Not sure of the source of this material - was in a collection of typed histories
It appears to have been written about 1934
SACRED HEART CATHOLIC CHURCH
The first Catholic Church to be built in Wichita Falls was located on Austin Street between Seventh and Eighth, and was erected in 1892 at a cost of about $1,000. In the spring of 1894 a cyclone wrecked this little Church. The congregation carried $700 insurance, and the church was rebuilt in the fall of 1894 at a cost of about $l,400.
Some of the first members of this Church were the following men and their families: Mr. Howard, (father of Mrs. Wade Walker), Uriah Evans, Hugh Reily, Jas. Bateson, Fred Fry, Miles O'Reilly, Dan O'Reilly, Adolph Frice, Frank Krajca, Chas. Mateska, Tom Ruddy, Jimmie McGrath, and M. K. Emmert.
A missionary from Henrietta first ministered to this little Church, but in 1904 they began having a regular priest.
In 1905 the frame Church was moved from Austin Street to the corner of Ninth and Holliday. It remained on this corner for some years and was then moved over into an adjoining lot to make room for a new Church building on the corner. The old Church building is now used for a Church Hall for different organizations connected with the Church. The new Church is an imposing brick structure costing $28,000.
A two-story brick rectory was erected at a cost of $24,000.
About one-half the membership of this Church reside in the country, there being only one other Catholic Church in the county.
Mount Carmel Catholic Church, located six miles north of Electra, was established in 1912. This is a great farming district, and is a German Catholic community of about 200 families. Father Bender is the priest.
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