History of St. Joseph's

A HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH’S CHURCH

WEEDSPORT, NY

The first St. Joseph’s Church building was a tiny wood structure located at about 2766 Green Street in Weedsport. It was built in 1854 of rough sawn lumber and was around 20 feet square. The known membership of the parish at the time was about 20 families and Weedsport was a mission of St. Alphonsus parish in Auburn. In either 1854 or 1855 Bishop John Timon of Buffalo administered the Sacrament of Confirmation in the new building, called locally the “Shanty Church”, but probably not so by its own members. Bishop Timon is said to have named the parish St. Joseph’s in memory of the Indian Chapel at Cayuga, built by the Jesuit missionaries in 1668.

During the middle of the 1850’s there was a heavy influx of Irish Catholics into the Weedsport area; people who came to work on the newly organized New York Central Railroad. This resulted in an overcrowding of the somewhat inadequate facilities of the “Shanty Church” and in 1858 work was started on a new larger building at the northwest corner of South Seneca and Hamilton Streets. The Presbyterian church which had occupied that site burned in 1855 and the property was purchased by the people of St. Joseph’s.

The new building was ready for occupancy by the end of 1858, at a cost of $1,600.00. Bishop Timon again visited Weedsport, dedicated the new building and administered the Sacrament of Confirmation to a “large number of children.”

Father Daniel Moore became the first resident pastor in 1862, although he remained in Weedsport only a few months. His successor, Rev. Joseph Albinger, purchased the first rectory, the house located at the northwest corner of Bell and Horton Streets, owned by Leo and Jean Barber Ryan. It served at the home of pastors until 1884 when rectory, next to the church, was built at a cost of $1,800.00

In 1957 it was found that the church building required immediate repairs of major proportions. Still further study revealed that a repair project on the old structure would be impractical. After ninety-nine years of service the building was condemned. Plans for its replacement were started at once.

A fund-raising program was organized and the parishioners over-subscribed the $95,000 goal by nearly 20%. Demolition of the old building started at once. The “Morehouse Home” which had served as a parish hall was moved across the street and became the American Legion Hall. The large barn on the premises was demolished to make room for the new structure. The auditorium of the Jackson Street School was rented and Sunday Masses were celebrated there until the new building was ready for occupancy. The cornerstone of the new modern and beautiful edifice was laid on December 8, 1957, and dedicated ceremonies on May 4 of the next year.

Since the construction of the new church numerous improvements have been made to the property such as construction of a parking lot, modifications within the church building to conform with the new liturgy, and most recently, renovation of the parish hall and air conditioning in the church.

 

Pastors

  • Thomas O’Brien, 1852 [Pastor of St. John, Clyde]
  • Jacob Kunze, 1853-1858? [Pastor of St. Alphonsus]
  • John Constant, 1858?-? [Pastor of St. Alphonsus or Holy Family]
  • Daniel Moore, Spring 1862-June 1863 [First resident Pastor]
  • Joseph Albinger, June 1863-Late 1863
  • James H. Leddy, Late 1863-Fall 1864
  • C. Wenslerskl CSSR, Fall 1864-1865
  • N. Byrne, 1865-1866
  • Michael Purcell, 1866-Fall 1868
  • James O’Connor, Fall 1868-Nov. 1869
  • Anthony Cassessi, Nov. 1869-1872
  • John C. Kenny, 1872-1875
  • J. A. Connelly, 1875
  • Charles H. Horan, Nov. 1875-1881
  • David M. O’Donahue, 1881-Feb. 1907 [upon death]
  • Edward Bryant, Feb. 1907-June 1907 [Temporary administrator]
  • Joseph J. Ruby, June 1907-Fall 1927 [Upon illness]
  • C. Irving Sullivan, Fall 1927-1928 [Temporary administrator]
  • Charles Bruton, 1928-Fall 1928 [Temporary administrator]
  • Francis J. Walker, Fall 1928-Aug. 6, 1934 [Administrator, then Pastor; upon illness]
  • Paul Tuite, 1934 [temporary administrator]
  • Daniel R. Sullivan, Aug. 6, 1934-Dec. 1941
  • Frederick L. Walz, Jan. 1942-June 1942
  • Leo A. Jones, June 1942-1972 [upon retirement]
  • Elmer W. Heindl, 1972-June 25, 1980 [upon retirement]
  • George Wiant, June 25, 1980-June 26, 1990
  • William B. Leone, June 26, 1990-June 25, 2002
  • Malachy Nwosu, June 25, 2002-June 24, 2008
  • John Gathenya, June 24, 2008-June 28, 2011
  • William Darling, June 28, 2011-June 30, 2020 [upon retirement]
  • Frank E. Lioi, June 30, 2020-present