Father Joseph Hermann was appointed as our second
pastor on October 15th, 1876. During his pastorate, Verboort
grew and expanded. The church bell that Father Verboort
had
purchased arrived. In 1880, the church acquired 2 acres
of
land north ofVerboort for use as a cemetery. The earthly
remains
of Father Verboort, and others who had been buried
beside
the church, were moved to the new Visitation
Cemetery.
Having outgrown the first chapel, work was begun on a new
church in June of 1883. It measured 70 feet by 37 feet, with
an attached 20 ft. by 20 ft. vestry. On October 24th, 1883 it
was
dedicated, and the old chapel was then converted to a two
room
school.
John Ramsey Porter had traveled to California during the
gold
rush of 1849 and been fascinated with the Giant Sequoias.
Upon
his return, he brought back some cones to propagate. The
seedlings
did well in ourcooler climate and Mr. Porter planted
them along
his lane. He donated many to area institutions;
Pacific
University in Forest Grove, the Washington County
Courthouse
in Hillsboro, and in December of 1884, some of Mr.
Porter's
seedlings were planted around the church in Verboort.
On November 25th, 1883, Father Hermann blessed new
stations
of the cross (oil paintings with black walnut frames)
that were
a gift of Mrs. Regina Schmitt. The church was also
adorned
with oil paintings and frescoes by the Swiss artist,
Philip
Stahili.
On August 8th, 1890, Father Constance De Latte was our
pastor
as work was completed on a 53 ft. by 30 ft addition to
the
church, which made it shaped like a cross.
In 1894, a new "proper" school was built under the
supervision
of Father De Latte.
In 1920, a new convent and rectory were built with Father
Francis VanClerenBeck at the helm.
1923 saw Father William Bender watching over the
construction of the north school.
In 1925, Verboort High School came into existence,
occupying the old grade school building.
In 1934, Margarite Van Dyke ("Aunt Mag" to most of us)
starts in her kitchen what becomes our annual Sausage
and
Sauerkraut Dinner.
In 1938, Father Mathias Jonas was our pastor when a
new high school building was constructed.. The old building
was converted into a gymnasium.
At 11:45 PM, February 8th, 1941, Joseph Smith saw
flames and smoke and rushed to the church finding it on
fire. By the time men could be assembled, it was too late to
save the building, but Father Jonas did manage to save the
Blessed Sacrament. Others rescued several statues and the
life size crucifix that hangs above the altar in our current
church.
In a short time it was all gone, the stations of the cross,
the high altar, the frescoes. The bell that Father Verboort
bought was reduced to a melted chunk of iron (with old square
nails imbedded in it) that is on display in the foyer of Harris
Center.
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