Saint Joseph's was established as a mission by Father O'Keefe and Father Lyndon of St. Patrick's of Pottsville. The first mass was said by Father Lyndon on June 14, 1856. The congregation was formed into a Parish by Bishop Neumann, now Saint John Neumann. It was to serve all of the Mahanoy Valley from Mahanoy City to Centralia. St. Joseph's was one of the few parishes actually visited by Bishop Neuman. The first Church was a stone building at the corner where the present rectory stands. Father Lyndon was responsible for its construction. The first mass in the Church was held on St. Patrick's Day, 1857.
Father Michael Sheridan was our first pastor, arriving in 1857. He was most famous for "Father Sheridan's Ride" when he rode his horse, Fox into a developing riot between strike supporting miners from Girardville and strike opposing miners from Ashland. Despite the failure of the constabulary to restore order, buth through the force of his personality, Father Sheridan broke up the crowd and sent about 300 tough Girardville miners home.
Less noted, but much appreciated by the Parishioners were his intelligence, his diligence his humility and his holiness. The Parish grew because of Father Sheridan and the growth of the Coal Industry. He served the Parish well from 1857 to his death in 1880. H8is funeral was attended by almost everyone i town of any religion. It proceeded from the Church to 3rd Street, up Centre to 11th and back to the upper Church yard where his body was buried in a simple wooden coffin at his choice. All business in town ceased; mines and breakers were closed for the day. It was a tribute to a giant in humble attire. His grave is marked by a Celtic cross.
During this time, the Parish, the town and the coal industry continued to grow. Our next Pastor was Rev. Cornelius Patterson who followed in Father Sheridan's footsteps. The congregation became large enough to require a new, bigger Church. The cornerstone for our present edifice was laid on August 29, 1886. Father Patterson supervised the building of the Church and the Rectory. He was described as affable and devoted to St. Joseph's. The results are still evident. Father Patterson was Pastor until 1894.
Rev. Daniel McGinley assumed the reins next. While he was pastor, he saw to the construction of school. The building was begun in 1913 and finished the next year, opening w/ 276 elementary students. The High School came next in 1915. The bust Pastor razed a temporary convent and built our present Convent which now serves Immaculate Heart Elementary School. He served until 1924.
Father Joseph McDermott was next. He remodeled and enlarged the school. He served diligently and faithfully until 1930 when he wassucceeded by Rev. Francis P.K. Hoey.
Father Hoey was loved by all in the town. He was most highly reguarded for his faith, charity, and wit. Only on the rarest of occasions was he seen without a smile and a laugh. Father Hoey had a great love for Saint Anne, the mother of Mary. He built St. Anne's Chapel in Big Mine Run and instituted Saint Anne's Novena in the Parish. He took great pride in throngs who attended the Novena on the hottest evenings of the summer. He passed away in 1964.
Father John McPeak was Administrator of Saint Joseph's during Father Hoey's illness and became Pastor on his death. He was probably the perfect choice to succeed Hoey. Both were deeply religious men. In addition, Father McPeak was an excellent bookkeeper and housekeeper, Father Hoey's less celerated accomplishments. In the memory of many Parishioners, Father McPeaks first action was to get Rex shaved. He never stopped after that. The Church and the School were remodeled. St. Anne's Chapel in Big Mine Run was closed and the new Chapel was built in the Church basement. Father believed in the participation of all the parishioners in the activities of the Parish. He studied Parish rolls to find the right persn for each job. Father McPeak was also very active in Ecumenism, and became close friends with all the other Clergy in town.
Father McPeak instituted St. Joseph's CCD Program along with Father Auchter of Saint Mauritius. It soon became a model for other parishes. As ibe educator nun sad, "In CCD, Saint Joe's is "where it's at."
Father McPeak was transferred to Saint Anne's in Bethlehem in 1971 where he was honored with the title, Monsignor.
In September 1971, Father Courtney became Pastor. Father Courtney was more reserved but ran the Parsih ably until 1982 when he was transferred.
Father Maletz followed and he was of a different mold. He removed the confessionals from the rear of the Church and installed St. Anne's Shrine and badly needed rest room. He did a great deal of work in the school, removing the deteriorating third floor, and remodeling the hall with a new kitchen and more accessible rest rooms. He was transferred to Minersville in 1987.
Next came the whirlwind, Father Kean. Father was literally a one man band, constantly active in the church and town. There were a few in this area who didn't admire his activity and his outgoing brand of Christianity.
Father Gillis came after Father Kean and became the first Pastor to administer to both Saint Joseph's and Saint Mauritus. He was busy and a good leader. The parishioners were sorry to see him go.
Father Bowman served both Parishes next. He resembled Father Gillis and fit right in. He was only here nine months.
Father Caesar is our current pastor since October 1995. He has the distinction of being the only Priest in present memory to be applauded after a sermon, his first as Pastor. His easy smile and caring attitude is shared with everyone. He is also a long way from being history yet.
Many other priests served St. Joseph's as Curates or Priests in Residence. All were admired and served the Parish well. But as was said of President Kennedy, "Johnnie, we hardly knew ye." There are only pleasent memories of them here. During our history, the big leagues also visited St Joe's. Dennis Cardinal Dougherty and Bishop Michael Crane were both baptized in our Church.
The Sister Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary were a main stay of the Parish School from the day it opened until it closed. The Parish would not have been the same without them. One anecdote may illustrate. Catherine Campbell was in the first class to graduate from the High School, and was a Sister Miriam Dolora there when it closed. She was feared, loved, and admired. In her class room during World War II, she was visited by a former student, a well dressed Air Force Captian. She asked him to talk to the class. He gave a good presentation on duty and character, then turned to Sister and said, "Sister, how many students have you?" She said "None. I have thirty two pupils but no students." No one had a better laugh than her pupils. All knew that she set her goals for us as high as did all the others. They were wonderful people.
Saint Joseph's became a Parish when the Antracite boom was in its infancy. The mines grew, the town grew, and the Parish grew. There were strikes, wars with too many Gold Star Mothers, Depressions, bad times and pretty good times. The population was stable and solid. The Parish was at its peak just about the time Father Hoey became Pastor. Then many factors came into play. The coal industry had not kept up with gas and oil for home heating technology. Mines closed or worked part time. The country was in depression but still many miners were forced to look elsewhere for work. They brought a work ethnic with them which served them well and made their new homes permanent.
By the outbreak of Second World War, the depression had ended but defense jobs became a lure. Many more Parishioners were lost. And then the good news, the GI Bill offered higher education to many young men who would not have had the opportunity. They became skilled, employable, and mobile. The world gained but the Parish lost. The town and the Parish had dwindled in size.
The Ashland Area is again stable. The Parish is strong and well led. None know what the future holds but as a Parish, we've been through good times and bad and are more than prepared to face the future. In fact, we look forward to it.
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