Holy Rosary Church, under charge of the Dominican Fathers, was founded in the beginning of 1878. Towards the close of 1877, Rt. Rev. Bishop Thomas L. Grace, D.D., of the Order St. Dominic, at the suggestion of St. Rev. John Ireland, D. D.,Coadjutor Bishop, of St. Paul, entered into communication with the Very Rev. Stephen Byrne, Provincial of the Order, inviting the Dominican Fathers to accept a congregation and establish a house of their order in South Minneapolis. Father Byrne, who was an ardent admirer of the great Northwest, and an able advocate of Western immigration, at once obtained the necessary permission from the Master General of his Order, and in the following month of May, 1878, the Rev. Thomas L. Powers, O. P., of Washington City, was appointed to take charge of the new establishment in Minneapolis. Father Power, who was a thorough business man, as well as a faithful pastor, commenced at once the arduous labors of his new charge in South Minneapolis, which, at that time, was an extensive prairie with comparatively few residenters of any denomination. He purchased two and one-half lots on Fifth street and Nineteenth avenue, 165×166 feet, and moved there on an old church building which he purchased from a Scandinavian congregation, who were building a new and larger edifice for their religious services. In this unpretentious building the present Holy Rosary congregation was organized in the summer of 1878.
At once it became apparent that larger accommodations were necessary, and in July, the same year, a new frame church, 125×50 feet, was commenced, and was dedicated three months later on the first Sunday of October, the Rt. Rev. Bishop Grace officiating and Very Rev. Stephen Bryne preaching the sermon. Besides Father Powers the following clergymen of the same Order were connected with Holy Rosary Church, namely: Rev. J. P. Turner, J. A. M. Daly, J. S. Collins and C. V. Metzger. These fathers worked most assiduously throughout the state of Minnesota and the entire Northwest on missionary labors, investing their hard earned income in the new foundation of their order in South Minneapolis. So successful were they in their labors that they felt justified in laying the foundation of their convent on June 22nd, 1879, less than a year after their church had been opened for services. This convent was pushed forward with marvelous rapidity, and was fit for occupation in the following November. It is an elegant substantial stone and brick building, 45 feet in front by 95 feet deep, and is at present (1892) used as a school. In September, 1879, the Fathers secured the services of six Dominican Sisters from Sinsiniawa Mound Academy, Wisconsin, who opened a school in the original church, which was fitted up for that purpose. This school became so popular that steps were taken to erect a suitable building. Property was secured on Sixth street, plans were drawn and even a foundation laid for an elegant building, but subsequent developments, as we shall see later on, caused the Fathers to change their plans, and this building was never completed. Father Power’s term of office, as regulated by the constitution of his Order, expired in the year of 1881, and Rev. James Dominic Hoban, then pastor of the Dominican Church in Newark, N. J., was selected to succeed him. Father Hoban’s administration of the affairs of Holy Rosary Church, whilst conservative, was eminently successful, and when he completed his term he left many warm friends and devoted admirers, both Catholic and protestant. He was succeeded by Rev. J. A.M. Daly in September, 1884. Father Daly’s administration was signalized by wonderful increase in scholars and school accommodations for the rapidly increasing congregation. He was ably assisted during his term of office by the Very Rev. Stephen Byrne, Thomas L. Power, C. A. Splinter, E. R. Towle, J. D. Rush and H. A. Brewer, who divided their time between parochial duty and hard missionary labor throughout the entire Northwest, from the Indian Territory to the very heart of the British Dominions, and from the Ohio line to the Pacific coast. Few pastors accustomed to the convenience of large cities, sumptuous churches and fashionable congregations, can form a just estimate of the labors and hardships undergone in those years by this heroic band of Dominican missionaries.
Father Daly was succeeded in March, 1886, by the Very Rev. P. A. Dinahan, who had then completed his term of office as pastor of St. Peter’s Church, Memphis, Tennessee, the former home of Archbishop Grace, a church, which we might mention in passing, had suffered fearfully during the terrible yellow fever epidemics in that city, nine of its able clergymen having died of that awful scourge in three years. Father Dinahan was a man of extraordinary parts. During his term of office, from 1886 to 1889, he accomplished more than the ordinary pastor does in a whole life-time. Entering upon his duties he saw the imperative necessity of building a larger church and locating it at a more central position in the parish. Accordingly he purchased the site now occupied by the Holy Rosary church and convent, on Eighteenth avenue and Twenty-fourth street south, and without delay commenced the erection of those two elegant masterpieces of architecture, that are a credit to our city. The convent, which is headquarters for the Dominican Order in the Northwest, is a very substantial four story structure 60×80 feet, finished throughout in the most approved workman-like manner, with all modern improvements. The new church is generally considered the best building of the kind in the West, and the largest in the Twin Cities. The church is a cruciform building of Gothic style, 196 feet long by 107 wide in transepts and 80 feet in nave, with ceiling 14 feet high in basement, and 42 in the up per church. The seating capacity of the basement is 2,000, and the auditorium of the upper church is 1,800 in pews, with room for a total of 2,200, including gallery. The basement and auditorium capacity being 4,200. The stained glass windows are gems of beauty and design. The altars, pulpit, pews and general finish are of most exquisite design and of superior workmanship. The walls are of Kettle River sandstone, well known for its durability and its fire proof qualities. The symmetrical proportions and imposing solidity of the building with its lofty towers make it one of the most admired buildings in our city. The entire cost of the church and convent, including grounds, was $204,000. The new Holy Rosary church was dedicated December 9, 1888.
Father Dinahan’s term of office expired in the following May. Rev. J. P. Turner, of New York, was elected to succeed him, but on account of delicate health and the arduous labors and heavy financial burdens resting on the place, he resigned his office the following July. Father Turner was succeed ed by the Rev. R. M. Bloomer, of Louisville, Ky., who took charge of Holy Rosary Church September 1st, 1889. Very Rev. Raymond M. Bloomer, O. P., was born at Zanesville, Ohio, December, 9th, 1854. He received his collegiate education at the Dominican College of St. Joseph’s, near Somerset, Perry County, Ohio. In the year 1874 he became a member of the Dominican Order. Five years later he was ordained priest. As a student he gave evidence of remark able mental parts. The ablest Domini can professors in theology and philoso phy were his teachers. Ever since his ordination he has held important offices of trust and honor in the various Dominican congregations of Zanesville and Columbus, Ohio, of Louisville, Ky., and of Memphis, Tenn. In September, 1889, he was elected prior for Holy Rosary Convent of South Minneapolis. As in other cities, so in Minneapolis, has he won the good will, the esteem and un qualified admiration of all people, irrespective of creed or nationality; by his winning address; by his genial and affable disposition; and by his rare, business and pastoral abilities. His large circle of friends and admirers embraces the clergy and the people, the rich and the poor, the laborer and the man of business. In February, 1892, he went to Kentucky to attend a business chapter of the United States Province of the order. In the caucus for the election of a new provincial for the United States, Very Rev. R. M. Bloomer, O. P., was favorably mentioned by many of the fathers composing that chapter. He is mentioned as a favorable candidate for the new provincialship. The annual report of the years 1898- ’91-’92 show a phenomenal development of Holy Rosary Parish, a proof of the rare pastoral abilities of the Very R. M. Bloomer, O. P. He is naturally endowed with the happiest qualifications of the popular organizer, all his undertakings wear the magic of popularity and receive the spontaneous and unanimous support of his numerous congregation. The four church societies proper to the Dominican congregations, namely, the Holy Name Society, for men, young and old ; the Altar Society, for the married ladies ; the Young Ladies’ Sodality and the St. Thomas Sodality for boys and girls, are in a most flourishing condition, having trippled their membership within the past two years. The Sunday school, numbering 800 children, is under the direction of Very Rev. R. M. Bloomer. He has a staff of 75 able Sunday school teachers. The Rev. Pastor devotes great attention and untiring zeal to the artistic features of divine service.
But the crowning effort of the Very Rev. Pastor is his erection of a grand four story stone and brick school and hall, located on Eighteenth Avenue between Twenty -fourth and Twenty-fifth street, South Minneapolis. The cut of the school here given easily convinces the reader of its superior elegance, size and beauty. On October 30, 1890, ground was broken for this new edifice, and on Sunday, June 21st, 1891, the Rt. Rev. Archbishop, of St. Paul, laid the corner-stone with imposing ceremonies, Rt. Rev. A.Christi, of Ascension Parish, preaching the dedicatory sermon. The fact that over 4,000 people thronged to witness the imposing ceremony is a sufficient evidence that the Catholics of the entire city are in sympathy with this promising educational institution. The size of the building is 135×128 feet, has 12 school rooms, averaging 32×57 feet with a ceiling 14 feet high. The basement is used as a gymnasium, and during the winter months as a play -ground for the children. The fourth floor, with a ceiling 18 feet high, is one large hall, having a seating capacity of 2,000. This hall is used as occasion may demand for parochial assemblies, society and circle meetings, concerts and extended courses of lectures during the winter months. It is the largest and most commodious hall in the Twin Cities to be found in connection with any educational institution. On each floor devoted to school purposes there is a corridor running the entire length of the building 14y2 feet in width, which proves a great safe-guard against danger of fire, and if occasion should arise will give ample opportunity for all the children to make their escape from the building without serious accident. The tone of education imparted in Holy Rosary school is in keeping with the solidity and elegance of the new building. The highly educated ladies, who have charge of this school, are in intimate touch and harmony with the latest, the best and the most scientific method of education in vogue either at home or abroad. All teachers are graduates from Sinsinawa Mound, Grant County, Wisconsin, one of the best institutions in the world of betters, enjoying the most laudatory approbation of the American Episcopacy. The system of object teaching and that of conducting examinations combines the ripest experience of the various public school systems of Pedagogy in vogue in the United States. Both the pastor and the people of Holy Rosary Parish are justly proud of their excellent school.
This passage has been excerpted from
History of the City of Minneapolis, Minnesota
Isaac Atwater, editor
New York : Munsell, 1893