Buffalo Roman Catholic German Language Churches

Presently I am attempting to help someone with some genealogy work. This individual may also be a relative. Our DNA matches and we might be distant cousins. This is a new project that I am working on now.

However, through helping my potential new cuz I had to dig into some records out of the Albany area. Below is a very brief history of a few German Catholic churches in Buffalo, New York. Perhaps someone may find this information useful.

According to the Municipality of Buffalo, Many were added to the German settlements in Collins, Eden, Hamburg, Cheektowaga and Lancaster, and still larger numbers filled up Batavia and Genesee streets, and began to spread over all the northeastern part of Buffalo.[1]

St. Boniface, Mulberrry street, was originally known as St. John the Baptist. It was founded in 1849 by forty German families. The first resident pastor was Rev. P. Kunze. A frame church building was erected in that year, and also a little school house and rectory. The church was enlarged in 1851, and gave way in 1856 to the present brick edifice, built at a cost of $10,000, dedicated on June 15, 1857 by Bishop Timon.  A two-story brick school house was built in 1861. The church was much enlarged during ministry of Rev. Nicholas Long (1866-73), a new steeple and bells added, and a rectory built. A new brick convent was erected in 1888, and a new school house in 1898, the later at a cost of $50,000. The parochial school has an enrollment of about 380 pupils, the sisters of St. Joseph being in charge. The population of the parish is about 1,600. Succession of pastors: P. Kunze, 1849-54; R. Follenius, to 1859; H. Feldman, to 1863; J. Zawistoski, to 1866; J. Soermer, for few months; Nicholas Long, 1866 to 1873; H. Feldman, 1880; Chrystostom Wagner, to 1884; Ferdinand Kolb to the present.[2] 

In 1983 St. Boniface closed and merged with three other churches to form St. Martin de Porres located at 80 Durham Ave., Buffalo, NY. Tel. 716-892-0528

St. Boniface baptism records are online and can be found at the website: schwertfamily.net/st_boniface_marriages.htm

St. Ann's, at Broadway and Emslie street, was founded in 1858, and is the largest German parish in the city. Bishop timon secured the site and transferred it to the Jesuits, who erected a small brick church, school and priests' house. The church was dedicated on June 20, 1858. rev. J. Vetter, S.J., was first resident pastor; he was appointed in July, 1858, though it was Father Caveng who superintended the organization of the church was consecrated in May, 1886. It is of gray stone, seats 2,000, and cost about $150,000. St. Ann's parochial school, the largest in Buffalo, was built in 1895, at a cost of $100,000. It is in charge of the Sisters of St. Francis (Stella Niagara), and has an enrollemnt of about 1,100 pupils. Succession of pastors is as follows: J. Vetter, from July, 1858 to August, 1860; B. Fritsch, to August, 1866; J. Blettner, to July, 1870; I. Bellwalder, to September, 1871; P. Spicher, to July, 1872; I. Bellwalder, February, 1875; W. Roether, to October, 1888; W. Kockerols, to December 1889; W. Roether, to September, 1891; J. Kreusch, to December, 1896; W. Becker, to November, 1898; T. Hegemann, to July, 1902; F.X. Neubrand, to August, 1903; V. Scheppach, to July, 1909; G.J. Krim; Peter W. Leonard to the present. The parish has given 22 Jesuits, 7 secular priests, and 100 nuns to the church.[3]

St. Ann's has been struggling to stay open and I believe that it recently closed. A website for the church is located here: www.saintannbuffalo.org

The church is located at 501 Emslie Street, Buffalo, NY 14212. Tel. 716-852-0100.

St. Michael's, 671 Washington, came into being as one of the results of the friction between sections of the congregation of St. Louis' parish. Father Lucas Caveng was placed in charge of the organization early in 1851, and on May 18th of that year he said first Mass to about 100 persons in the basement of St. Peter's French Church. The Squier property on Washington street had been bought by the Bishop as a site for his Cathedral, but he offered it to the Jesuits on condition that they should build there a college and church for the Germans. A church was built, and dedicated by Bishop Timon on January 1, 1852. A month later a little school was opened near the church. A new church was built in 1866-67, and was dedicated June 16, 1867, by Bishop Lynch, of Toronto. The cost of erection was about $120,000. A new brick school house was built in 1873, at a cost of $30,000. A new brick school house was built in 1873, at a cost of $30,000. The spires of the church, however, were not completed until about 1884, at a cost of about $20,000. The parochial school, which is in charge of the Sisters of St. Francis (Stella Niagara), had an attendance of about 300 pupils in 1914; in 1920 the enrollment was 331 children. Since 1870 the church has been closely connected with Canisius College, the rector of which is also ex-officio rector of St. Michael's Church. The rectors have included: Lucus Caveng, 1851-62; F. Vetter, 1862; f. Joseph Durthaller, 1862 to 1867; F. E. Reiter, 1867; F. William Becker, 1867 to 1875; Joseph Kreusch, 1875 to 1885; H. Kamp, to 1894; Joseph Faber, to 1908; Bernard C. Cohausz, until succeeded by Rev. Robert H. Johnson, present rector.[4]

This church is still open. Its website is stmichaelbuffalo.org. The church is located at 651 Washington Street, Buffalo, NY 14203. Tel. 716-854-6726

St. Matthew, corner East Ferry and Wyoming streets, was established in 1908 for German Catholics, its first building a frame one, dedicated on August 2, 1908. School was opened in the upper floor in September of that year, with sixty-three children attending. School roll in 1914 was 300; in 1920 the enrollment was 326 children, under the direction of five Sisters of St. Joseph. In June, 1910, the church was blown down by a tornado. It was uninsured, but was soon rebuilt. Meanwhile arrangements were initiated to erect a more substantial edifice. In the autumn of 1910 a large site on East Ferry, Wyoming and Moselle streets was acquired, and a stone basement structure erected at a cost of $23,000. Dedication was on October 8, 1911. A rectory of stone was also built beside the church; its cost was $10,000. the congregation in 1909 numbered 780 souls; in 1914 had more than doubled. Rev. George Sellinger, who founded the church is still rector.

The church closed in 1993. But I just noticed that this is much after your time frame needed.

St. Mary, Broadway and Pine, was established to meet the wishes of some of the German parishioners of St. Louis' Church. In 1842 they asked "that the Redemptorists might come to Buffalo to establish a new church for German Catholics." One record states that the parish was organized in 1842, by rev. Joseph Alig; another that "Rev. Benedict Bayer, C.SS.R., came to found the new parish in 1843." He was offered the use of St. Patrick's Church "till other arrangements could be made;" whereupon father Bayer announced, through "The Weltberger," that on the next Sabbath, December 10th, services for German Catholics would be held in the basement of St. Patrick's Church. During the following year, the parish was organized, though on December 20, 1843, Father Bayer was replaced by Rev. Nicholas Alig, states Father Donohue, historian. Father Alig bought a site for a church on February 22, 1844, from James Milnor. A frame structure 180 by 50 feet and 16 feet high was erected in 1844, the labor being contributed by the congregation. In 1850 Father Alig opened a school in a rented building on Pine street; the school was taught by a Mr. Schmitt, a lay teacher. Another house on Batavia street, was rented for a girls' school. Father Alig also built a rectory in 1845, in November of which year, it is stated, Father Bayer again became pastor. On April 9, 1848, the cornerstone of a new church was laid; the building was dedicated in 1850. Father Joseph Helmpracht was the next rector, and in 1849 secured the sisters of Notre Dame to take charge of the schools. Many children were orphaned by the cholera scourge in 1851, and in 1852 Father Helmpracht bought the house adjoining that of the Sisters for $5,000, for use as an orphan asylum. In 1874 the German Catholic Orphan Asylum then established assumed this charity. A school for boys and girls was built on Broadway in 1856 (or1851), and 1868 (or 1869) Father Hespelein built another and much larger school on Pine street. Another school was erected on Broadway, it is stated, in 1874, the removal of the orphan asylum "giving room for the erection of a fine brick school house." A new convent was also built in that year. In 1900 Father Stern renovated the church, the renovated church being reopened in 1904. On April 10, 1911, a new lyceum and gymnasium, which had cost $117,000, was opened and blessed by the Bishop "the first building of its kind in Buffalo," and known as the Catholic Young Men's Association Gymnasium and Hall.

The early rectors or superiors of St. Mary's Church include: Carl Cannemueler, 1848; Joseph Helmpraecht, 1849; Anthony Urbanzeck, 1855; Aloys Schaefler, 1856; Joseph Claus, 1857; Henry Giesen, 1858; Anthony Schmidt, 1859; Robert Kleineidam, 1861; Louis Claessens, 1862; Adrian van de Braak, 1863; John Hespelein, 1868; E.F. Schauer, 1871; and Rev. George Sniet, 1877. Father Stern was in charge in 1900, Father Frank in 1901, Father Parr in 1911. Present rector is Francis Auth. The school had 580 pupils in 1914, but only 380 in 1920.[5]

The church is now Closed.  St. Mary's (German) records are housed in at Roman Catholic Diocese @ the Catholic Center, 795 Main Street, Buffalo, Tel. 716-847-8719. Check the website: buffalolore.buffalonet.org/stmaryR/

Other Buffalo churches to check include:

St. Louis Church, established in 1829. The church is still open and is located at 780 Main Street & 35 Edward Street, Buffalo, NY. Tel. 716-852-6040.

Email: st.louisgenealogy@gmail.com regarding genealogical requests. Volunteers handle searches and it may take up to six months to complete (St. Louis Historical Society). On site research may be available?

St. Francis Xavier Church, in Black Rock, established in 1847. Closed in 2007. The church building is now the Buffalo Religious Arts Center, located at 157 East Street, Buffalo, NY 14207. Tel. 716-481-2350

St. Joseph Church, in Elysville (Main Street near the University of Buffalo) was established between 1847-1850. The church is open and is now known as the St. Joseph University Church. 3269 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14214. Tel. 716.833.0298. Website: stjosephbuffalo.org

Regarding the churches that are now closed, the diocese of Buffalo may have to been contacted to determine where the closed church records are now located.

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[1] Hill, Henry Wayland, ed. Municipality of Buffalo, New York: A History, 1720-1923. New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, Inc., 1923, page 444.

[2] Ibid., pages 652-653.

[3] Ibid., page 651.

[4] Ibid., page 660.

[5] Ibid., page 659.