New St. Peter’s was short-lived and needs but a passing notice. When, on February 19th, 1868, Father Magenhahn bought the land on Hester street, and began the church, and school building, it was not his intention to found a new parish, but to bring all the German-speaking Catholics together at the new place. The St. Peter’s society came over in a body. As a concession to those, who were devoted to the reminiscences of the old place, and also because it was intended to be the same parish, the new church was in August of that year dedicated under the patronage of St. Peter the Apostle. However, about forty-five or fifty families refused to abandon the old place,
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maintained the autonomy of a regular parish, insisted on having a pastor and full services as in days gone by. There were, consequently, two German-speaking Catholic parishes in Norwalk of the same time, and to distinguish them, the one was called Old St. Peter’s and the other New St. Peter’s.
The location on Hester street was ill-adapted for church purposes. It was too contracted, too near the railroads, too flat and swampy, and too far off to one corner of the city; besides Hester street is a narrow one, and afforded farmers no room to hitch their teams. The only inducement to buy there had been its cheapness. Much dissatisfaction had been expressed from the commencement. On September 1st, 1869, Father Kuhn succeeded Father Magenhahn. Complaints became louder and more emphatic every day, so that the new St. Peter’s had scarcely been finished, when it was determined to abandon it. By November, 1870, the debts had been reduced to $1,500 and the parish felt itself strong enough to assume a new burden. The West Main street property was then procured for the parish by Mr. Joseph Troendle for $4,000. and proved eminently satisfactory to new St. Peter’s, but, because old St. Peter’s refused to concur in the purchase, it was left on Mr. Troendle’s hands, and is to-day vested in his heirs. On this the parish lost nothing except what it had in the meanwhile paid for interest.
August 10th, 1871, Father Kuhn was removed and Father Dechant succeeded. The parish had yet $1,400. debts, which, under the careful management of the new pastor, were by December 31st of the same year entirely wiped out, and a cash surplus of $71.00 still in the treasury. Financially new St. Peter’s had done remarkably well. In a little less than three years it had paid as follows:
For location on Hester street 2 ½ lots............$1,300
For building church and school.....................8,200
For interest on borrowed moneys about................950
For furniture for church and school................1,500
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Total............................................$11,950
The councilmen in 1872 were Joseph Troendle, Jacob Humbel, Anton Bonnert and F.J. Fiesinger; in 1873 they were Dominic Meyer, Anton Koerbach, Joseph Burger and Jacob Humbel. A school had also been maintained since September 1868. Anton Bonnert was the first teacher. In September, 1869, A.J. Baumgartner was given charge of the school and taught three years. In September, 1872, two teachers had to be employed, and Miss De Pluem was engaged to teach the advanced pupils, while Mr. Frank Arens taught the elementary grade.
On July 20th, 1872, Father Dechant was relieved of the pastorate of old St. Peter’s and was appointed first resident pastor of new St. Peter’s.
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He moved into a rented house on Hester street. New energy was thus imparted to the parish and lofty aspirations were indulged in. The parish could no longer be confined to the narrow limits of Hester street. That same autumn, namely, on October 22nd, 1872, the location on East Main street, being one of the grandest in the city, consisting of two lots 66x264 feet each and extending from Main to Monroe street along the eastern line of Wooster street, was purchased of Welcome O. Parker and wife for $7,000. The purchase was made through Mr. Jacob Humbel. Of the purchase price $1,500. had to be paid in cash, and as the congregation had no available funds, Mr. Jacob Humbel kindly advanced $1,000, whilst the pastor with equal generosity advanced the $500 and the bargain was sealed. On January 7th, 1873, this property was conveyed, by warranty deed, from Jacob Humbel and wife to Richard Gilmour, Bishop of Cleveland. There was a frame house on this property, and this was at once renovated for a pastoral residence, and on December 1st, 1872, was taken possession of by the pastor, Rev. M. Dechant. A first-class location had thus been secured by the parish but it had also burdened itself with $7,000. debts, and must again begin at the very foundation and build up both church and school, which for some time to come, had to be continued on Hester street.
The school, under the management of lay teachers, had not, it seems, proven satisfactory, and Father Dechant determined to make a radical change. During the summer of 1873 he built, at his own expense, a two-story frame house on the east end of the Hester street lot, which was to be utilized as a residence for Sisters. Three Sisters of St. Francis, of Joliet, Ill., were procured, and for one year had charge of the school. It was expected that the house here spoken of would be purchased by the congregation, but, because they had decided to abandon this place, they declined to buy it, and Father Dechant sold it to Amend Koch, who moved it to some other part of the city.
Father Dechant felt the burden of this parish too heavy for him, and St. Alphonsus’ church, Peru, having become vacant, he resigned new St. Peter’s to accept the pastorship of St. Alphonsus’, and on December 9th, 1873, severed his connections here. At this time the parish had $6, 748.34 debts, incident mainly to the purchase of the plat on which St. Paul’s now stands.
The next pastor was Rev. Anthony Eilert, who came here immediately upon the departure of his predecessor. He went to work in great earnestness. In January, 1874, the following men were elected councilmen: John P. Link, Joseph Burger, Joseph Troendle and Anton Bonnert. The receipts of moneys for 1874 from all sources were $6, 716. Besides defraying current expenses the debt was reduced to
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$2, 600. and there was still a net surplus of $138. cash in the treasury.
Father Eilert made another change in the school management. The Sisters, for want of residence, were permitted to return to their home, and on September 1st, 1874, the school was placed in charge of Benedict Kuenz and L. Gengler. The latter only taught one year, and was in September, 1875 replaced by Henry Horstmann, while Mr. Kuenz taught till April 9th, 1876, when he was abruptly discharged, and Miss Lais taught on till June 28th, 1876, and were the last to teach in the Hester street school.
In January, 1875, Messrs. John P. Link, Joseph Troendle, Joseph Smith and Nicholas Indlekofer were elected councilmen. The receipts for the year 1875 were $4,404. and the debt was reduced to $1, 350. The feasibility of beginning to build on the new location, and as to whether a school or church should be erected first, was warmly discussed during this entire year. All wanted to get away from Hester street. It was finally agreed to erect a brick structure that would serve for both church and school, to be in the course of time devoted entirely to school purposes, whilst a handsome church was expected soon to grace the Main street end of the property.
In January, 1876, Messrs. Nicholas Indlekofer, Joseph Smith, Anthony Stoll and George Mettenberger were elected councilmen. This was a very eventful year for the parish. The city of Norwalk needed additional school room, and the Board of Education, knowing that the Hester street church was about to be abandoned, offered to buy it for public school purposes. Negotiations were opened with Bishop Gilmour, and culminated in the transfer of said property furniture excepted - to the Board of Education for a consideration of $5,000. The property here sold cost the parish $9,300. not counting the interest. A loss of $4,300. was entailed on the congregation, and yet both pastor and people were glad to realize what they did on a piece of property, which would soon be next to worthless for them. By this transfer new St. Peter’s calmly and peacefully expired, August 29th, A.D. 1876, aged eight years, six months and ten days precisely.