In the fall of 1904, when the division point was moved from Kalispell to Whitefish the town consisted of a few buildings among a sea of stumps. There was no electricity, no city water and very little sidewalk. Those we had were built on top of the stumps.
We had no church, but Reverend Father Henry Arts who then had charge of all Flathead County which is now Lincoln, Lake and Flathead, came as often as he could. Mass was celebrated in the old Mathews Hall over what is now the Hobby Spot. It was always on a weekday. There were very few Catholics here at that time but those few who were very anxious to have a church and a resident priest.
One afternoon in the fall of 1905 the women met at the home of Mrs. C. H. Brawley, at Lakeside, and the first Altar Society was organized. Those present at the meeting were: Mmes. C. H. Brawley, H. T. Senay, Hennessy, William Ferguson, Solista Pickette, Ed Grant, Louis Micho, Luke Dillon and R. J. Weller. Mrs. Grant was chosen president and plans were made to hold our meetings at the various homes.
In the winter of 1905-06 we held bake sales, card parties and apron and fancy work of work sales and sponsored a couple of dances in the hall. From these we realized a nice sum for the beginning of the church fund. In the Spring of 1906, Reverend Father Ryan came and with the help of John Hennessy put on a drive for money to build the church. A very humble building was erected that summer and after that we had Mass there as often as a priest could come.
In the Spring of 1907, Reverend Father McGlynn was appointed our pastor. Mrs. C. H. Brawley was our president at that time and in the fall of 1907 we had our first Bazaar. It was held in the Mathews Hall and lasted five days. As we had no city water and no electricity, we had to carry the wood for the twenty women who worked. It netted us about $1,750 which helped to get some furnishings for the church and to pay our pastor's salary.
Our progress was very slow. Father McGlynn was with us until his death early in 1910 and had accomplished a lot toward the founding of the parish and instruction of the children. After Father McGlynn's death, Father Venus who was later, Vicar General under Bishop Gilmore, was here for a few months until the appointment of Reverend Father C. M. VanAken. During whose Pastorate the Parish House was purchased from Mr. and Mrs. Jack Mathews. By this time quite a number of Catholics had come to Whitefish and the Altar Society had grown to twenty-five members. Those of Father VanAken's parish who still remain are the Voorman families, Mmes. Raiber, Braig, Walters, Hill, Hansen, Jacoby, Friend, Strom, Bonner, Shoaf, Brindle, Avery and Weller. The work of the Altar Society went on as usual--bake sales, dinners and bazaars. Mrs. Brawley, Mrs. Ferguson and Mrs. McGee served as Presidents. After the building of the Masonic Temple we rented the banquet hall for all our large affairs.
In the fall of 1916 Father VanAken was succeeded by Reverend Father Joseph P. Carroll who proceeded to finish the upper story of the Parish House and put on a drive to enlarge the church to the present size of the new Parish Hall. Mmes. C. H. Brawley, L. J. Sissell, William Crowley, F. J. Brindle, C. H. Brawley (again) and Weller served as Altar Society Presidents at intervals from then on. At that time we were holding our meetings in the banquet room of the Odd Fellows building. We had two meetings a month and we did a great deal toward parish expenses and payments on the debt.
In 1927, we bought and paid for the furnace which is now in the Parish Hall.
In 1928, we had the church repainted inside and out and as vandals had broken nearly all of the windows we had them replaced and covered with screens. By this time we had acquired a silver service for 100 and some dishes and linens.
As Father Carroll had purchased the property on the lakeshore, which is now called Rest Haven, and built a hall which he had hope would be a recreation center for the parish, we entertained some of the smaller convention groups such as the P.E.O. there and had our parish parties and picnics for the children. There were 33 names on our roster then. Of the new ones of that time we still have Mrs. Lucy Neville who has been a boon to the parish ever since. Mrs. Tombrink became of of us about that time too. Also Mrs. Nic Herriges and Mrs. R. N. Arnold.
During Father Carroll's time we sponsored a group of girls called the Children of Mary. There girls were a great help in the work of the church. Of that group the only one remaining here is Marcella Brindle. Later we organized the leadership of Mrs. Neville, Mrs. Ferguson and Mrs. Arnold.
On Palm Sunday of 1930 our parish was saddened by the death of Father Carroll. Father Henry Arts who was then Chaplain at the Mercy Hospital in Kalispell took charge of the parish until the appointment of Reverend Father James P. O Shea in August of 1930. The Altar Society cleaned, redecorated and partly refurnished the Parish House for Father O Shea's occupancy. At that time we were holding our meetings in the Masonic Temple, which did not please our new pastor so he conceived the idea of excavating under the Parish House to make a small hall of our own. As that was during the depression, Father was beseiged by hungry men asking for help so he hit upon the plan to ask each man to do an hour or so of work on the excavation. In a few months it was ready for occupancy. Nic Herriges kindly donated the wiring and Frank MacDonald built the cupboards. We had the long tables built and purchased card tables, dishes and linens. Although it was far from ideal, in a good many ways it provided a place where we could keep our things and entertain the children. Father OShea reorganized the National Council which had not be active the last years of Father Carroll. Mrs. Weller was President of both Altar Society and Council the first year. Afterward, Mrs. Neville was N.C.C. President succeeded by Mrs. Avery, Mrs. Arnold and Mrs. Weller. We had the honor of having two of our members, Mrs. Neville and Mrs. Bradley elected to state offices. Mrs. Neville - State Treasurer; and Mrs. Bradley - State President. The Confraternity of Christian Doctrine was also organized. Our study clubs met in the Parish Hall and also in the Parish House and occasionally in the members homes. We did everything possible to ear money to help our pastor in the stupendous task which was his to do. A dime was harder to get than a dollar today. We helped to entertain and encourage the boys in the C. C. Camps which were stationed near here. We worked on relief boards and did all we could to provide food and clothing for destitute families. And to send all the help we could to our own orphanage and House of the Good Shepherd.
In 1931, Father O Shea began having the Sisters from Kalispell come to teach the summer school and the first few years the Altar Society financed it. We had full responsibility for the care of the church.
In 1932, Mrs. W. B. Avery was elected President and the work went on as in the previous years with some progress being made toward the payment of the debt. Two happy years.
In 1934, Mrs. Avery was succeeded by Mrs. Arnold during which time the church was redecorated and the Altars changed. Our pastor became very ill and was granted a leave of absence to go to Ireland; and again Fr. Arts came to fill the vacancy. The Altar Society continued on as usual doing what they could until the return of Father O Shea. All the time doing all we could to help pay the parish debt. Mrs. Jacoby took over the Presidency in 1936 and by this time it became a little easier to make money on the dinners and bazaars and all the things we did.
All of this time we did all we could to keep our young people interested. We had picnics, parties and dances for them in vacation time and we had to our credit many fine young men and women, sons and daughters of these women who have gone out to take their places in the world, and are a credit to our community.
In 1938, Mrs. Fay Rider was our leader, for one year. She was followed by Mrs. Walters. Everything went on quite smoothly. Mrs. Louis Kinschella took over after Mrs. Walters but had to resign early in 1942 because of their moving to Kalispell. By this time the debt had been paid and Fr. O Shea began a fund for a new church. He appointed Mrs. Weller to finish the unexpired term of Mrs. Kinschella. As this was war time, we had the food and gasoline rationing to contend with but in spite of it we were abl to add to the fund for the church and keep everything going along as usual. We had a high Mass the first Sunday of every month for the members of the Armed Forces. Mrs. Weller remained President until 1945. In May of 1944, Father O Shea was called to Butte and Reverend Father Edward Taylor was sent to us. Father Taylor began a very vigorous campaign for funds for the new church and we had two very busy years.
In 1944, Mrs. Claude Brittelles became President and was reelected in 1946 but resigned to join her husband who had reentered the Army. Mrs. Cripe the Vice-President finished the term. Mrs. Cripe was followed by Mrs. John Lindsay. In the Fall of 1946, Father Taylor was also called to Butte and our present, beloved Pastor, Fr. John Cronin came to us.
I hope I may be permitted these few personal remarks. From the beginning St. Charles Altar Society has deserved great credit for the progress of the work of the church. Through every discouragement they have stood loyally ready to help all of the fine pastors who served us so unselfishly through the years. And I thank Almighty God that I have lived to see the fulfillment of their dreams.
Respectfully submitted,
Theresa Weller
P.S. The rest of the story may better be told by some of your later Presidents as I have not been in very close touch with the work of the last seven years. God bless you all.
(Note from Fr. Ken - It is exceptionally moving to note the incredible dedication and strength of those who have come before us. They who sacrificed, worked hard and prayed diligently for the faith of the Church in our midst. May we always remember them in prayer and be grateful for their service, and follow in their footsteps.)