History of the Church of St. Mary's of the Assumption
By Jim Reis-reprinted here with his
permission
from Pieces of the Past Volume 2
St. Mary's parish in Alexandria dates to 1860 when 30 families
banded together to buy four acres on Jefferson Avenue, considered on the fringe
of the city limits. The land was purchased for $300 and another $700
raised by subscription. Originally, the Catholics in the Alexandria area
were served on a mission basis by Father John Voll, pastor of Newport's Corpus
Christi Church. Later the mission was put under the wing of St. Joseph
Church in Camp Springs.
It was under that church's direction that on September 9, 1860 the cornerstone was laid for the first St. Mary's Church. January 2, 1865, parishioners pooled their money $850, and bought a frame house next to the church for use as a rectory. In exchanged for the sacrifice, Father P D Beck was assigned to St. Mary's as resident pastor later that month.
In May the whole parish turned out when Bishop Camillus Paul Maes made his first trip to the church. the bishop was met at Youtsey's Hill, about two miles north of town by an honor guard of 30 to 40 riders. While appreciating the attention, the dust covered bishop is said to have turned down future honor guards.
St. Mary's expanded its activities in 1867 when a room adjoining the church was converted into the parish school. Enrollment was 70. The school continued in that room until a separate building was erected in 1875. The Sisters of Nortre Dame came the next year to operate the school.
The parish took out a $500 loan in 1879 to make repairs on the church, school and rectory. The original rectory, made of wood, burned in 1970 and was replaced by a brick building. The church celebrated its 25th anniversary November 25, 1885. Its records boasted 375 baptisms and 52 marriages in its first quarter century. A Kentucky State Journal story on December 12, 1888, said "The congregation of St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church has begun hauling materials for a new church to be erected in the spring. It will be a fine edifice and an ornament to our town. It will cost $5000, exclusive of inside work, which will cost probably $1000 more. The members of the church are enthusiastic and are lending all their aid to the work. The steeple will be 115 feet high and of brick. The plans are here by a Chicago architect."
The cornerstone for the church was laid on May 15, 1890. The ceremonies featured the bishop administering confirmation to 29 children and two adults. Accounts say a brass band and members of Young Men's Societies of Alexandria, Cold Spring and Four Mile escorted the bishop into town. Work on the church took 17 months and was dedicated October 25, 1891. The bricks used in the building were made on the church grounds. Officiating at the dedication was Bishop Ferdinand Brossart, for whom Bishop Brossart High School was named.
The school building is a former Campbell County public school. Located at Grove and Jefferson streets, the building was purchased for use an an elementary and high school in 1949 for $20,500. The school operated as St. Mary's High School until 1961, when it became a diocesan high school and its name was changed to Bishop Brossart. At the same time work was started on an elementary school that opened in September 1962.
Planning for another new church began in 1978 when it was bequeathed $220,000 by the estate of Edwin and Margaret Mullinix. Ground was broken November 7, 1982 and the new church opened December 11, 1983. From its original 30 families, St. Mary's parish has grown to more than 900 families.