OUR CATHOLIC ROOTS IN TUSCARAWAS COUNTY

“OLD” ST. PETER CHURCH 

St. Peters was the first Catholic congregation of Tuscarawas County on one of the highest elevations in the county known as “Hessian Hills”, which is now known as French Hills.  A log church 25x35 feet was erected in 1840. 

In the 1950’s the efforts of Fr. Marion Pagendaron O.F.M. Cap. and parishioners restored the church as it was in need of repair.  It was designated by the Diocese as a Shrine.  In the summer months, seminarians from Columbus came to St. Aloysius and St. Stephen to teach summer Bible School for two weeks and would take the children from the two parishes on outings to this Shrine for Mass and a picnic.  Vandals destroyed the Shrine by fire in 1978.  A cemetery remains at the site. 

ST. ALOYSIUS – Strasburg, Ohio 

St. Aloysius parish was established July 1910.  A parish house was built in 1924.  Land for a cemetery was purchased and first burial was in 1929.  A huge cross for the cemetery was constructed in the churchyard.  Upon its completion, parishioners loaded it onto a wagon and hauled it to the cemetery where it was erected and still stands today.  In the late 1940’s, families donated eight stained glass windows in memory of loved ones.  Final Mass was celebrated July 1995 when it was closed, and the church property was sold to the village of Strasburg. 

ST. PATRICK – Mineral City, Ohio 

St. Patrick parish was begun in 1881.  The first church was constructed on the site of the present cemetery.  This was later moved to the downtown area, as it was too difficult for the older parishioners to walk up the steep hill.  This location was at First and Hill St.  This building was later sold to the school district.  For the next years, St. Patrick’s was a mission of St. Mary Morges in Carroll County and later became a mission of St. Francis in Malvern, Ohio.  The name St. Patrick was chosen for the Church as many members were of Irish heritage.  The present church on State Route 800 just north of Mineral City was constructed in 1969 and was served by the Capuchin Fathers who had a monastery in Dover, Ohio.  A Shrine to the Blessed Mother is on the Church property. 

ST. STEPHEN – Bolivar, Ohio 

Some parishioners from St. Peter’s established the first Bolivar Catholic Church in a blockhouse located 2 miles from the village and dedicated it Our Lady of Assumption.  In 1853, the district public school house in Bolivar was for sales and the Catholic community purchased it, converting it into St. Martin’s Church, and used it until 1882.  This brick building was dismantled and a frame church dedicated to St. Stephen was built.  In 1902, a severe February windstorm completely demolished it.  It stood as had St. Martin’s Church at the entrance to the present cemetery.  The present Church was constructed in 1903.  Stained glass windows were a donation from a Church in Cumberland, MD and the Communion rail was a donation from a church in Wheeling, West Virginia. 

CHURCH OF THE HOLY TRINITY - Zoar, Ohio

Our parish was created July 11, 1995 when three parishes were united into a single one.  They were St. Aloysius, St. Patrick and St. Stephen.  This was part of a plan from the Tuscarawas-Holmes-Coshocton Vicariate, which was approved by Bishop James Griffin.  It is an attempt to address the future pastoral needs and resources in the northeastern part of the Diocese of Columbus.