897 and the next day volunteers were ready with their teams of mules and shovels to begin the excavation for the present St. Nicholas church building. The members of the church donated their time and talent to the building of the church. Monthly meetings were held to see that all wage earners of the congregation would contribute to the project. Members of the committee were J.N. Steiner, Joseph Fix, Stephen Day, Fred Gressel, John Schiele, Henry Freiermuth, Otto Emmert, William Greten, Jr. William Christ, Christ Hoffer, J.C. Durant and Henry Roll.
- After a year of backbreaking labor, the foundation was complete. Bishop John Waterson laid the cornerstone on July 10, 1898, and a parade was held with the different city officers and Catholic Societies. Leo XIII was Pope, William McKinley was President, Asa Bushnell was Governor of Ohio and Lewis H. Bison was Mayor of Zanesville at the time the church was built.
- The building was built by mottled brick with terra cotta trimmings. The Romanesque style building was 80 by 118 feet. The Mosaic Title Company made the large panel over the front entrance which is a copy of the John Vanderlyn painting in the rotunda of the capital in Washington. The painting is “The Landing of Columbus.” Learn more about the painting here. Here is an interesting account of Columbus’ interaction with the natives.
- On December 11, 1898, a large bell weighing over 2,600 pounds was gifted to the congregation from Fr. Leininger. It was made by the Buckeye Bell Company and was christened and named “St. Anthony”.
- It is said that the blasting of the hill rendered Fr. Leininger deaf and ever after a sister would signal him from the sacristy when it was time for him to sing while saying Mass.
- The church built in the Romanesque style of architecture similar to that of St. Peter’s of Rome and St. Mark’s of Venice was dedicated on August 27, 1899. The church is built on solid rock from which flows a spring. The original design had a grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes. The communion rail was donated by the Ladies’ Sodality and was constructed of brass, onyx and marble. It was created by Benzinger Bros.
- In 1913 the bell presented by Fr. Leininger developed a flaw and it was returned to the factory for recasting. It was returned and blessed on August 30, 1904.
- The interior decorating took 20 years to complete, and the parish worshipped in a muted room.
- The old church was converted to educational uses. Half of the building was remodeled for school room and the other half for a gymnasium. It was at this time that the Manitowoc, Wisconsin, Franciscan Sisters came to teach at the school. Fr. Leininger also added the first two high school grades in 1895, the third one in 1905 and the fourth in 1921. Prior to Fr. Leininger’s addition, most Catholic children left school at the age of 14 to begin working. In 1927 Fr. Leininger purchased ground for a new school the presently known Bishop Fenwick located at 1030 East Main Street.
- The arches in the church were originally lighted.
- The first major renovation was completed in 1919 and included an elaborate painting scheme comprising frescoes, gold leaves and walls painted to look like marble.
- In 1926 the first altar was removed and replaced with a larger one of marble.
- Fr. Leininger was elevated to Monsignor by Bishop Hartley of Columbus on December 6, 1938 and remained pastor of St. Nicholas until his death on June 10, 1939.
- Fr. Joseph Bender was pastor from 1939 through August 1951.
- Fr. Linus J. Dury became pastor on August 22, 1951 where he remained for 25 years.
- In 1955, Fr. Dury broke ground for a new convent for the sisters; and a new rectory was completed on December 29, 1957.
- Auxiliary Bishop Hettinger presided over the Confirmation Mass in (this story needs a date). There was a storm and the power went out. Sister Celerine jumped to the backup, manual organ without hesitation and Mass continued.
- Then in 1960 Fr. Linus Dury began a major renovation that changed the statuary and painting and eliminated every vestige of the earlier decorations. The blue, gold and gray colors from this renovation remain to present day. Also, the glass doors were added, and a new Rose Window was installed with the Blessed Mother as focal point. More about the windows will be posted soon.
- Also added at this time was a shrine to Our Sorrowful Mother. Novenas were conducted twice each Friday and continued until the death of Fr. Dury.
- In 1961 Fr. Dury was elevated to monsignor by Pope John XXIII. He remained at St. Nicholas until his death on September 8, 1976. He is buried at Mount Olive Cemetery.
- On January 11, 1986 Fr. Richard Metzger, the then current pastor, again renovated the church. The Tabernacle was moved to the side altar and the communion rail was removed.
- Members of the Renovation Committee of 1986 included: Reverend Richard Metzger, Roger Drake, Frank Galasso, Bill Hill, James Hillis, John Kozak, Michael LaPlante, Ernest Parent, Terry Paul, Rev. Mr. B.N. Peterson, Donald Susa.
- The church was again painted in preparation for the centenary (1998-1999) under the direction of Fr. Charles F. Klinger. The exterior domes and roof areas were stripped of layers of old paint and repainted to include the gold painting of the three crosses on the domes.
- The initial Pastors of St. Nicholas were men born and schooled in Germany and the ties to the old country remained strong. Pastors of German descent remained until Fr. Leo Connolly became pastor in 2003.
- Fr. Martin J. Ralko has been pastor since 2009.