St Josephs Catholic Church History
Camp Springs
St Josephs Catholic Church completed in 1864 was put on the Kentucky Historical Register in 1983.
Information comes from the Campbell
County Historical Society in Alexandria
ST JOSEPH PARISH-CAMP SPRINGS History of the Diocese of Covington, Kentucky
When Father John Voll was transferred from Four Mile to Corpus Christi Parish, Newport, April 18, 1853, St Joseph congregation became a mission attached to Corpus Christi Parish. The congregation at that time, almost entirely German, consisted of sixty-five families. It was a mission of Corpus Christi Parish when the Diocese of Covington was formed, and remained such until December 20, 1855.
In 1855, Reverend Francis Xavier Weninger, S J noted Missionary, conducted a very successful mission at Four Mile, resulting in the conversion of many to the Faith. At the close of the mission, a number of parish societies were formed, including St Ann Society for married women, St Rose Society for young ladies and St Aloysius Society for young men. These societies together with the previously established St Josephs Men Society, became helpful agencies for the spiritual and temporal progress of the congregation.
On December 20, 1855, Bishop Carrell appointed Reverend Andrew Schweiger as resident pastor. During his brief incumbency of five months, he built an addition of fifteen feet to the church, erected a choir gallery in the church and laid plans for a parish residence to be constructed of stone. His successor Reverend Andrew Stephan, completed the rectory and likewise purchased ten acres of land for the permanent use of the parish.
On June 3, 1858, Reverend Lawrence Spitzelberger was appointed pastor of St Joseph Parish. A census taken in September and October 1858, revealed that one hundred and nine families were worshipping at St Josephs Church and was serving a large are of Campbell County, including the neighboring villages of Alexandria, Twelve Mile, Stepstone, Cold Spring and Melbourne. The Catholics at Alexandria separated in 1863; Twelve Mile in 1864; those at Cold Spring in 1870 and Melbourne in 1910. Father Spitzelberger continued as pastor until August 1863. In July 1864 Bishop Carrell appointed Reverend Eberhard Schulte resident pastor. He immediately took up the task of building the new church. By June 1865, the neat little church was ready for dedication. June 15, 1865 was a memorable day in the history of the parish, for on that day Bishop Carrell solemnly dedicated the new church. Bishop Carrell also blessed the bell and conferred Confirmation on a large class of children and adults.
In 1868 work was begun on a building of stone which would serve as a school and a residence for the teachers. At the close of Bishop Carrell's episcopate, the parish had a membership of a thousand, with one hundred and fifty children in the parish school. On March 20, 1870 the church was struck by lightning suffering extreme damage. Under the direction of Reverend Caspaer Ostlangenberg the church was restored to its original beauty. In September 1873, the parish assumed charge of the pastorate of Four Mile. In 1882 Reverend Joseph A Blenke supervised the building of the present pastoral residence. During the pastorate of Reverend William Cassander, 1886-1888, an addition of eight feet was made to the church to serve as sanctuary and sacristy.
In 1888 Father William Hinssen built a cottage adjoining the school for the teachers' residence. In 1890 the Sisters of Divine Providence assumed charge of the parish school. The first community of Sisters, arriving at Four Mile, March 28, 1890, consisted of Sister Mary Euphrasia, Sister Mary Joseph and Sister Mary Paul. In 1900, the Sisters of of Divine Providence relinquished the charge of the parish school.
In 1894 Reverend Joseph Haustermann began a pastorate of fifteen years at St Joseph Parish. He considered abandoning the church and moving to a more centrally located neighborhood. As a result both buildings were neglected. The parishioners bitterly opposed this proposal. On June 22, 1909 following the resignation of Father Haustermann, Reverend Charles A Woeste was appointed pastor. After eighteen months St Joseph parish was restored to its normal condition. During the pastorate of Father Woeste, three large mural oil paintings of Leon Lippert of Newport, representing the Blessed Trinity, the Agony of Our Lord in the Garden and the Annunciation, were placed in the sanctuary. In 1920 the congregation numbering seventy-one families observed its Diamond Jubilee.
In 1934 Reverned Nicholas Judermanns began a pastorate at Camp Springs which was to extend over fifteen years. In 1942 the parish celebrated the Centenary of the origin of Catholicity in the Four Mile Creek Valley. The one hundredth anniversary of the establishment of St Joseph Church was observed in 1951 with Father Leonard Wimmers as pastor.
Father Walter Greskamp became pastor in June 1851 and stayed for the next 26 years.