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Photo taken of St. Stephen's Catholic church
in Niles, Ohio. Dated Aug. 1975 PO1.342

St. Stephen's Catholic Church on the corner of
West Park and Arlington Streets in downtown Niles, Ohio.
PO1.341 |
About
the middle 1800s the Industrial Revolution showed its influence
in Niles as industries began to develop. Iron works arose and
expanded rapidly and as a result attracted many laborers to this
area. Among the newcomers was a small number of Catholics.
As early as 1853, the spiritual welfare of the Niles Catholics
was entrusted to the resident priest of Dungannon, Columbiana
County. Reverend Francis Stoker was the first priest
to administer the sacraments to the few Catholic families residing
in Niles.
Owing to the small number of Catholic families and their poverty,
for the first ten years Mass was celebrated in private homes.
Then in the Spring of 1864, steps toward the erection of a church
were taken. Father O’Callighan purchased two lots
at the corner of Park Avenue and Mechanic Street (Arlington) and
during the same year built a small frame church placing it under
the patronage of St. Stephen. The church was very plain and of
simple structure, but it provided a permanent place of worship.
Later, from time to time, as means became available, improvements
were made to the building.
In July, 1865, the Reverend A.R. Siddley was appointed
by the Right Reverend Bishop Rappe as the first resident
pastor of St. Stephens. Shortly afterwards he built a pastoral
residence which was still occupied by priests in 1934. In February
of the following year, he purchased five acres of land for a cemetery
near to the RMI factory on the back way to Warren, Ohio. Father
Siddley was replaced by Reverend E.J. Conway, his pastorate
was short-lived lasting only three months.
In 1868, Father Rebelled, a priest with great energy,
organized a parochial school to provide the children with the
benefits of a thorough religious training. This move was met with
opposition from the parishioners who believed that they could
not afford to support the school. Soon, however, this feeling
passed and the school was continuously in charge of lay teachers
without further difficulty. Father Kelley left in May, 1871.
Between 1885 and 1888, St. Stephens parish enjoyed a steady growth.
As a result, the church became too small and provisions were made
for a larger place of worship. Father O’Brien,
in the summer of 1888, began raising funds for the new church
which Father Desmond continued with success.
The plans were drawn up for a brick church of Romanesque style
which was approved by the Diocese, foundation work began in the
fall of 1888 and completed the summer of the following year by
Father Scullin. The blessing of the cornerstone took
place Sunday, May 11, 1891. During the same year the church was
enclosed and the interior completed in time for Christmas Mass
to be celebrated in the new church. On Sunday May 8, 1892, with
solemn ceremonies, attended by a multitude of people of various
denominations, Bishop Horstmann dedicated the beautiful
edifice.
When the work on the foundations for the new church commenced,
the first church had to be removed. In 1893, the old building
was transformed into a school, containing two large rooms. It
served its purpose until the new brick school was completed in
1900, during the pastorate of Father Scullin.
Up to the year 1880, the parish school was taught by lay teachers,
but in that year the Sisters of the Humility of Mary were put
in charge and since that time have conducted it in a very able
manner with nine Sisters and one lay teacher.
At the present time (1934) the attendance in the parish school
numbers 176. As there is no parochial school connected with the
other Niles Catholic parish, which is exclusively Italian, St.
Stephens’ school also takes care of some of the children
of the sister congregation.
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St. Stephen's Roman Catholic Church,
Academy and School as it appeared in 1905. Sisters of the Humility
of Mary, "Blue Nuns" have staffed the school since 1869
with few exceptions. The building at the forefront was the Music
Academy which had as many as 150 students at one time. This building
became the sisters convent and then was torn down in the 1990's.
The school and church were remodeled in the 1920's and the school
was torn down in the summer of 1971. PO1.1197.1 |
In
1898, a music academy was added by the sisters of the parochial
school. This music department, as the years rolled by, became an
important branch of the educational system of St. Stephens’.
From a few students in the early years, the number of pupils has
grown to over 150. This large number requires the constant time
of two sisters.
During Father McDonough’s six years as Pastor, he
enlarged the sister’s residence by adding twelve rooms and
a beautiful little chapel. Fire having destroyed the sanctuary of
the church, he was forced to rebuild it. In doing so, the church
was lengthened, increasing the capacity by one-third. The steeple,
many times struck by lightning, was made much smaller and more substantial.
St. Stephens may justly be ranked among the most active and energetic
parishes. A number of organizations are affiliated with the church.
The Niles Catholic Women’s Club with membership of over 150.
The young people of the parish have the Cheliel Club to take care
of their social activities, while the Toffe Club unites the high
school students of the congregation for their social affairs. These
various organizations meet in the McKinley Theatre (formerely located
on North Main Street where Sparkle Market is today(2020), the parish
auditorium, purchased in 1928. |
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The interior of St. Stephen's
Catholic Church after the remodeling in 1953, the 100th year
of the founding of the parish. PO1.344
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Between 1885 and 1888, St. Stephens parish
enjoyed a steady growth. As a result, the church became too
small and provisions were made for a larger place of worship.
Father O’Brien, in the summer of 1888, began
raising funds for the new church which Father Desmond
continued with success.
The plans were drawn up for a brick church of Romanesque style
which was approved by the Diocese, foundation work began in
the fall of 1888 and completed the following summer of the following
year by Father Scullin.
The blessing of the cornerstone took place Sunday, May 11, 1891.
During the same year the church was enclosed and the interior
completed in time for Christmas Mass to be celebrated in the
new church.
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Looking south on Arlington Street in 1919.
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Looking west from the Public or
Commons Park(now a part of the McKinley Memorial site). The First
Methodist Church is on the right and St. Stephen Church is on
the left. |

Photo of St. Stephen's Catholic
Church as it looks today. The original steeple rose high above
the church, and was struck by lightning many times. The steeple
was finally shortened by the mid 1920's. Prior to 1934, the
sanct-uary, which had been destroyed by fire, was replaced and
the church lengthened. In many other ways it remains much as
it was built.S11.92
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The original Parish House of St. Stephen's Church.
You can see a corner of the church itself in the left hand side
of the picture. This building no longer exits. The current Parish
House is located further west on West Park Avenue. The house is
decorated in mourning for a deceased priest. PO1.345
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St. Stephen's priest and pupils about the turn
of the last century. PO1.1664

St. Stephen's priest, Father Scullin,and
pupils from Room 4 in 1903. PO1 |

View of a grade school classroom and children
attending St. Stephen's parochial school.PO1.1665

View of a grade school classroom and children
attending St. Stephen's parochial school.
PO1.1666 |
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View of St. Stephen's Music Academy. Built in
1900, it became the convent of the nuns that taught at St. Stephen's
School. These pictures were taken in 1990 and the building was
razed shortly thereafter. SO11.95 |

View of St. Stephen's School built in 1900, the
blue nuns that taught at St. Stephen's School were housed in the
convent. These pictures were taken in 1990 and the building was
razed shortly thereafter. SO11.91 |

Demolition of the St. Stephen's School building
in 1990. This area became part of the playground area. The church
is visible in the background. SO11.93 |
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Aerial view of the downtown area
with a red oval indicating the location od St. Stephen's block.
SO3.225
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Construction of St. Stephen
School.
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St. Stephen School at the present
time. First classes were held in the school pictured above beginning
September 8, 1954. Enrollment in 1976 was about 325, Kindergarten
through 8th grade. PO1.1199
The school building was sold in
2019.
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Niles Daily Times photograph
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Niles Daily Times photograph
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Niles Daily Times photograph
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St. Stephen's Church on West Park
Avenue and Arlington Street is a red brick building of Romanesque
style. Its cornerstone was laid in 1891 and it replaced an earlier
frame church which had served area Catholics. PO1.339 |

Original steeple of St. Stephen's
Church was struck by lightning several times, this photo shows
the damage when the steeple was struck in 1906.
Notice the difference between the
height of the original steeple(L) and the current steeple(R). |

Photo taken of St. Stephen's Church
from the lawn of the McKinley Memorial. In the foreground is the
old Civil War cannon. Dated March 1975. PO1.343 |
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School marker that was over the
main entrance to St. Stephen's School that was built at the
turn of the last century.
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St. Stephen School Marker
Mystery As I said in our phone conversation,
my girlfriend's mother moved into a house on Bowman Street not
long ago. Taking advantage of the nice weather, they were raking
out and weeding near the back of the house when all of a sudden
the rake struck something under the dirt. Clearing away the debris
they found this cement marker that measures about seven feet long,
twenty two and one half inches wide and three inches thick. The
house was previously owned by Robert and Alberta Ellwood.
(Mr. Elwood was Irish and would dress up as a leprechaun on St.
Patrick's Day). Story and photograph by David Gill.
The following was reported by Marci Ellwood:
It came from the old St.Stephen School when it was torn down.
..my mothe- in-law wanted it . Ernie Labruno, the school
janitor told the family there was no way in hell they could possibly
haul it away. Being "Ellwood's " they were challenged.
My husband, his brothers and uncle picked it up and put it in
back of their station wagon then took it to my mother-in-law's
home.
Click
to see the location of the marker on the old school.
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The
Growth of Niles Churches —
Grace Allison
The first pioneer families who came to Niles found themselves
in a rough, raw settlement that was struggling to survive on the
brink of a harsh frontier. Few of the amenities of the eastern
seaboard were to be found here, and the early community waited
long before it was able to provide regular !schools and organized
churches
These first settlers were Protestants, representing many different
denominations, none of which was large enough to organize a church
congregation and establish a permanent house of worships. Small
groups of worshippers met in private homes for years, but there
was not a single organized church in Weathersfield Township until
l839. This was many years after the first church has been established
in the county, so that Niles worshippers were constrained to go
to Youngstown, Warren, or Howland to attend services they preferred.
Methodists had been assembling for services as early as l8l4 in
the home of Ebenezer Roller (Rowley?), Methodist ministers
were noted for their field work and their willingness to evangelize
in distant places. It was one such preacher, the Reverend
Samuel Lane, a circuit rider, who occasionally preached at
the Roller home. The Methodist Episcopal Church was established
in 1839 with six persons in the first class.
Local Presbyterians formed their first congregation the same year.
Some 15 to 20 persons assembled to organize a church of their
persuasion under the leadership of the Reverend William 0.
Stratton. New members continued to be attracted to the church
enabling the congregation to undertake the construction of a new
edifice costing $12, 000 in l892 The new building occupied the
southwest corner of North Main and West Church Streets
Other Protestant denominations began the organization of established
congregations soon afterward. The Disciples of Christ were organized
in 1840 and built their first church in 1843 on a lot donated
by James Heaton who did much to encourage the establishment of
religious bodies in his village. The church, a frame structure,
had a number of interesting features including two entrances on
either side of the pulpit--one for men the other for women.
The first Episcopal service was held in Niles, in November, l870.
Shortly afterward a parish was organized under the name of. "The
Church of the Advent", it later was renamed "St. Luke's
Mission" and then became St. Luke's Episcopal Church,
As early as 1868 a small congregation of Baptists were holding
their own services. It was not until 1890 however, that the Niles
Baptist Church was organized by the Reverend U. M. Eley,
who became pastor .
Two ethnic groups, the Welsh and the Hungarian both well represented
in the community, formed their own Presbyterian congregations.
The Welsh who were the more numerous, formed the Welsh Presbyterian
on the South Side. In l876 the congregation dedicated a church
building on West Second St. The congregation disbanded in 1924
and its members joined the First Presbyterian Church.
The Hungarian Presbyterian Church, a smaller congregation than
the Welsh were unable to provide their own church building until
l924 when they bought the Welsh church building. Before that time
they held services at the First Presbyterian Church.
The Rev. Stephen Csepke was its first resident pastor,
conducting services in the Hungarian language. The ethnic flavor
of the church disappeared with the rise of new generations, the
congregation was reorganized as the South Side United Presbyterian
Church.
A religious society known as the Primitive Methodist Church was
organized in l8?3 in "Russia Field". The society, the
only church of its kind in the county. represented an attempt
by a local group of iron workers to return to the principles and
practices of the founder of Methodism, John Wesley, They
built a church in l873 but the congregation disbanded some years
later.
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