St. Bartholomew's Roman Catholic Church and School

                                             FOUNDATION OF THE PARISH

On July 20, 1919; His Eminence, D. Cardinal Dougherty, Archbishop of Philadelphia, appointed the Reverend Joseph J. Scanlon as Rector of the new parish of St. Bartholomew.

A site was purchased on Jackson Street extending from what was then known as Faust Street, now Cheltenham Avenue; to Sanger Street, and from Jackson to Cottage Street.

      Four years prior to this time, in 1915, the first seeds of the new parish were sown by the Catholic residents of this section. They them­selves attended Divine Services at Saint Leo's, Saint Joachim's or All Saints' Parishes, but it was very inconvenient for the small children to go to these distant churches for the catechetical instructions so necessary for the young. As intelligent Catholics, these good people realized that their children should have instructions in the essentials of the faith of our Fathers. They, therefore, established a Sunday School at Toomey's Hall, 4620 Vankirk Street. 

Miss Irene Merget was really the founder and the first teacher of this Sunday School. Miss Merget enlisted the interest and aid of several young ladies and men of the parish to help tier in this good work. On November 7, 1917, the first meeting was held with sixty-five children in attendance. 

Around this little Sunday School as a nucleus the few Catholic fami­lies gathered and began to pray and hope for a parish in their midst.

      Father Fogarty, then pastor of St. Leo's Parish, Tacony, had en­deavored to have a Mission in the town and worked zealously to build a chapel at Vankirk and Walker Streets. A site was procured tentatively and plans were made to carry out the project. Six men, namely, Joseph E. James, John Carbrey, David James, John J. Merget, Michael Doyle, and Joseph Stagerwald, went to ask the Cardinal's permission to build this chapel. However, the Most Reverend Archbishop deemed the size of the ground inadequate, as he intended to establish a new parish in this section. With the advice of the building committee he selected the present site of the parish buildings on Jackson Street. 

     FATHER SCANLON - PASTOR FROM 1919 TO 1930

Father Scanlon was born September 30, 1880, in old Saint Mary's Parish, Philadelphia. Later his family moved into the Parish of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Here, Father Scanlon received his primary education in the parish school conducted by the Sisters. Later, he entered Roman Catholic High School, from which he graduated in 1898. He entered St. Charles Seminary, Overbrook, in 1900 and was ordained in May, 1909, by Archbishop Prendergast. Father Scanlon's first appointment was to Saint Dominic's Church, Holmesburg. After nearly four years there he was assigned to Saint Stephen's Church, Phila­delphia, where he labored for souls for about six years, when he was assigned as the first Pastor of the new Parish of Saint Bartholomew.

                        THE FIRST MASS

On the last Sunday of July, 1919, the HOLY SACRIFICE OF THE MASS was offered for the first time in Saint Bartholomew's Parish in the little moving picture house on Torresdale Avenue, below Comly Street by Father Scanlon, the recently appointed Rector. From this date until Christmas, I920, Holy Mass was celebrated every Sunday and Holy Day of Obligation in the same moving picture theatre. This theatre became the scene of innumerable acts of zeal on the part of the pioneer people of Saint Bartholomew's Parish. An altar for the celebration of Mass under these unusual conditions was specially constructed by the industry and genius of Mr. Charles Kelly, one of the outstanding first parishioners. During this time funeral. Masses had to be said in the neighboring parish churches. 

Confessions were heard on Saturdays and at other times, in the temporary rectory of the parish at 5703 Torresdale Avenue. Here were celebrated also several nuptial Masses, the first being that of Mr. and Mrs. James Mallon. The sacrament of Baptism was administered in this house on Sunday afternoon and daily Mass was celebrated for nearly a year and a half in this same house. 

At first only two Masses were celebrated on Sunday, but it soon became evident that while the theatre had a seating capacity of two hun­dred and fifty, two Masses were not sufficient for the new Parish. Father Scanlon secured the assistance of Father John O'Leary, O. S. A., who came on week-ends for nearly three years.

                                      THE FIRST BUILDING - THE BASEMENT CHAPEL 

The first building to be erected on the church property was the basement of the present school building. The Holy Sacrifice of Mass was offered for the first time in this basement chapel on Christmas Day, 1920, by Father Scanlon. There was no glass in the windows and gauze was the only protection from the cold outside. A few scattered oil stoves sup­plied the only heat within.

                                                 ST. BARTHOLOMEW’S HALL - 1923 

Then came an episode rare indeed in these later times, especially in the prosperous and settled regions of the United States. As the early Christians in the days of the Fathers of the Church, as the pioneers in the American wilderness wrought with their hands the temples wherein they might worship Almighty God, so the twentieth century men of St. Bartholomew’s in 1923 toiled night after night to build our Parish Hall. A portable building, a quonset hut, had been purchased, which had served during World War I as an ammunition store house. After building its foundations themselves, these busy men gave their spare time, their skill in various trades, and the strength of their arms to erect its walls and finish the interior. Until 1949, when the building was torn down to make room for the school annex, it stood today as a substantial structure which served the grown people, the youth, and the children of the Parish in innumerable ways, religious, educational, social, and recreational.

Early in September of 1919  meeting of the men of the Parish was called at which the Scanlon Catholic Club was organized. The officers selected were President, Joseph E. James; First Vice-President, John J. Merget; Second Vice-President, John Cleary; Financial Secretary, David S. James; Recording Secretary, John Gleeson; Spiritual Director, the Reverend Joseph Scanlon. 

Shortly following the organization of the Scanlon Catholic Club, the women of the Parish organized the “Ladies Auxiliary.” At this time also the first Altar Society in Saint Bartholomew’s Parish was started. A choir was formed among the members of the Parish and Mr. F. McKinney, conductor of Saint Stephen’s choir, became the first Director. 

         THE NEW RECTORY - THE FIRST COMPLETE PERMANENT PARISH BUILDING

There was a day of great rejoicing in the Holy Year of 1925 in Saint Bartholomew's Parish when their beloved Pastor, Father Scanlon and his devoted assistant, Father Louis Meyer, were able to move from the temporary quarters at 5703 Torresdale Avenue into the beautiful modern rectory now erected on the Parish grounds.

  MR. AND MRS.JOHN B. ERDRICH AND THE NEW SCHOOL    

  John B. Erdrich, born at Bridesburg, Philadelphia, Pa., and died September 13^th, 1925, Frankford, Philadelphia, Pa.   Mr. Erdrich was a prominent business man of “The Greater Northeast,” where he conducted his business under the name of Andrew Erdrich & Son. He was well known and loved by his neighbors, friends and business associates for his straightforward and honest business methods. His kindness and evenness of disposition, his modesty and spirit of charity and ever willingness to help the needy and unfortunate were outstanding characteristics.  In loving memory to him, Mrs. John B. Erdrich, who before her marriage was Miss Bertha M. Beck, has erected the St. Bartholomew Memorial School.

            AN EXCERPT FROM PROGRAM OF DEDICATION FOR THE NEW SCHOOL 

The school expresses a combined genius of minds, conceived in architectural simplicity. Good taste, comfort and conveniences are the predominating features. The school building is 103 feet across the front facing Jackson Street with a total depth of 166 feet. There are ample approaches for entrance to the basement, which for the present will be retained as a chapel with a seating capacity of 900. The accommodations for the school provide for a maximum capacity of 800 pupils in 18 clasS rooms, each of which is perfectly lighted by large window areaS, ventilated by a simple gravity system of air circulation, through the cloak rooms, one of whch is provided for each classroom. Besides the classrooms, there is a Mother Superior’s private office, Music Room and Sisters’ Retiring Room.

The exterior stonework is of granite with architectural trimmings of limestone. The construction is of steel, fire-proof and concrete, with floors and partitions of non-combustible materials, rated by the City Bureau of Building Inspection as a building of the first-class, approved for the lowest fire insurance risk.

The interior finish is maple for the floors of class rooms, terrazzo for the floors of corridors, tile for the toilets and brick for the wainscoat­ings of all stairs and halls. Nothing more durable is in popular use at the present time. Marble finish has been used in the vestibules.

The heating plant is entirely new for the school, with boilers heated by means of modern oil burning equipment.

          Long after this generation has passed away, our school will be an institution of learning from whose doors none will be turned away. Under the kind teachings of the good Sisters of St. Joseph will come forth sturdy youths who will be the good Catholic citizens of tomorrow.

            It is the happy consummation of an ideal of the good people of this parish, and our Pastor’s pride in the present and vision for the future is thus set forth in this worthy school building for a Catholic Christian Education.

DEDICATION OF NEW SCHOOL - REPRINTED FROM THE CATHOLIC STANDARD AND TIMES, JULY 17, 1926

The dedication of the new school, recently completed for St. Bartholomew’s parish, will take place tomorrow (Sunday) with an elaborate program of ceremonies especially arranged for this important event in the northeast section. The Rev. Joseph J. Scanlon, rector, is in charge.

His Eminence, the Cardinal, will officiate at the dedication and preside at the Solemn High Mass -(coram Cardinali), which will follow the ceremonies, will begin at 11 o’clock.

The Right Rev. Monsignor Joseph A. Whitaker, S. T. L., will be the celebrant of the Mass. The Rev. Hugh J. Dale will be deacon, and the Rev. John B. McShea will be sub-deacon. The Rev. John J. Mellon will deliver the sermon. Mr. Eugene Maier will be master of ceremonies.

The Mass will be celebrated in the open air.

In honor of the visit of the Cardinal to the parish a parade will traverse its principal streets and escort His Eminence to the rectory.

The parade will be composed of two divisions. James Boerckle will be grand marshal. The first division will include motorcycle police, the committee in automobiles, the police band and local posts of the American Legion. 

The second division will include parish societies of the northeast from the following congregations: St. Joachim’s, James T. Nulty, marshal; St. Dominic’s, Martin T. Campbell, marshal; All Saints’, John Jessberger, marshal; St. Leo’s, F. J. G. Dorsey, marshal; the Ascension, St. John Cantius’, Mater Dolorosa, Our Lady of Consolation, St. Martin’s, John H. Markham, marshal, and St. Bartholomew’s, Thomas W. Duffy, marshal.

                                                THE CONVENT-1926

            The great burden of building a school having been most generously assumed by Mrs. John B. Erdrich, the duty of providing a permanent convent fell on the Parish. For this purpose Father Scanlon organized a drive in May, 1926. An organization was formed, called the Society of Builders. The Chairman of this drive was Mr. James M. McCafferty.

            The Executive Committee was composed of James M. McCafferty, John J. L. Merget, John F. Carbrey, Louis Merget, Augustus Lee, Thomas A. Duffy, Daniel Henon, Wynne Murphy, Joseph E. James.

             On the strength of the promises of this drive Father Scanlon erected our magnificent and efficient convent building with its beautiful chapel and accommodations for some thirty nuns.

 LAYING OF CONVENT CORNER-STONE - REPRINTED FROM THE CATHOLIC STANDARD AND TIMES,                                                                   JULY 19, 1926 

            The corner-stone of the new convent building of St. Bartholomew’s parish, Wissinoming, of which the Rev. Joseph J. Scanlon is rector, was laid in place and blessed by the rector on Sunday, June 6.

            The new convent building will be forty-two feet wide by one hundred and twenty-two feet long and will house twenty nuns. The building will be modern in every respect, of fireproof, construction, and will be built of Port Deposit stone. It will contain music rooms, cooking school and an ornate chapel on the second floor.

Before the corner-stone was put in position, Father Scanlon placed a complete history of the parish, since it was organized in 1919, in the stone, also some coins of the present date, current newspapers and several copies of The Catholic Standard and Times.

Upon the platform for the ceremony were the Sisters of St. Joseph attached to the parish school, and visiting nuns, all of whom participated actively. Led by the Mother Superior, they handled the trowel and laid some mortar on the stone. The chairman, Joseph E. James, was introduced by Joseph L. Merget, who was in charge of the arrangements. Father Scanlon in glowing terms thanked the members of his parish for their hearty support and co-operation and for their generosity in the campaign, when more than $50,000 was subscribed.

The recently organized school band, under the supervision of Edward L. Price and John F. Carbrey, and under the leadership of Andrew Javers, made its first public appearance, and scored a big success. The singing was led by Samuel Dunphy, the choirmaster. Thomas F. Gain, Esq., was the orator of the occasion. 

                               A HISTORY OF HAPPY PROGRESS

When His Eminence D. Cardinal Dougherty planted a small acorn on the 20th of July, 1918, in our midst and ground was purchased on Jackson Street from Sanger to Foust to Cottage Streets, somewhat over four acres, little did the most optimistic hope that within seven years, the little acorn under the tender care of the Rev. Joseph J. Scanlon, Pastor, would rear itself up and give promise to be one of the giants in this great Archdiocese of Philadelphia in but a few years.

Rarely indeed, did the people of a new parish enter the work of building up a school and church buildings with the same earnestness of purpose as did the people of St. Bartholomew’s. From a mere handful of the faithful, less than one hundred and fifty families till now, we have over five hundred good stalwart Catholic families, with ample room for a progressive growth.

The early days of the parish, were days of hardship, hard physical labor and unceasing toil in order to lay a substantial foundation for the work and labor to follow. As new families moved into our midst and our number increased, the needs of substantial buildings, the School and Chapel, the Rectory, and then the Convent were realized, with each step these hardy pioneers led by their indefatigable pastor, Father Scanlon, urged him to build, to build, take care of our children, take care of our Priests, take care of our Good Sisters, and despite the rising cost of building, the demand being imperative the parishioners set themselves for a long period of self-denial and sacrifice in order to meet the ever increasing huge indebtedness. Happy indeed, were these laborers in the vineyard of the Lord when it was learned that much of the burden would be assumed by one of their own people, one whom God has blessed with a bountiful supply of the world’s goods, one who generously came to the assistance of the struggling parishioners of St. Bartholomew’s and the hard working Priests of the Parish. When Mrs. John B. Erdrich announced to Father Scanlon that she would assume the payment of the school building as a Memorial to her husband, the late John B. Erdrich, there was joy and happiness all through the Parish. Father Scanlon was congratulated over and over again, his happiness was complete, he saw in this most generous gift, for his hardworking, self-sacrificing people, relief, and he also saw the ultimate consumation of the plans for a mighty church building for a fitting and proper place of worship.

The good people of St. Bartholomew’s as an expression of thank­fulness deemed it but proper and fitting to give thanks in a public manner, to have a Field Mass of Thanksgiving, to thank the God on High, who rules the destiny of the universe and who has blessed these people with good, zealous Priests, who follow in the footsteps of their Master, who are untiring in their efforts for the salvation of Souls and the up-building of God’s Kingdom on earth. To give thanks and a public expression of gratitude for the generous gift of the School building and Chapel, and to the many other good and kind friends of the Parish. The Parish through Father Scanlon has received many valuable gifts that materially aided him in his wonderful undertaking, for all these gifts which have been received through Thy Bounty, O Lord we give Thee thanks.                                                    

References:  Historical Sketch of the Parish of St. Bartholomew, Apostle and Martyr, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, From the Foundation 1919 to 1939, by Rev. A. Paul Lambert.   Saint Bartholomew Church Celebrates Sevent-Five Years of the Lord's Blessings, by the History Book Committee.  Text and photos above are from these two references.