St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church
Up until 1899, the needs of Catholics in the Dunkirk-Fredonia area were first met by occasional visits from the Bishop of Buffalo and then by a group of Passionist Priests who built a monastery in Fredonia. During the period of 1848 to 1899, the population grew considerably. A survey of the families in the area convinced the Diocesan Administrator in Buffalo that Fredonia needed a parish. Reverend Thomas F. Clark was sent to Fredonia and he began his work with enthusiasm.
On November 3, 1899 --less than two months after Father Clark’s arrival--land for the new church was purchased. The parishioners went about the business of raising money to construct a building. They donated generously to the cause, no doubt encouraged by their temporary quarters in Temperance Hall.
A tremendous crowd attended a ceremony on July 8, 1900 where they witnessed the laying of the corner stone. Several documents, including the names of all those who had contributed $.50 or more to the building project, were placed in a copper box in the corner stone for posterity.
On December 9 of that same year, the church was formally opened with the first mass performed at 8:00 am. The official dedication of St. Joseph’s was held on May 12, 1901.
St. Joseph’s recently unearthed the copper box that was laid nearly 100 years ago. Unfortunately, moisture found its way inside the box over the years and much of the paper placed inside was destroyed. Several of the names of contributors can still be read, however, and the documents are on display in the gathering room of the church. There are very few Italian names on the list; many are Irish. This may help explain why the construction of St. Anthony’s began within five years of the completion of St. Joseph’s. It is easy to imagine that Italian Catholics may have become disenfranchised by masses that were conducted in English by men with names such as Clark, Connery or O’Byrne. As new arrivals who had not “melted” into the “pot”, the Italians were motivated to start a church of their own.
Notes
Sesquicentennial Sovenir Historical Book 1829-1979, Fredonia, NY 1979
"The Corner Stone Laid Great Day in Fredonia Last Sunday." The Fredonia Censor
11 July 1900."Formal opening of St. Joseph's New Roman Catholic Church." The Fredonia Censor
5 Dec 1990.