History of St. Stanislaus, Maynard

The first record of a priest to visit Maynard was Rev. Martin Muelders, O.F.M. Cap. who came from Wheeling, West Virginia in 1888. Father Martin celebrated Mass in a room above the warehouse in Thomas McCabe’s Store. He continued this service until January 21, 1889. Most Rev. John Ambrose Watterson, the Bishop of the Columbus Diocese, appointed Rev. Joseph A. Weigand pastor of the Bridgeport Parish with the Maynard Parish attached as a mission.  Father Weigand made monthly visits to Maynard. When Father Weigand visited Maynard he used Thomas McCabe’s home as the rectory. In 1889 a parochial school was opened. Father Weigand requested teachers from the Sisters of Charity who she sent two Sisters to teach the children. The Sisters resided in Bridgeport and commuted daily to Maynard on the Miner’s train. There were twenty-three students enrolled at the opening of the school. Many of the parishioners, being poor coal miners, feared they would not be able to maintain the school.  In order to keep the school open, Father Weigand published a monthly magazine known as “St. Anthony’s Visitor.” With the proceeds from this magazine, Father was able to maintain the school until the parishioners were capable of supporting it themselves.

As the parish steadily grew, the parishioners decided it was time to build a church. Lots were purchased for $350.00 in 1901. Hard times came and it was very difficult to maintain the school and build the church.  It was decided to postpone the building plans until later. By the spring of 1903 the parishioners were able to build the church, which was completed by June of 1904 at a cost of $2600.00. All but $1000 was paid at the completion of the church. The church was dedicated by the Most Rev. Bishop Hartley, the Bishop of the Columbus Diocese and was placed under the patronage of St. Stanislaus, the patron saint of Poland.

In 1904 Father Weigand was transferred and Father Roderick A. McEachen was appointed pastor of Barton, where he lived, and Maynard. Each Sunday he would make the trip to Maynard by carriage or horseback to celebrate the Mass. In 1907 Father McEachen, with the help of his assistant, Rev. Elwood S. Berry, supervised the building of a two story school building. It contained four large school rooms, a large hall downstairs, a small hall upstairs and an alcove that was used for a library. It was located a half a mile from the church on the lot in what was called “Father Mac’s Addition.” 

The parish continue to grow and Bishop Hartley assigned Rev. Otto Von Lintel as the first resident pastor in January, 1910. In that same year a rectory and a convent were built. Father Von Lintel was succeeded by Rev. Francis W. Gloeckner as pastor in the Fall of 1913. In May of 1915 Rev. John J. Murphy succeeded Father Gloeckner as pastor. Father Murphy left after four months due to ill health. Rev. William C. Hayes was then assigned to Maynard in October of 1915. Statistics in 1916 showed that there were 1588 lay people and 259 children enrolled in the school. Seven nationalities were represented in the parish. The languages spoken were English, Polish, Slavish, German, French, Italian and Hungarian. A new two story school red brick building was constructed next to the church building in 1929. Despite the hard times and coal miners strikes, Father Hayes was able to pay off the school debt. 

 In March, 1935 Rev. Joseph Kiefer was assigned as pastor. Despite the coal miner’s strikes and low wages Father Kiefer made many improvements on the parish property. He inaugurated an annual summer church festival. Father Kiefer was noted for his work with the young people in the line of dramatics and minstrel shows. Rev. Robert Brown succeeded Father Kiefer in October, 1940. During the pastorate of Father Brown, native son, Rev. Adam F.X. Stromski, was ordained and had his first Solemn Mass in St. Stanislaus Church in September, 1946.The Diocese of Steubenville was founded from the Diocese of Columbus on November 11, 1944. St. Stanislaus Parish was incorporated into the St. John Central High School District in 1946. Rev. Adam F.X. Stromski succeeded Father Brown as pastor in November, 1948. Many improvements were made during Father Stromski’s pastorate, including the construction of The Grotto of Our Lady by several parishioners. Bishop John King Mussio dedicated the grotto on May 15, 1952.

Rev. Roger Brisgal became Administrator of the parish in June, 1953, and five years later he was named pastor. The local parish elementary school was closed and the St. Mary’s Central School in St. Clairsville was established. Rev. Robert Mascolino was appointed pastor in June, 1958. In 1960 Seton Central High School was created in Lafferty. A campaign to build a new church was launched in November, 1962, and a contract was signed with F.H. Vincenzo of Flushing, Ohio in October, 1963 to build the church. The cornerstone was blessed and laid on November 24, 1963 with the Rt. Rev. Henry O’Donnell officiating. The cornerstone contained the following documents: an outline of the history of the parish; a list of the workers on the building fund campaign; a list of all the people who pledged and donated; a copy of the November 1 and November 21, 1963 editions of The Steubenville Register; a copy of the November 24 church bulletin; a 1963 coin and an attest of the ceremony. The attest reads: The cornerstone was blessed and laid with the ceremonies of the Pontifical Romanum by the Rt. Rev. Msgr. Henry B. O’Donnell, Chancellor of the Diocese of Steubenville, on the twenty-fourth day of November, nineteen-sixty three. On this date, His Holiness Paul VI being our Supreme Pontiff: His Excellency John King Mussio being the chief Shepherd of this Diocese; the Rev. Robert A. Mascolino being the Pastor of this parish; The Honorable John Fitzgerald Kennedy being the President of the United States and the Honorable James Rhodes Governor of the State of Ohio, we the Priest and people of St. Stanislaus Parish beg God’s assistance as we raise this building to His honor and service. May our Blessed Lady and St. Joseph plead our cause before the heavenly throne. N.B.: This attest having been prepared in advance at this date following the tragic death of President Kennedy on November twenty second, nineteen-sixty three, the Honorable Lyndon Johnson is now President of the United States. The weight of the cornerstone is 750 pounds. The bell was from the original church. It was cast by the Meneely Bell Company of Troy, New York. The inscription on it reads: Gloria in excelsis Deo. - St. Stanislaus Church, Maynard, Ohio. - Rev. Roderick A. McEachin, Pastor, - Rt. Rev. James J. Hartley, Bishop of Columbus, Ohio. - May A.D.  1904. The new church building was solemnly consecrated by Bishop John King Mussio on July 6, 1964. A Solemn High Mass of Thanksgiving was celebrated on Sunday November 15, 1964, the Diamond Jubilee of St. Stanislaus Parish. Rev. Terrance Travis succeeded Father Mascolino in March, 1970. Rev. Frank Manieri succeeded Father Travis in August, 1977.  During this time, Father Manieri was assigned to celebrate Mass at St. Elizabeth’s Mission in Crescent, Ohio. 

In May, 1977, newly-ordained Father Carl Peltz, celebrated his first Mass at St. Stanislaus parish. Rev. Virgil Reischman was appointed pastor in October, 1977. The first Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion were installed on Holy Thursday, April 8, 1982. Father Thomas Graven was pastor of St. Stanislaus from June, 1991 until its closing on January 1, 2015.