History Stories
A SCHOOL IS BUILT
In 1952 much progress had been made in church support and a new school became not only desirable but necessary. After much dickering, the Ordinary ordered Father Michael of the Benedictine Order to design a two story brick school. The new building is located on Charles Street between the convent and the Club House, erected by the Southeastern Construction company.
During the eight month period of construction, classes for the approximately 140 students were held in the church basement auditorium. Upon completion of the building and the installation of desks and equipment, the new St. John's School was formally opened on March 1, 1953.
ST. JOHN'S NEW CHURCH
In May, 1921 a large plot of ground on 13th and Charles Streets, ideally located midway between Dutchtown and Lazearville on the Prather Addition, was purchased with the idea of building thereon a new parish group. The dream of the pastor and his flock became a reality. On Sunday, April 27, 1924 an ideal blue sky greeted the populace of Wellsburg who had come to witness the laying of the corner stone of the new St. John's Church. The document in the corner stone is in Latin and freely translated reads:
FOR THE PERPETUAL REMEMBRANCE OF THIS EVENT: BE IT STATED, THAT ON THE 27TH OF APRIL IN THE YEAR OF THE LORD, 1924 DURING THE PONTIFICATE OF PIUS XI, BY DIVINE PROVIDENCE, POPE; CALVIN COOLIDGE BEING PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; EPHRAIM MORGAN, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA; WILLIAM McCREARY, MAYOR OF THIS CITY; LEOPOLD HERMANNS, PASTOR OF THIS CHURCH, AMID LARGE GATHERING OF CLERGY AND PEOPLE, THE CORNER STONE OF THIS CHURCH WAS LAID BY THE RT. REV. JOHN SWINT, IV BISHOP OF WHEELING.