Carrolltown in 1852

Wimmer Wednesday. The outpost at Carrolltown is described by Boniface Wimmer as consisting of a wooden farm house and a chapel.

The Sunday after the Feast of Corpus Christi in 1849, the corner stone was laid for a beautiful church built of brick, 110 ft. long. The stately building went up quickly, but the blessing of the church took place only at Christmas of 1850. It was performed by Fr. Celestine, who had been authorized to do so by the bishop. Fr. Lemke has also joined the Order now, after he had seen the fulfillment of his wish, that is, the establishment of a monastery in Carrolltown.

The parish is mostly German and has about 200 families, good and honest people who live in an area of approximately 10 miles in diameter that surrounds the church… In addition to Carrolltown, our priests also take care of Glenkonnel, where a church was built under the leadership of Fr. Peter Lechner in 1849, and of the German parish in Loretto, where, by the way, an English speaking priest is in residence for the English parishioners. Furthermore, our priests also minister at the small parishes at Clearfield, Frenchville, Cooper Settlement in the large, rough Clearfield County, which constitutes the eastern border of the Diocese of Pittsburgh. Fr. Celestine Engelbrecht is the prior of the house. Fr. Carl Geyerstanger and Fr. Lemke (the latter invested on February 1st) support him.

—From Boniface Wimmer: Abbot of Saint Vincent in Pennsylvania