History
A History of St. Mary of the Mountain Catholic Church
by Roy Stewart
St. Mary of the Mountain is a beautifully restored catholic church whose origins go back to 1896, and to a site three miles from Stonyford that is now drowned by the waters of the East Park Reservoir. The church was built by the renown builder-priest Father Michael Walrath. Father Walrath was born in Prussia, in 1840, and was educated as a priest in London and Eureka, California, where, in 1873, he built—among others—the Holy Trinity Church, in Humbolt, and was its first pastor. In 1877 he settled in Colusa, where he traveled throughout the nearby mountains converting and ministering to the Native American tribes. In 1896 he came to an area near Little Stony Creek, where he built this church as part of a summer retreat for the Ursuline Sisters, who were then teaching at the St. Aloysius Convent School, in Colusa.
The c
hurch was the first house of worship in these mountains. It was first named Mt. St. Mary’s, then changed to Mt. St. Zachary’s, for the great Eighth Century Catholic Pope. Then in 1899, upon its dedication by Bishop Thomas Grace, of the Sacramento Diocese, its name was changed to Our Lady of the Visitation. The church was sited near Little Stony Creek, a community that had existed since the early 1860s. A school, known as Mt. Hope, had been located here since about 1877. The name Mt. Hope preceded Zachary as a name for this community. The name Zachary probably came from the name of the church and was later formalized by the establishment of a post office, in May 1900.
Father Walrath was the church’s first pastor, and remained so until 1912. It fell upon him to supervise its movement to Stonyford, in 1908. According to Beulah Van Landingham, it was “cut into four pieces and moved from Catholic Point to Stonyford, a distance of three miles, on big flat-bed wagons, much like hay wagons.” It was placed at the south end of 2nd Street, on land purchased from John and Eunice McDaniel. Beulah said that “J. N. Stephens directed the moving and reconstruction of the church.” Much work was required, to both the inside and outside, to make it habitable again as a church. The work was done and a church it remained until the late 1930s. (Historical note: The church was located on the brow of the hill now known as Catholic Point, which lies across the reservoir opposite the spillway. A part of the foundation containing the steps can still be seen when the water in the reservoir falls to a certain level.)
At the time of the relocation, there were many of the faith living in the area and Sunday services were held weekly. Later, as the number of Catholics declined, service became monthly. After Father Walrath was relocated to Woodland, in 1912, Father McGarry, of Maxwell, continued the services. After he was called away, Father Stack, also of Maxwell, took his place and was the last to hold services, before the church was closed and abandoned for more than three decades.
In 1974 the first work began in the restoration effort, clearing the grounds. Father Nicholas Phelan (left), with assistance from boys in the nearby Fouts Springs Boy’s Ranch, began this effort. (Now defunct, the Fouts Springs Boy’s Ranch was a Juvenile detention facility for boys located near the Mendocino National Forest's Snow Mountain Wilderness, about ten miles above Stonyford.)
In 1976 another group of local Catholics, spearheaded by Pat Murray and Shirley Jensen, continued the restoration efforts. Their decision to restore the church stemmed from their desperation at having to drive long distances to attend Mass. Shirley’s husband stated it succinctly: I’m repairing “the old Catholic church so Shirley won’t have to drive 30 miles to Mass.” Pat Murray had even further to drive. She wrote, “It was 42 miles to go to Mass in Willows and I had three children to take to church.” “Plus this community,” she continued, “is made up primarily of retired people, who find it hard to get out and there’s also a boy’s ranch near here. That was my main purpose, the old folks and the boy’s ranch.” While the decision to restore was faith-based, the project, itself, became a community effort and most of the then-220 residents--Catholics and non-Catholics, alike--offered their support. “It became a true community effort,” says Joyce Bond, former church chairperson and town historian.
Bats!, bats!, bats! (and their droppings), had taken command of the now-derelict structure. While the bats and guano was “Job #1,”they were only one of the many difficulties the group faced. Job #2 was the foundation. Before any other work could begin, the structure had to be lifted and a foundation constructed underneath. Glenn Movers, of Willows, did the lifting, and volunteers did the foundation. The bats, also, had to be dealt with before other work could continue. They were a major problem. The bats had to be removed, the guano scraped and shoveled, and every opening in the structure carefully sealed.
After the bats were gone, the delicate work of restoring the inside could be completed under the leadership of Father Phelan. The restoration preserved the original, as much as possible. It was a truly awesome project that required five years to complete. The last two years (1978-1980), Joyce Bond and a group of dedicated workers finished the restoration. They met every week, where lunch was provided by those who could not work.
St Mary of the Mountain church chairpersons:
- Pat Murray, 1975-1978
- Joyce Bond, 1978-1980
- Barbara Leach, 1980 to present
Finally, it was done. On March 17, 1980, in a ceremony at Stonyford, Bishop Francis Quinn, of Sacramento, dedicated the church under its fourth and final name: St. Mary of the Mountain.
Picture credits: Father Walrath, unknown; map Colusa Sun-Herald, Aug. 29, 1977; Father Phelan, Colusa Sun-Herald, July 9, 1979; dedication, Colusa Sun-Herald, Mar. 17, 1980.
Note on sources:The bulk of material in this article was gleaned from a well-organized and well-sourced scrapbook compiled by Joyce Bond and Etta Knox. This scrapbook contains many full newspaper articles and scraps dealing with the history of the church and its restoration. The scrapbook also contains many photographs of people involved with the restoration and other topics. Joyce says this is but one of the four scrapbooks that tell about the church. The books may be viewed at the church by special arrangement with Joyce.
History
A History of St. Mary of the Mountain Catholic Church
by Roy Stewart
St. Mary of the Mountain is a beautifully restored catholic church whose origins go back to 1896, and to a site three miles from Stonyford that is now drowned by the waters of the East Park Reservoir. The church was built by the renown builder-priest Father Michael Walrath. Father Walrath was born in Prussia, in 1840, and was educated as a priest in London and Eureka, California, where, in 1873, he built—among others—the Holy Trinity Church, in Humbolt, and was its first pastor. In 1877 he settled in Colusa, where he traveled throughout the nearby mountains converting and ministering to the Native American tribes. In 1896 he came to an area near Little Stony Creek, where he built this church as part of a summer retreat for the Ursuline Sisters, who were then teaching at the St. Aloysius Convent School, in Colusa.
The church was the first house of worship in these mountains. It was first named Mt. St. Mary’s, then changed to Mt. St. Zachary’s, for the great Eighth Century Catholic Pope. Then in 1899, upon its dedication by Bishop Thomas Grace, of the Sacramento Diocese, its name was changed to Our Lady of the Visitation. The church was sited near Little Stony Creek, a community that had existed since the early 1860s. A school, known as Mt. Hope, had been located here since about 1877. The name Mt. Hope preceded Zachary as a name for this community. The name Zachary probably came from the name of the church and was later formalized by the establishment of a post office, in May 1900.
Father Walrath was the church’s first pastor, and remained so until 1912. It fell upon him to supervise its movement to Stonyford, in 1908. According to Beulah Van Landingham, it was “cut into four pieces and moved from Catholic Point to Stonyford, a distance of three miles, on big flat-bed wagons, much like hay wagons.” It was placed at the south end of 2nd Street, on land purchased from John and Eunice McDaniel. Beulah said that “J. N. Stephens directed the moving and reconstruction of the church.” Much work was required, to both the inside and outside, to make it habitable again as a church. The work was done and a church it remained until the late 1930s. (Historical note: The church was located on the brow of the hill now known as Catholic Point, which lies across the reservoir opposite the spillway. A part of the foundation containing the steps can still be seen when the water in the reservoir falls to a certain level.)
At the time of the relocation, there were many of the faith living in the area and Sunday services were held weekly. Later, as the number of Catholics declined, service became monthly. After Father Walrath was relocated to Woodland, in 1912, Father McGarry, of Maxwell, continued the services. After he was called away, Father Stack, also of Maxwell, took his place and was the last to hold services, before the church was closed and abandoned for more than three decades.
In 1974 the first work began in the restoration effort, clearing the grounds. Father Nicholas Phelan (left), with assistance from boys in the nearby Fouts Springs Boy’s Ranch, began this effort. (Now defunct, the Fouts Springs Boy’s Ranch was a Juvenile detention facility for boys located near the Mendocino National Forest's Snow Mountain Wilderness, about ten miles above Stonyford.)
In 1976 another group of local Catholics, spearheaded by Pat Murray and Shirley Jensen, continued the restoration efforts. Their decision to restore the church stemmed from their desperation at having to drive long distances to attend Mass. Shirley’s husband stated it succinctly: I’m repairing “the old Catholic church so Shirley won’t have to drive 30 miles to Mass.” Pat Murray had even further to drive. She wrote, “It was 42 miles to go to Mass in Willows and I had three children to take to church.” “Plus this community,” she continued, “is made up primarily of retired people, who find it hard to get out and there’s also a boy’s ranch near here. That was my main purpose, the old folks and the boy’s ranch.” While the decision to restore was faith-based, the project, itself, became a community effort and most of the then-220 residents--Catholics and non-Catholics, alike--offered their support. “It became a true community effort,” says Joyce Bond, former church chairperson and town historian.
Bats!, bats!, bats! (and their droppings), had taken command of the now-derelict structure. While the bats and guano was “Job #1,”they were only one of the many difficulties the group faced. Job #2 was the foundation. Before any other work could begin, the structure had to be lifted and a foundation constructed underneath. Glenn Movers, of Willows, did the lifting, and volunteers did the foundation. The bats, also, had to be dealt with before other work could continue. They were a major problem. The bats had to be removed, the guano scraped and shoveled, and every opening in the structure carefully sealed.
After the bats were gone, the delicate work of restoring the inside could be completed under the leadership of Father Phelan. The restoration preserved the original, as much as possible. It was a truly awesome project that required five years to complete. The last two years (1978-1980), Joyce Bond and a group of dedicated workers finished the restoration. They met every week, where lunch was provided by those who could not work.
St Mary of the Mountain church chairpersons:
- Pat Murray, 1975-1978
- Joyce Bond, 1978-1980
- Barbara Leach, 1980 to present
Finally, it was done. On March 17, 1980, in a ceremony at Stonyford, Bishop Francis Quinn, of Sacramento, dedicated the church under its fourth and final name: St. Mary of the Mountain.
Picture credits: Father Walrath, unknown; map Colusa Sun-Herald, Aug. 29, 1977; Father Phelan, Colusa Sun-Herald, July 9, 1979; dedication, Colusa Sun-Herald, Mar. 17, 1980.
Note on sources:The bulk of material in this article was gleaned from a well-organized and well-sourced scrapbook compiled by Joyce Bond and Etta Knox. This scrapbook contains many full newspaper articles and scraps dealing with the history of the church and its restoration. The scrapbook also contains many photographs of people involved with the restoration and other topics. Joyce says this is but one of the four scrapbooks that tell about the church. The books may be viewed at the church by special arrangement with Joyce.
History
A History of St. Mary of the Mountain Catholic Church
by Roy Stewart
St. Mary of the Mountain is a beautifully restored catholic church whose origins go back to 1896, and to a site three miles from Stonyford that is now drowned by the waters of the East Park Reservoir. The church was built by the renown builder-priest Father Michael Walrath. Father Walrath was born in Prussia, in 1840, and was educated as a priest in London and Eureka, California, where, in 1873, he built—among others—the Holy Trinity Church, in Humbolt, and was its first pastor. In 1877 he settled in Colusa, where he traveled throughout the nearby mountains converting and ministering to the Native American tribes. In 1896 he came to an area near Little Stony Creek, where he built this church as part of a summer retreat for the Ursuline Sisters, who were then teaching at the St. Aloysius Convent School, in Colusa.
The church was the first house of worship in these mountains. It was first named Mt. St. Mary’s, then changed to Mt. St. Zachary’s, for the great Eighth Century Catholic Pope. Then in 1899, upon its dedication by Bishop Thomas Grace, of the Sacramento Diocese, its name was changed to Our Lady of the Visitation. The church was sited near Little Stony Creek, a community that had existed since the early 1860s. A school, known as Mt. Hope, had been located here since about 1877. The name Mt. Hope preceded Zachary as a name for this community. The name Zachary probably came from the name of the church and was later formalized by the establishment of a post office, in May 1900.
Father Walrath was the church’s first pastor, and remained so until 1912. It fell upon him to supervise its movement to Stonyford, in 1908. According to Beulah Van Landingham, it was “cut into four pieces and moved from Catholic Point to Stonyford, a distance of three miles, on big flat-bed wagons, much like hay wagons.” It was placed at the south end of 2nd Street, on land purchased from John and Eunice McDaniel. Beulah said that “J. N. Stephens directed the moving and reconstruction of the church.” Much work was required, to both the inside and outside, to make it habitable again as a church. The work was done and a church it remained until the late 1930s. (Historical note: The church was located on the brow of the hill now known as Catholic Point, which lies across the reservoir opposite the spillway. A part of the foundation containing the steps can still be seen when the water in the reservoir falls to a certain level.)
At the time of the relocation, there were many of the faith living in the area and Sunday services were held weekly. Later, as the number of Catholics declined, service became monthly. After Father Walrath was relocated to Woodland, in 1912, Father McGarry, of Maxwell, continued the services. After he was called away, Father Stack, also of Maxwell, took his place and was the last to hold services, before the church was closed and abandoned for more than three decades.
In 1974 the first work began in the restoration effort, clearing the grounds. Father Nicholas Phelan (left), with assistance from boys in the nearby Fouts Springs Boy’s Ranch, began this effort. (Now defunct, the Fouts Springs Boy’s Ranch was a Juvenile detention facility for boys located near the Mendocino National Forest's Snow Mountain Wilderness, about ten miles above Stonyford.)
In 1976 another group of local Catholics, spearheaded by Pat Murray and Shirley Jensen, continued the restoration efforts. Their decision to restore the church stemmed from their desperation at having to drive long distances to attend Mass. Shirley’s husband stated it succinctly: I’m repairing “the old Catholic church so Shirley won’t have to drive 30 miles to Mass.” Pat Murray had even further to drive. She wrote, “It was 42 miles to go to Mass in Willows and I had three children to take to church.” “Plus this community,” she continued, “is made up primarily of retired people, who find it hard to get out and there’s also a boy’s ranch near here. That was my main purpose, the old folks and the boy’s ranch.” While the decision to restore was faith-based, the project, itself, became a community effort and most of the then-220 residents--Catholics and non-Catholics, alike--offered their support. “It became a true community effort,” says Joyce Bond, former church chairperson and town historian.
Bats!, bats!, bats! (and their droppings), had taken command of the now-derelict structure. While the bats and guano was “Job #1,”they were only one of the many difficulties the group faced. Job #2 was the foundation. Before any other work could begin, the structure had to be lifted and a foundation constructed underneath. Glenn Movers, of Willows, did the lifting, and volunteers did the foundation. The bats, also, had to be dealt with before other work could continue. They were a major problem. The bats had to be removed, the guano scraped and shoveled, and every opening in the structure carefully sealed.
After the bats were gone, the delicate work of restoring the inside could be completed under the leadership of Father Phelan. The restoration preserved the original, as much as possible. It was a truly awesome project that required five years to complete. The last two years (1978-1980), Joyce Bond and a group of dedicated workers finished the restoration. They met every week, where lunch was provided by those who could not work.
St Mary of the Mountain church chairpersons:
- Pat Murray, 1975-1978
- Joyce Bond, 1978-1980
- Barbara Leach, 1980 to present
Finally, it was done. On March 17, 1980, in a ceremony at Stonyford, Bishop Francis Quinn, of Sacramento, dedicated the church under its fourth and final name: St. Mary of the Mountain.
Picture credits: Father Walrath, unknown; map Colusa Sun-Herald, Aug. 29, 1977; Father Phelan, Colusa Sun-Herald, July 9, 1979; dedication, Colusa Sun-Herald, Mar. 17, 1980.
Note on sources:The bulk of material in this article was gleaned from a well-organized and well-sourced scrapbook compiled by Joyce Bond and Etta Knox. This scrapbook contains many full newspaper articles and scraps dealing with the history of the church and its restoration. The scrapbook also contains many photographs of people involved with the restoration and other topics. Joyce says this is but one of the four scrapbooks that tell about the church. The books may be viewed at the church by special arrangement with Joyce.