SACRED HEART (CATHOLIC) CHURCH, HEBRON
Nicholas Bethscheider and family, Anton Willy and family, C. J. Helfrich and family, Jacob A. Willy and John B. Willy settled in and about Hebron in the years 1869 and 1870, and to the zeal, industry, strong Catholic faith and many hardships and privations of these early pioneers is due the credit of establishing the first Catholic mission in Hebron in the year 1870.
Commencing in the year 1870, Father Bichler of Hanover, Kansas attended the Mission and served the spiritual wants of the Catholic people of Hebron until the fall of 1878. In the year 1876, and during the administration of Father Bichler, the first Catholic church building, 20 by 10, was erected in Hebron at the intersection of Union avenue and First street, on lots immediately east of the present Burlington railroad station. Father Kueppenbender of Saint Stephens in Nuckolls county, Nebraska, succeeded Father Bichert in August, 1878, and served the Hebron Mission until July, 1880. His successor, Father Erlach, was the first resident pastor in Hebron and served from 1880 to January, 1885, and during his administration the first parish house, a 16 by 24, one-story frame building, was erected. On January --, 1885, father Erlach was succeeded by Fathers Buchholzer and Kueppender, who attended Hebron for a short period, or until July, 1885, and who were succeeded by Father Flury. During the later's time the church was enlarged and the first parochial school opened to the children of the congregation. Father Bell took charge of the congregation July 27, 1886 and remained until April 1888. On January 3, 1888, the congregation purchased from Rev. George Lobinger all of Block 9, Eads Addition to Hebron for the consideration of $2,240, upon the south half of which the present church and other buildings are located. Fathers Hann and Schraffe served the people of the congregation during the period from April, 1888, to April, 1889, when they were succeeded by Father Rausch, who remained until February, 1892, the latter being succeeded by Father A. Petrasch, who presided over the destinies of the congregation for a little more than fourteen years. During his administration the present church, parish house and a two-story and basement parochial school were erected at a cost of $25,000. In the beginning of the year 1907, Father M. M. Merkl was appointed pastor of the Hebron congregation, succeeding Father Petrasch who had been transferred to Beatrice. Father Merkl was again in turn succeeded January 1, 1915, by Father Joseph Ress, the present pastor. During Father Merkl's time a new two-story and basement, pressed brick parochial school building was erected to take the place of the one destroyed by the tornado storm in August, 1911, at a cost of about $12,000.00. The present sisters' residence, a substantial two-story frame building, was also erected during Father Merkl's pastorate, as a cost of about $3,500. Both school and sisters' residence were constructed during the years 1912 and 1913.
Sacred Heart Church at present is a good, flourishing congregation of about sixty-five families or about 350 souls. Through the zealous efforts of pastors and the generous people of the congregation, as well as our friends of Hebron and vicinity, a church property valued at about $75,000 has been acquired
The pastor and members of the congregation are happy in extending to the jubilarian, "The Hebron Journal," their best wishes, remembering the many acts of kindness and service of which they were the grateful recipients during the life of the congregation.
"Ad multos annos."
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