- Prairie Legacy - Grosswerder and Surrounding District
Primate
St. Elizabeth's ~1/19/99
Holy Mass for a number of years was said by Fr. Palm in the homes of the pioneers of the area.
First Mass was said in the home of Michael Sheedy in May 1916.
Services were held in the town hall from the spring of 1918 until the new church was built in 1924.
In 1924, first bnasement church was built, the new building measured 34x68 feet with a total cost was $3,000.00. The new church was finished in September 1924.
Mr. W. Bens organized the first choir. The director of the choir was Joe Weinkauf and John Weinkauk was the organist.
Church was blessed by Fr. Prud'homme of Prince Albert.
A steeple was add and the roof was replaced by shingles in 1929.
Cross was donated by Michael Prediger, construction of the steeple by Joe Stang and completed by Jacob Mildenberger.
In 1943, Fr. Joseph Riedinger became the new priest at Primate. But he lived in Denzil until the rectory was finished at Primate.
In 1944, Father Krawitz was the priest for Primate for a year and a half.
From 1945 to 47, Father Joseph Boening and then Father Frank Hermann was the priest for St. Elizabeth's.
The Uruline Sisters from Prelate took over the Public School at Primate early in the spring of 1949.
Mrs. Jacob Doetzel was the first to be buried in the new cemetery - May 1949.
Fr. Bermel was appointed parish priest in September of 1955.
In May 24, 1956, construction of a new church began. First mass was December 2, 1956. The Blessing was on June 30, 1957 and done by Bishop Klein. The cost of the new church was $35,000.00. In 1958, a new rectory was built and the old rectory was bought by Mr. Kamir Bichel.
The parish priest from 1955 to 59 was Fr. Bermel.
Fr. Krawitz returned to Primate in August of 1959 and St. Anthony's parish became a mission of Primate in about 1961 after the death of Fr. Schultz.
The parish priest from 1962-67 was Fr. Wagner
The parish priest from 1967-68 was Fr. Demong (died on October 30, 1978)
July 4, 1974 a tornado hit the Primate area and did much damage to the church.
The parish priest in 1977 was Fr. Herter.
Source:
Last Updated: Saturday, February 9, 2002
