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

As we continue our journey through the history of the Catholic churches of Tuscarawas county, we come to another about which very little is known. In “The History of Fifty Years” of the Diocese of Columbus, published in 1918, the story of Immaculate Conception church in Dennison includes this information: “…a church dedicated to St. Joseph was built in a place called Glascow, some four miles north of Port Washington, Tuscarawas county, and about 14 miles from Dennison, which later was wholly discontinued on account of the iron industry located there having been removed for want of local supplies.” [In actuality, the town of Glasgow is some 2½ miles southwest of Port Washington.] There is no apparent mention of this place in the sacramental records of Immaculate Conception church, nor is any record of land title found at the Tuscarawas county court house. Interestingly enough, the Baptism Record of St. Joseph church, Dover, under date of March 21, 1878, lists the baptism of Frances Scheloski, born February 22, 1874, daughter of John Scheloski and Martiana Shudrovitz, both natives of “Borussia.” Sponsors were Valentine and Elizabeth Montag. Baptism was at Glasgow; the record is signed by the Rev. H. B. Dues. Two years later, March 25, 1880, the record is found of the baptism of John Sheloske, born February 15, 1880, son of John Sheloske and Martiana Schutrowitch, both natives of Borussia. Sponsors once again were Valentine and Elizabeth Montag. The baptism took place at St. Joseph church, Dover, with notation that the family was from Glasgow. Again, the record is signed by Rev. H. B. Dues. It seems quite likely that these two baptisms may well indicate the time of the opening and closing of the church. The histories of Tuscarawas county report that the furnaces at Glasgow, a project of investors from Scotland, began operation in 1874, closing down in 1876. As a final note, Father Robert Manning, now retired, recalls that while he was pastor of St. Francis de Sales parish, Newcomerstown, he was occasionally visited by a Mr. Caryl Shalosky, who would take him to the neighborhood of Glasgow, to visit the former surroundings of the Shalosky family, and the site of the former church.

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