| When Damar, Kansas was settled in the 1880s, most
land available to the public was gone, but under the Homestead act, Civil
War veteran Francis St. Peter was able to purchase one hundred and sixty
acres of land in western Rooks County, Kansas. St. Peter was French Canadian
and more French Canadian settlers soon joined him.
The first community was a couple of miles away, but when
the railroad came through, the community and the first small wooden church
were moved to the present location. The new building was built over many
years.
The towers at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Damar
were completed in 1913, but the first mass wasn't celebrated until 1917.
Some of the nicest features at St. Joseph's were added during renovation
in the 1940s and early 1950s.
After many years of deferred maintenance, significant
work on the church is necessary, St. Joseph's Catholic Church has secured
$190,000 in grants, and with additional money from the congregation, had
important work performed in 2006 and 2007.
St. Joseph's Catholic Church is open to visitors
7 days a week. Mass is celebrated early each morning, call (785) 839-4343
for times. The interior of St. Joseph's is quite beautiful, particularly
the marble like, schglioia covered pillars.
|
1940s stained glass window |
