St. Ann Parish

Fr. Robert F. Hayes was appointed first pastor in the summer of 1917. He lived at St Stephen’s Parish until October 1st 1921, when he moved to a home in the district which he had purchased at 508 Huttig. Shortly after the parish was founded a St. Vincent de Paul Society was established. The organizers were Elmer Barthel, A.H. Helling, John O’Renick and Edwin Richmond. Helling served as president until his death in 1964. 

Some of the parishioners who served in World Was I: Vance Anderson Frank Fraas, Charles Hohse and Robert Wilkes. Frank Fraas was killed in action and the Fairmount V.F.W. Post No. 1000 was named in his memory. 

In 1918 the Alter Society was organized. Mrs. Thomas Pickette was the first president. The parish became widely know for the elaborate floral displays at special seasons of the year. Ind June of 1963, the society was organized to keep up with the changing times. Mrs. James Fram because president. The Circle System was instituted. The society was featured on “Your Church and Mine”, a television program which aired in May of 1966. 

In 1922 the Holy Name Society was established and Alphonsus L. Reinhart became the first president. 

Religious education classes began in 1922 with the Sisters of Mercy from St. Agnes Academy coming out by streetcar. The Sisters were: Mary Bonaventure Johnson, M. Dominica Loftus and Mary Ruth, RSM. 

In the fall of 1925 the parochial school opened in a small frame house on the southeast corner of Cedar and Lexington. The Sisters of Mercy staffed the school (Sisters Mary Teresa Lawder and Mary Adeline Jacobs) along with Mrs. Bridget Kane. The Sisters continued to live at the Academy. The school remained tuition free until 1978. 

After a parish mission in 1925 work begun on a two-story brick combination church and school, which incorporated part of the old stone church as the foundation. Classrooms were located on the lower floor and the church on the upper floor. 

When the school opened in 1926 there were 85 students. The first students to graduate from the school were: Marie Coder, Alice Fisher, Joseph Rowe and Jack Wirthman. Kindergarten classes continued to be held int he frame house. In the fall of 1928 a temporary residence was purchased for the Sisters, a little cottage south of the school on Lexington avenue, from Mrs. Fike. The Sisters lived there until 1958. 

Among the first organists for the parish were: Mrs. John S. O’Donoghyue, Geraldine Peyner and William Wright. Anna Cecilia Reinhart was the first organist in the stone church. 

On August 3rd, 1927, land was purchased from A.J. and Margaret Biter, Lot 247 m Fair- mount, one day to be the site of the new rectory. 

In 1934 there were 135 families and 600 individuals. There were 155 children of grade school age and 22 of high school or college age,. In the diocesan census of 1959, 757 children were identified, 359 of whom were in grade school and 126 of whom were in high school or college. There were 1211 adult Catholics. In 1984 there were 500 Catholics in the parish in 300 households. 

In 1936 Girl Scout Troop 66 was organized. First troop leaders were Mrs. George McxCarty and Pauline Barthel. Mrs. H.F. Brookshire and Mrs. Early were the troop sponsors. The Troop was disbanded in 1938. On October 1st, 1965, a Junior Girl Scout Troop 84 was organized. Mrs. Milton Alley was leader and Marcia Haworth was co-leader. 

In the late 1930s Boy Scout Troop 234 was organized in the parish but it soon disbanded because the scoutmaster, Charles Fraas and most of the committeemen went off to war. However, on September 10th, 1954, the troop was reorganized. A.H. Fraas, Elwood Moore, Albert Seck, Warren Todd and Leland Wheeler were responsible for this. John Carlson served as first scoutmaster, followed by Frank Baker in 1955. Those who have served as chairmen are: Elwood Moore, G.W. Todd, C.L. Nesbitt, Hartford Black, Bernard Wasmer, L.E. Gervery, Frances Luckey, James Hooton and Richard Baker. 

In 1940 Fr. Francis Biter considered the following as the boundaries of the parish: east, city limits of Independence; west, city limits of Kansas City; south, 23rd Street, joining the new parish of Nativity; north, the river and the city limits of Sugar Creek. 

Also in 1940 a new rectory was built at 10118 Lexington Street, on Lot 40. On January 31st, 1959 the property at 10120 Lexington was purchased from Carl E and Daisy Quinn, being Lot 41, Fairmount Addition. In 1941 an associate pastor was appointed to the parish – Fr., John S. Murphy. 

During World War II, five men of the parish were killed in action: Robert Franciskato, Richard D. Holcomb, Edward J;.Neuhauser, John Vukas and Irving C. Woods. 

On March 23rd, 1946, Bishop Edwin O’Hara obtained land from Joseph H. and Blanche Boutross, Lot 249 in Fairmount. Lot 248 was purchased on May 15th 1950 from Charles K. and Gail T. Buckingham. On June 3rd, 1951 ground was broken for a new (and present) church on property donated (lot 249) by Joseph and Blanche Boutross. They also donated the main altar and sanctuary marble and had doned the first church bell years before. Shaughnessy and Bower were the architects. The church cost $150,0000.00. 

On September 2m, 1948 the Men’s Cosical Club was organized. Ode Nauser was chosen as first president. Its function was to maintain and improve parish property. This club continued until 1962. 

Fr. Biterk the pastor, died of a heart attack on July 2nd, 1952 while visiting his relatives in Erie, PA. Forty members of the parish attended the funeral in Erie along with bishop Edwin V. O’Hara. 

After 1952, the old church (second floor of the school) was remodeled into four classrooms to accommodate the increased enrollment in the school. A PTA was also established. Dorothy Moore and Mildred Seck were the organizers. Officers elected for the 1952-1953 school year were: Juanita Casey, president; Mildred Seck, vice-president; Dorothy Moorem secretary; Betty Allen, treasurer and Sister Mary Eugene, RSM, auditor. 

Cub Scout Pack 234 was organized in the parish on July 31st, 1953. Ronald Freemyer was the first Cubmaster, assisted by Clarence Cernech and Ronald Doering. 

In December of 1957 the building of a new rectory was begun at 10113 Lexington, the site of the convent, which necessitated the moving of the Sisters to St., Mary’s Convent in Independence during construction. At a cost of $59,000.00 the rectory contains 12 rooms and was intended to house three priests. It was first occupied on August 22nd, 1958. When the new rectory was complete, the Sisters moved into the former rectory at 10118 Lexington. 

A chapel was designed and built by Cooper Robinson Carlson and O’Brien, Architects and Engineers, in 1961. Schweiger Construction Company was the general contractor. Cost of the chapel was $8,183.00 

The Legion of Mary was first organized in the parish on May 28th, 1959. Those attending the first meeting were: Fr. Michael Gillgannonm Charles Baker, Julia Hoffman, Pauline Hilling, Dorothy Herman, Margaret Mary Doering, Aimee Hatten, Helen Wilmot and Anne Heman. 

After 1959 a major effort was made to pay off the $100,000.00 debt so a new school could be built. The property of Earl Bellscamper was purchased which was adjacent to the school playground on the north at 221 S. Cedar. The property cost $10,000.00. The house on the property was torn down in 1960. Ground was broken for the new school on August 23rd, 1964 at 215 S. Cedar. The architects were Geis Hunter and Ramos. At a cost of $154,000.00 the school was two stories on a sloping site built immediately north of the old school. The second floor was level with the playground. It contained seven classrooms and a library. The library was dedicated to Sister Bertrand Taylor, RSM, who served as teacher, principal and friend of many

for 2w6 years. The school was one of the first in this area to be carpeted throughout. 

The era of liturgical change was negotiated easily enough, as on December 8th, 1964, the mail altar only had to be moved forward a few feet to permit Mass to be said with the priest facing the people. 

In June of 1965, the St,. Ann’s Ushers Club was begun. Edward G. Gippner was the first president; James Frame, vice-president; Jerome McGraw secretary-treasurer. The men wore white formal jackets and black forehand ties, along with an identifying name badge. One of their stated tasks was to maintain orderly conduct at parish functions, They were also responsible for the annual diocesan fund drive. 

December of 1966 saw six stained glass windows installed in the sanctuary by the Loius H. Kuhnlein Memorial Fund. 

After the present school building was dedication 1965 the former combination church / school building remained empty. 

It was torn down in July of 1979. Early parishioners recalled that the brick structure had been built around the original stone church on the same site. When the building was razed a rough-looking stone wall was discovered. This was the north wall of the original church built 

in 1914 a going-away party was held for the old building on July 29, 1979. 

The cleared area was then surfaced and used for a playground / parking area, at around 32,000 square feet. Two thousand cubic yards of dirt and debris were removed to level the area for paving. A 300 foot long retaining wall was built. Total cost was $33,000.00 

May of 1986 say a project begun to place stained glass windows throughout the church. On January 4th, 1987 Bishop John Sullivan blessed the 35 new windows. The cost of the windows was $60,000.00 and all funds were donated by parishioners of St. Ann’s. Design and installation was by Cathedral Crafts, Incl. of Winona, MN. 

On April 16, 1988 the parish debt was retired. 

Sources: Diocesan archives The Inter-City News May 12, 1961. 50th Anniversary Edition. (The Jackson County Historical Society Archives and Research Library); St. Ann’s Parish, Kansas City, Missouri to May 1954; J. Leo Reilly, Chair. St. Ann’s Golden Jubilee: 1917-1967; Debbie Richardson. Historical Background of St. Ann’s Parish 1983.