Saint
Joseph Settlement
The quiet
rural settlement of Saint Joseph is comprised of homes and farms
along Marshall-Wetzel county line. The settlers emigrated to the
area in the 1800's from northern European villages within present
day Germany. Tracts of land, five to one hundred acres in size,
were purchased from Gunnin Bedford and Isaac Hoge, and homes of
hewn logs were built. It was known in those early days as The
"German" Settlement.
Life in the
settlement has traditionally centered around Saint Joseph Parish,
shining proudly atop a high knob among the rolling hills. Within
the parish is a church with cemetery, rectory, convent, school and
community hall. The parish served all the needs of the close knit
community, therefore no civil government existed.
The land of
the parish was deeded to Bishop Whalen by Rachael and Isaac Hoge,
and the community of Saint Joseph began June 5, 1853. A hewn log
school was erected in the next year, which also served as the
church until the first church was built in 1856.Traveling priests
came to the church to serve the parishioners, who took turns
providing the priests' transportation. The cemetery came to be that
same year upon the first death in the congregation, of George
Hoffman, October 12 1856.
The
original cemetery is encircled with statuary depicting the stations
of the cross, a tribute left by Victor Messey who died in 1870.
Traditional black "iron" crosses, imported from the motherland,
mark some early graves.
In 1873,
Saint Joseph became an independent parish with its' own resident
priest. A new, larger church was built upon the site of the old
one, in 1888..
The native
Germanic language was used in worship, and in the lessons taught
the old log schoolhouse, until 1910. The education of the students
was taken over by the Pallottine Missionary Sisters, an education
and nursing order headquartered in Hamburg, Germany, in 1922-23. A
larger school with two classrooms, chapel and music room was
erected, along with the convent, in 1926.
In the
1930's a unique arrangement was devised between the parish an
Marshall County Schools, allowing the parochial school to become a
public school, but still be taught by the nuns. One of the sisters
was employed by the Board of Education, while the other was paid by
the parish. In exchange for books and educational materials
provided by the county, the school was available rent-free, and the
transportation costs were paid by the parish. Anyone who wished to
attend the school was welcome. The school served students in grades
1 through 8 until 1978. A preschool is now available in the parish,
continuing the educational tradition.
Many people
educated at the school reside in the settlement, still. One can see
familiar family names on the mailboxes at the homes on the hills
and in the valleys. The country roads, and the hilltop parish
provide panoramic views of the ridges in West Virginia,
Pennsylvania and Ohio. We hope you will enjoy the historic beauty
of Saint Joseph!
