Early years in St. Joseph, Minnesota (1863-1880). A new St. Joseph District School #9 was built next to the St. Joseph's Church in 1877. The sisters continued to teach there even though the public versus parochial school controversy had not completely subsided. However, when in 1914, the State Attorney General reinforced an earlier court opinion that the wearing of religious garb while teaching in public schools was unlawful, the parish bought the district school and made it the official St. Joseph's Parochial School. It was later replaced by a larger school which eventually became known as the St. Joseph Lab School in association with the department of education of the College of St. Benedict (Saint Benedict's Monastery Archives, McDonald, page 180; Loso, pages 39-40).
St. Cloud Methodist Episcopal Church, founded 1857, was built 1911 and dedicated May 24, 1914. It was located at the corner of Fifth Ave. and Third Street South. Constructed of St. Cloud granite and brick it was called a "20th Century Church" and was 54 feet by 80 feet and cost $24,000 to build. Later named First Methodist it is currently First United Methodist Church. Written on the back: "Wells, Minnesota, Oct. 2, 1915, Mr. Lyman F. Morris, Deloit, Iowa, Crawford Co., Dear Father, We are to move to St. Bend.(?), next week. We are busy packing. P.S. All well. Lovingly Will."
Contributing Institution:
Minnesota Annual Conference United Methodist Church