The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

16 W I L M E T T E L I F E M a y 13, 1937 logs of the school stove and by use in In 1912 . . . St. Joseph's Real Parish of Is Shore traditional fashion. country in those B u t that was the approved method in a l l schools of the 2 5 Wilmette Looks Y e a r s A g o of Pioneer School 100 Y e a r s days. H u n d r e d s of humorous and interesting events might be gathered from early pupils, but this must be left for a longer historical account. T h e efforts of the founders of this little community were modest but sin! cere. T h i s sincerity of purpose has been pursued throughout this first century of parochial w o r k i n St. Joseph's parish, and today as we approach the day that ushers in the second century of parochial activity, we see new problems at hand and these must be met by the 20th C e n t u r y C h r i s t i a n pioneers, w i t h as sturdy a hand and as determined a w i l l as the early pioneers possessed. Ushers In N e w E r a A l r e a d y a large progressive step has been taken in preparation for the new century of progress. N o longer are the parishoners w o r s h i p p i n g in the o l d church edifice erected by the parish families of the C i v i l w a r d a y s ; nor are the children any longer taught i n the o l d school building of 40 years a g o ; but today the old church and school have passed at the hand of the wreckers. T h e old convent building also has gone, but the Sisters, who have labored for 60 years, are still w i t h the parish. These School Sisters of St. F r a n c i s , from M i l waukee, assumed charge of the school 60 years ago. T h i s was their first school in the diocese of Chicago. W i t h their coming a new era i n the p a r i s h school began It was an era of blessings, and these blessings have remained Methods of instruction have changed--unit teaching has replaced the h i c k o r y stick method, but the example and self-sarcifice of these devoted women has always been a treasure that St. Joseph's parish people have had. The good Sisters are now teaching in a new school building w h i c h is dedicated to the Catholic pioneers who built the first school of learning in W i l m e t t e territory. It is a building constructed of the best, and w i t h architectural lines that d r a w the notice of men and women educators from far and near. T e m p o r arily the large school auditorium is being used as a church. T h e parish is awaiting the erection of the new church, which w i l l stand as a monument to the generosity, interest and energy of the late R e v . W i l l i a m Netstraeter, who so generously provided in his w i l l , that the parish church, which he so anxiously desired to build in his day, might be an accomplished fact. Church and Back Upon Service in C o m m u n i t y W I L M E T T E .V/. Joseph's church was more than 80 years old when W i l m e t t e L i f e was established. W h e n e v e r a short h i s t o r i c a l account of a poineer community or parish is to be written, the problem of selection of interesting as well as substantial facts is a difficulty. O f general material there is no scarcity. M a n y details that could have been saved for future generations, in the case of St. Joseph's parish, have passed on unrecorded, w i t h the passing some years ago of many an early settler ; however, there is m u c h that remains o n record. Oldest Catholic P a r i s h T h a t the parish of St. Joseph is the pioneer Catholic parish of the whole north shore and of this corner of the State of Illinois is w e l l k n o w n . T h e original boundaries were the territory of C h i c a g o to the s o u t h ; the state line to the n o r t h ; and indefinitely to the south-west. G r a d u a l l y as the years passed on from the days of its establishment, in the 1830's, when the parish was served by visiting priests from the city of Chicago, it was divided into other parish units, which f o r m the neighboring parishes in this territory. T h e early pioneers w h o a r r i v e d from Europe in those distant days, chose a spot for their parochial unit w h i c h was just west of the lake and a bit north of the point which is officially called G r o s Foint. These Catholic people, w h o were principally from the part of G e r m a i n a r o u n d the district o f T r i e r , chose this location because of its adaptability to the needs of their new settlement. Along w i t h their first family and occupational concerns, they immediately included in their building p r o g r a m a l o g church that set snuggly and rustically among their scattered l o g family shelters. Here they felt they could, in this new l a n d of promise, worship their G o d in peace. Indeed it was a humble hut in the w i l d e r ness, but nevertheless they did not forget their duty of religion. Provide Parish School F a m i l i e s were few, money scarce, but human energy and zeal was there. A s time wore on, more families a r r i v e d in this large district, and the church was too small. T h e y looked to the future. T h e y , w i t h the sturdiness of pioneers, provided space for their more permanent church. These people were strange in this new land and territory. T h e y were Germans accustomed to the order and discipline of the homeland. A s soon as I C E F r a n k Began serving C O . M e i e r Wilmette and K e n i l w o r t h patrons with natural ice. T O D A Y continue . . our . we arc p l e a s e d to service with manufactured pure ice and healthful possible they provided a parish school. In this they were c a r r y i n g f o r w a r d a p r o g r a m identical w i t h that of other G e r m a n Catholic pioneers in the various settlements throughout this land, especially i n the East. Record First Burial T o be exact, it was in the year 1850 that the little rustic school house first graced the cleared parish plot i n the woods. It was across from the cemetery which was established a few years before. I n fact, it was just four years before, on F e b r u a r y 13, 1846, that the pioneers laid to rest an infant son, born in this new land but not destined to become a founder. T h i s burial is the first on r e c o r d ; whether there were previous burials is not noted i n the record book. W h i l e speaking of records it might be of interest to note that the first baptism in the book is that of R i c h - a n d we are n o w also offering y o u this air c o n d i t i o n e d refrigerator. Coolerator givesrou FRESHER FOODS A T H A L F T H E C O S T 9 J t Father Netstraeter P R O V E IT W I T H 1 0 - D A Y F R E E TRIAL Only Coolerator Gives You 1. AIR CONDITIONED R E F R I G ERATION. Patented air conditioning chamber which cools, washes, humidifies and circulates the air. 2. CONSTANT C O L D . Refrigerating temperatures are held more constant than ever before possible. 3. PURE AIR. Food odors are constantly removed. Cheese and butter may be kept side by side in uncovered dishes. Everything tastes better. 4. H U M I D I F I E D A I R . Foods stay fresher longer. Air is properly humidified. Foods dry out less. 5. ICE CUBES i n 5 minutes. Crystalclear, taste-free ice cubes; all you want in 5 minutes with the Coolerator Cuber. W I L M E T T E I C E C O . W i l . 53 733 G r e e n B a y R d . ard Daldne, son of E d w a r d and M a r y Daldne, born October 8, 1845. T h e sponsors were John K y r n y and B r i d g e t K y r n y . T h e pastor then was Father G . P l a t t e ; w h o also was the first resident priest in charge. D a y s of H i c k o r y S t i c k T h e early history of the school days of this p a n s h is quite well recorded; but when we think of the children from the scattered families grouped about the old G e r m a n school master, we w i s h a skilled artist had been there and paintM a n of V i s i o n ed a picture which future generations Father Netstraeter, w h o came to W i l might study and treasure. Those school mette in 1872 and not only served this days were the days of the h i c k o r y sticky parish for over half a century, but who w h i c h was warmed, both by the c r a c k l i n g also in a spirit of progressive civic mindedness, cooperated personally in the solution of perplexing family and i n dividual problems; and w i t h an unA m o n g T h o s e P r e s e n t 2 5 Y e a r s A g o recognized foresight endeavored to further the individual and public welfare. So in keeping w i t h this deep faith he . . . Yes . . . e v e n 3 2 y e a r s ago possessed concerning the future of this territory and community, his vision of a greater W i l m e t t e included his new T h i r t y - t w o years o f successful service i n one church Consequently he provided the c o m m u n i t y is. we believe, an enviable record, means whereby this might be carried a n d o u r t h o u g h t s at t h i s t i m e g o o u t i n a p p r e into reality by his Reverend A r c h b i s h o p , ciation to o u r m a n y patrons, both new and George C a r d i n a l Mundelein. T h e new o l d , w h o h a v e h e l p e d us to m a k e this u n u s u a l church edifice w i l l match the beauty and form of the new school, and w i l l i n r e c o r d p o s s i b l e . O u r d e s i r e is to r e n d e r the the near future be the closing act i n same k i n d o f satisfactory service that w i l l the first century d r a m a of this historic warrant y o u r continued patronage for m a n y parish. T h i s new church w i l l be far years to come. different than was the humble l o g church of a century a g o ; but it w i l l reflect the progress, labor, foresight, devotion and love of the early pioneers as well W I L L I A M G . B E Y R E R as a l l Bishops, Pastors, Sisters and ELECTRIC A N D RADIO SHOP people who have been instrumental in the establishment and maintenance of 1131 C e n t r a l A v e . W i l m e t t e 8T this parochial unit.