Our Roots
The Diocese of
Rochester had been established in 1868 and the Scottsville parish and
its mission churches came under its guidance. Bishop Bernard J. McQuaid
appointed Reverend George J. Eisler to the pastorate at Scottsville on
November 19, 1881.
His appointment was, in a sense, a homecoming, for George Eisler was a native of Mumford. He was born there on April 22, 1853, the son of one of the relatively few German families to move into the district.
In 1885, Father Eisler turned his attention to the matter of a church for Caledonia. Early in that year he took up a subscription and work was begun.
Mr. Stephen Reed donated all the sand that was needed and the parishioners formed a "hauling bee" and carted the sand from the Reed farm to the church site.
When the frost was out of the ground a cellar was excavated and the foundation walls were begun and completed early in June. The cornerstone was laid on Tuesday, June 19, 1885.
In the Fall, the Catholic Caledonians outdid themselves in a magnificent benefit fair which ran from September 28th to October 5th. Among the features of the fair were two popularity contests. Angus Cameron won by one vote over William Hamilton and went home with the gentlemen's prize - a gold headed cane.
The Mumford Catholics shared in the celebration of their friends, neighbors and relatives and the more exciting contest - for the prettiest and most popular young lady - set Miss Lizzie Corregan of Caledonia against Miss Jenny Donnelly of Mumford.
The vote: Miss Lizzie - 1035, Miss Jenny - 1945
Along with the distinction of having been selected the prettiest and most popular young lady in the sister villages, Miss Jenny received a beautiful gold ring.
The Church was ready for dedication and the ceremony was scheduled for Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 1885. Despite a wet and rather heavy snowfall which hampered the plans somewhat, the first solemn Mass was celebrated on that day by Father Eisler.
Catholic Caledonians now had their own church - though still a mission of Scottsville.
His appointment was, in a sense, a homecoming, for George Eisler was a native of Mumford. He was born there on April 22, 1853, the son of one of the relatively few German families to move into the district.
In 1885, Father Eisler turned his attention to the matter of a church for Caledonia. Early in that year he took up a subscription and work was begun.
Mr. Stephen Reed donated all the sand that was needed and the parishioners formed a "hauling bee" and carted the sand from the Reed farm to the church site.
When the frost was out of the ground a cellar was excavated and the foundation walls were begun and completed early in June. The cornerstone was laid on Tuesday, June 19, 1885.
In the Fall, the Catholic Caledonians outdid themselves in a magnificent benefit fair which ran from September 28th to October 5th. Among the features of the fair were two popularity contests. Angus Cameron won by one vote over William Hamilton and went home with the gentlemen's prize - a gold headed cane.
The Mumford Catholics shared in the celebration of their friends, neighbors and relatives and the more exciting contest - for the prettiest and most popular young lady - set Miss Lizzie Corregan of Caledonia against Miss Jenny Donnelly of Mumford.
The vote: Miss Lizzie - 1035, Miss Jenny - 1945
Along with the distinction of having been selected the prettiest and most popular young lady in the sister villages, Miss Jenny received a beautiful gold ring.
The Church was ready for dedication and the ceremony was scheduled for Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 1885. Despite a wet and rather heavy snowfall which hampered the plans somewhat, the first solemn Mass was celebrated on that day by Father Eisler.
Catholic Caledonians now had their own church - though still a mission of Scottsville.
It was time for Caledonia to have a church. In 1880, Father Thomas J. Rositer, pastor of Scottsville, purchased from the McKay family the site on which St. Columba's now stands.
By 1879, perhaps because of the difficult economic conditions through the country, and the Railroad strike, which made it impossible for farmers to get their goods to market, many of the original settlers of the sister villages began to leave the area. The Catholic faithful of both communities dropped from approximately 1500 parishioners to 985. The majority of these parishioners now lived in Caledonia.
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