Denison Daily Herald
7 July 1938 

St. Joseph Church Now 38 Years Old
After the death of Father Crowley, pastor of St. Patrick’s Catholic church, Rev. Robert J. Hutcheson made special effort to build another Catholic Church.  It was Father Hutcheson’s desire that the church of which he was to be pastor be an Italian speaking church since he spoke Italian fluently and was able to give the sermons in that language.  The church is located at the corner of Owins street and Armstrong avenue.

With the consent of the Dallas bishop, the present building was purchased from a German Lutheran congregation and dedicated on St. Joseph’s Day, March 19, 1907.  The first baptism was performed that day.  The child was christened Mary Antonio Josephine and was the daughter of Claugo and Rosa Bruno.  The first marriage in St. Joseph’s was celebrated April 4, 1907.  The ceremony united Mamie McCullough and H.G. Cosdell of Fort Worth.  The first funeral mass recorded was that of Robert Collins in March 1907.

Rev. N.G. French was the first pastor after Father Hutcheson.  Father French first came to St. Joseph’s in 1910.  During the World war, he was a naval and overseas chaplain.  In the beginning of the year 1912 Rev. J.E. Malone became pastor.  In November of the same year Rev. J.J. McGrann took over the rectory.  His pastorate was the longest of any priest at St. Joseph’s.  One Sunday in May 1936 after the 10 o’clock mass he was stricken ill and died a week later.  After the death of Father McGrann, Rev. Patrick McNames came to Denison from Sacred Heart College, Sacred Heart, Okla., and is the present pastor of St. Joseph’s church.