Fulda, St. Joseph's Parish

During the first winter, services were at Godfrey Schaeffer's store about eight miles farther south, because Mr. Kreinzenback's home was too small to hold the increasing number of parishioners. Anna Schuster was the first person to be buried at St. Joseph's on Dec. 13, 1903, at 37 years of age.

With Prior Alfred's consent, a long building, 20 ft x 40 ft, was erected on the NE 1/4 of Sec. 32 T38 R23 to be used as our first church. It was completed in 1904, with Fr. Chrysostom Hoffmann saying the first mass. Peter Schneider, Carl Stolz and John Stolz served as the first trustees. There were about 40 families and a number of bachelors living within a three mile radius.

Fr. Ildephonse Molitor was appointed resident pastor on July 27, 1905. Because there was no parish house, he boarded at the Manning house. On Aug. 25, 1905, Bishop Pascal blessed the log church and celebrated the sacrament of confirmation for 17 young parishioners. In the fall of 1905, the first parish house was built, and the parish celebrated Fr. Ildephonse's silver jubilee. He supervised the first parochial school built in the area. Henry Kalthoff was the first teacher.

The mission of Willmont began late in 1904 in the same manner as St. Joseph's. The mission received the name of St. John's. The log churches were used as schools during the week. By 1906 the growing congregation needed a larger church.

A new frame church was built, with the first mass celebrated on Nov. 25 at which time six boys and six girls received their first communion. Bishop Pascal again blessed the new church on June 4, 1907, and confirmed 19 parishioners the same day. The ladies of the parish served dinner and supper at the school to celebrate the special occasion.

Fr. Matthew Michel replaced Fr. Lawrence in August 1940. Once again the congregation had outgrown the frame church so, in 1941, a larger basement church was built. The basement was dug in about three days with a caterpillar and scraper belonging to the Jurgens family.

St. Joseph's Parish faced a major change as a result of the fire that destroyed St. John's Church in the fall of 1971. Since our parishes had been alternating Sunday masses for some time, most of St. John's parishioners became a part of St. Joseph's. Many of the Willmont ladies had joined the Fulda CWL, and the new Fulda hall had necessitated the families working together. As a result, St. Joseph's Parish and Fulda community became the centres of activity for our two parishes.

In 1992 the parish decided to repair the church roof and remove the rotting bell tower. In the fall of 1993 many volunteers from Fulda area covered the church roof with metal roofing.