Sacred Heart Church at 139 3rd St NE, New Philadelphia, OH 44663-3900 US - St. Joseph at Dover

Last newsletter, I wrote a few words about the history of St. Peter church in Lawrence Township. Continuing the planned series, we come to the second Catholic Church in Tuscarawas county, St. Joseph in (Canal) Dover. The earliest mention I found of the Catholic Church in this community dates to August of 1835, when Bishop Purcell of Cincinnati first visited the city. The Bishop’s report to the Catholic Telegraph, was published in the September 11 issue: “DOVER, Tuscarawas County, contains a small number of Catholics. The sacrifice of Mass was offered in the house of Mr. Krater, and a short explanation of its nature, object and ceremonies was given by the Bishop. In the afternoon, it was appointed, with the concurrence of the trustees, that he should address the citizens in the Methodist meeting-house. The building, it was stated by several Protestant gentlemen, had been erected with an understanding on the part of the subscribers that it should be open to ministers of every Christian denomination, when not occupied by the preacher in charge. It was, however, refused; and the Bishop and the Catholics, who were alone unconcerned by the refusal, found some difficulty in checking the strong expression of indignation by the liberal-minded citizens, who were in fact nearly all the subscribers to the meeting-house.” The next mention of the Catholic Church in Canal Dover dates to May 19, 1838, when Father Michael McAleer, the pastor of St. John church in Canton, sent a report of his recent pastoral activities to Bishop Purcell. He stated that he had visited Canal Dover earlier in the year, and ascertained that there were about 500 Catholic families there. Even presuming that this count would have included all of Tuscarawas County, the number seems exceedingly large for those days. At any rate, Father McAleer celebrated mass in the local Presbyterian Church, and reported to the Bishop that he was troubled that, out of all that number, only 8 to 10 persons received Holy Communion. Although he remained as pastor of Canton until about April of 1840, Father McAleer never again returned to Canal Dover. Father John Luehr was assigned to organize the new German-speaking parish of St. Peter the Apostle in Canton at the end of 1844, and began periodic visits to Canal Dover in 1845. Mass was celebrated in private homes, at first in a residence on Canal Street, and later at the corner of Factory [Tuscarawas] and Third Streets. As the congregation began to grow, the foundations of a potential parish were laid with the purchase of two lots on the south side of Factory Street [now known as the west side of Tuscarawas Avenue], one on either side of what later became Sixth Street. The deed for these two lots, in the name of Bishop Purcell, was recorded on January 10, 1849. A few weeks earlier, on October 11, 1848, Father Luehr had laid the cornerstone for the new church. Construction was completed in 1850. In May of 1850, Father Peter Herman Joseph Muckerheide arrived as the first resident pastor of St. Joseph parish, with additional responsibilities of the churches of St. Peter (Lawrence Township), St. Fidelis (Morges), and St. Francis Xavier (Malvern). The second resident pastor, Father Dieter Martin Winands, came to Canal Dover in November of 1853. Father Winands was responsible for the construction of the first parish priests’ residence, which also served as the parish school. Father Winands had purchased the lot for the house/school, and deeded it to Bishop Purcell in 1854. As nothing further was done by the parish, the lot was returned to Father Winands in 1856, and the building was completed at his personal expense. In 1866, during the pastorate of Father J. Bernard Wisman, a two room frame school was built on the lot across Sixth Street from the church. Mr. John Jerome Juergens, the church organist, was hired as the teacher in the new school. The same year, 1866, just over two acres of land was purchased down Sixth Street from the church, to be used as Saint Joseph Cemetery. The Sisters of the Holy Humility of Mary began to staff St. Joseph School in 1884. Unfortunately, local records tell, the Sisters were in a poor position to be successful here, as they were not familiar with the German language of the majority of the students. With the death of Father Henry Bernard Dues, pastor of St. Joseph, in 1886, Bishop Watterson of Columbus entrusted the care of St. Joseph parish to the Capuchin friars of St. Augustine province. The friars soon suggested that the Sisters of Divine Providence be given charge of the school, an arrangement that was accomplished in the fall of that same year. The friars were given perpetual care of the parish by Bishop Watterson in 1897. In May of that year, the contract was let for construction of a new friary. Across Tuscarawas Avenue ground was broken for a new church on the fifth of August. The cornerstone laying took place on November 14. The new church was dedicated by Bishop Watterson on October 30, 1898, less than six months before the Bishop’s death. The next fall, 1899, the first church was reopened as the parish school. The Christian education of the young continued to be a priority for the parish. The fourth school building was opened in 1924, with the parish high school beginning at this time. Additions were made to this building in 1928, 1956, and 1983. Land west of town was purchased in 1925, to be developed as St. Joseph Calvary Cemetery. Serious structural defects were discovered in St. Joseph church in 1962. The last mass in this building was celebrated on September 30, 1962. The church was razed, with groundbreaking for the new church held on August 9, 1964. The new (present) St. Joseph church was first used for mass on November 27, 1965, then dedicated by Bishop Carberry of Columbus on October 16, 1966. After the 1969-1970 school year, St. Joseph High School was closed, consolidated with St. Mary’s High School of Dennison to form the new Central Catholic High School. Classes were held at Dennison for one year, and moved to the new building in New Philadelphia in the fall of 1971. The Sisters of Divine Providence left the school in 1994. The convent, built in 1953, was razed in 1995, making room for increased parking. A greater surprise to the parish was the withdrawal of the Capuchin friars in 1996, after 110 years of service to the Tuscarawas county community. Father William Arnold was appointed pastor, the first diocesan priest to hold this title since the death of Father Dues in 1

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