Newcastle remained without a priest for a time

Hannah Gross
NLJ Correspondent 
With Leonard Cash
 
In last week’s installment of “History on Main,” historian Leonard Cash ended with the death of Father John O’Loughlin, and this week, we learn a few more details of his early life. 
The Rev. D. Logan from St. Joseph’s Church in Ogden, Utah, wrote a letter dated Dec. 26, 1918, (copied in the booklet) to Mrs. J.J. Klodt in Newcastle about O’Loughlin after his death to give “a short sketch of his life.” 
“As to exact dates I am completely at sea, but will try to tell you in a general way what I do know of
Father O’Loughlin who was a colleague and a very dear friend of mine,” Logan said in the letter. 
He wrote that O’Loughlin was born in 1891 at Magherra County, Londonderry, Ireland. He was said to have had wisdom beyond his years, and when he was 14, he
entered the diocesan seminary at St. Columbs, Derry City, for three years. 
O’Loughlin did very well and qualified for the Royal University of Ireland course, where he completed the “First Arts” exam. Early on, he knew priesthood was his destiny.
“His virtuous and irreproachable young life gave sufficient evidence of the fact that God had blessed him with a vocation to the priesthood,” Logan said. 
O’Loughlin continued his studies at St. Patrick’s Maynooth where he took “Second Arts” and received his bachelor of arts before starting his theological studies in 1910, achieving very high honors. 
However, due to health, O’Loughlin was unable to attain his bachelor of
theology degree, but in 1914, he was ordained at Clonliffe College, Dublin. 
Shortly after his ordination, O’Loughlin first set foot in America in 1915, upon the request of Bishop Patrick McGovern in Cheyenne. The young, newly ordained priest assisted the ministry in Cheyenne before heading to Newcastle, where he served until his unfortunate death. 
“An amiable young man, he was far above the ordinary intellectual attainments, yet ever unassuming and unboastful; full of fun and mirth and Irish wit, yet ever about reproach in conduct,” Logan wrote. 
He would be missed, and his death brought sorrow and remorse to all who knew him. 
According to the booklet, Newcastle remained without a priest for a time. However, it was “no wonder that pastors were frequently little more than visitors” because their district of responsibility covered a vast area at the time — not only the churches of Weston County but also those in Crook County. 
“For a long time both the parish horse and the Ford car were overworked,” the booklet says. “However, some priests who were here only a brief time accomplished much.”
On March 6, 1919, the paper announced that the “young” Father Brady, who was also Irish, became the
new pastor, and his first celebration of Mass brought in a large crowd.
“Father Brady is a splendid type of man and will be greatly welcomed to our midst,” the article says.
One of the first things Brady did, according to the booklet, was “to defray the expenses of Father O’Loughlin’s burial,” which the members of the parish took care of. The trustees also approved funds for a grave marker.
The booklet says that Brady was “concerned for the comfort of the people,” and during his ministry, new grates were installed for the furnace, which was moved from the sacristy to the center of the church, much to the approval of the congregation. 
An article from Jan 30, 1919, reported an influenza epidemic, which resulted in the temporary closure of many buildings, including the church. When it was finally ready to be opened up, Mrs. C.P. Barton went to prepare it for services, but she shockingly found it to be a disaster. 
“An act of vandalism, strikingly reminiscent of the Hun in his pillaging excursions, was perpetrated against the Catholic church here,” the article begins. “The statues were broken and the frag(ments) all over the floor, filth littered the aisles and several windows were smashed in.”
Candles, candlesticks and incense were also stolen, which the article called “simply wanton thievery for surely these articles can be of no benefit to the individual.” 
The criminals were warned that they would be severely punished when discovered.
“No person guilty of such an act is worthy of mingling with his fellowmen for, when he will take such license with the earthly Home of his Maker surely he is a menace to the brotherhood, peace and happiness of mankind in general,” the article says. 
A few years after the vandalism, the church received some good news. The former Rev. John T. Nicholson became the vicar general of the
diocese of Cheyenne, succeeding Monsignor Cummiskey, according to the Jan. 13, 1921, paper. 
This position was second to Bishop McGovern’s role, and Nicholson would be the acting bishop if McGovern was absent.
During the prohibition era in the United States from 1920 to 1933, when the buying and selling of alcohol was forbidden, Catholic priests were faced with a dilemma because they served “sacramental wine” at Mass. Fortunately, they could be exempted from the prohibition suspensions if they received permission.
According to the booklet, this permission happened before the Rev. Brady departed from Newcastle in 1924. A portion of a letter dated April 30, 1921, is copied from the Treasury Department, Bureau of Internal Revenue, Cheyenne, and reads as follows: “Enclosed is a letter of authority which will permit you to carry the amount of sacramental wine which you deem necessary in visiting the churches in your district. This is necessary in order that there will be no questions raised by the Federal or State enforcement officers. Very truly yours, L.C. Sampson, Federal Prohibition Director.” 
The Rev. Bernard Schneiders, who was from Holland, came to fill Brady’s vacancy, and he stayed for nine years. Schneiders also served in other Wyoming areas, such as Kemmerer, Powell and Casper. He was described as a man generally happy in nature and loved by all. 
According to an article from April 16, 1931, Schneiders petitioned the city to buy more land for the cemetery because the Catholic’s section was becoming overcrowded. His pleas were heard, and the
city bought eight more acres for $335. 
“The resolution for the purchase was introduced by Councilman Piana and received the unanimous (vote) of the council,” the article says. 
The new reverend was an accomplished violinist, and he formed a trio with Professor Soller and his daughter Lilli (who was also known as Olga), the booklet says. Soller played several instruments, and Lilli played the cello, as well as the violin. The trio was accompanied by pianist Pearl Churchfield, and they met weekly.
“Father never stopped trying to make a Christian out of Professor Soller, an avowed atheist, but when the old music teacher died in the spring of 1933, Father had not succeeded in changing his heart or mind,” the booklet says.