St. Paul Church, Belle Fourche,
celebrates centennial August 27

   A Catholic home was the scene of the first Mass celebrated by mission priest Father Anthony O’Hora in 1899. Until 1904, Belle Fourche was served by mission priests from St. Onge, who began to recognize a need for a parish in the growing cattle hub of Belle Fourche.

    Construction for the mission chapel began in 1905. On November 5, according to a daybook kept by the building committee, John Nolan was awarded the building contract for an estimated price of $1,278.15. The next day an entry indicated the committee authorized a payment of $90 to William Robinson to install the stone foundation. Most of the money for the new church was donated by private individuals who are also listed in the daybook. It includes a $650 donation from Catholic Extension (Society).

The first church in Belle Fourche,1905 -- 1939. (Photo courtesy of Mary Wendt) The new brick structure was built and dedicated in 1964. St. Paul Church, according to the dedication booklet, “is of semi-contemporary architectural design, created to meet the needs of the community while taking advantage of locally-available materials. The red intaglio brick exterior is dominated by the bell tower topped with an 18 foot tall steel cross.  (Photo courtesy of Father Arnie Kari)

    January 2, 1906, the committee met and the Catholic Church of Belle Fourche was named by order of Bishop John J. Stariha as St. Paul’s Catholic Church. The daybook recorded that the Secretary of State of South Dakota acknowledged the incorporation of the church in Belle Fourche. It was also recorded that Nolan be paid the remaining $722.66 due on the final $1,372.66 construction costs.

    In 1911, Belle Fourche was served as a mission by Spearfish. The first resident priest was appointed in 1919 by Bishop John J. Lawler to serve at Belle Fourche and at a mission church in Owl Creek. He was succeeded by two other priests until 1930 when Monsignor James P. Walsh was transferred from White River.

    When Monsignor Walsh arrived, there were 23 families on the church rolls, and by 1940 there were 126 families, requiring a bigger building. According to a parish dedication booklet, he called together all local laborers from the Works Progress Administration, for which he was the administrator, and offered them 15 cents above the standard 35 cents an hour to remodel and enlarge the church.

    The Belle Fourche Daily Post called the remodeled place of worship a monument to Monsignor Walsh. The addition cost $4,000 and provided seating for 300 people. It had an acoustic perfect choir room, an electric organ, a communion rail made of wrought iron, a tile floor, a red velvet canopy over the altar, and stained glass windows. The dedication was held April 3, 1940, and was attended by over 30 visiting priests.

    The building served the parish for 24 years until it became evident a new building would be needed. The old building was moved north and construction on a brick church began. It was dedicated by Bishop William T. McCarty on May 13, 1964.
Belle Fourche is once again served by Spearfish.

    The centennial celebration will be held August 27 beginning with a Polka Mass at 5 p.m. A potluck supper, children’s games and a street dance will follow.