The first priest to celebrate Holy Mass within the confines of what is now St. Clare Parish was Reverend E. J. Durbin of Kentucky. That was in the year 1839. Well-authenticated local tradition has it that Father Durbin visited the Altamont portion of his scattered flock twice a year and ministered to their spiritual needs. That the good seed sown by him in those far-off days-at least some of it-took deep root is evident today in the strong, active faith of the parishioners of St. Clare.

Reverend Silas Barth, O.F.M., writing in the Illinois Catholic Historical Review makes a statement which explains the coming of the Franciscan Fathers to the parish of Altamont: "One day in August, 1859," says Father Silas, "an old man came to us from Howard's Point and begged that one of us accompany him. He explained that he belonged to a parish numbering twenty-five families, native Americans, mostly from Kentucky, who had not seen a priest for several years. Father Damian, the superior, sent a priest the following week." The people themselves had built a church but for several years no priest had set foot in it. The "old Man" mentioned was probably Henry P. Louge, who donated the land on which the old St. Bonaventure Church was built, and the monastery to which he came was St. Joseph's College at Teutopolis. Father Silas quotes Father Damian, O.F.M., who must have previously visited Altamont, as saying: "In this church I said Mass daily during my stay. I endeavored to encourage and instruct the people in order to prepare them for the sacraments for which they longed in vain for many years."

The church spoken of was destroyed by fire on Christmas day, 1873. The following year work was commenced on the new St. Clare Church, a frame structure, 33 by 68 feet. It was ready for occupancy in 1875 in which year it was dedicated.

Between the years 1874 and 1889 the following Franciscan Fathers from Teutopolis had successive charge of Altamont: Reverend Francis Albers (who built the church) 1874-75; Reverend Michael Richardt, 1875-77; Reverend Clement Deymann, 1877-79; Reverend Jerome Hellhake, 1879-84; Reverend Florence Kurzer, 1886-87, and Reverend Placidus Krekeler, 1886-87, and Reverend Stephan Scholz, 1887-89. Three of the above mentioned Fathers are still living and active in the ministry. Father Francis is the present pastor of St. Augustine Church, Chicago; Father Jerome serves in the monastery of St. Joseph, Cleveland, Ohio, while Father Florence is doing parish work at Guardian Angels Church, Chaska, Minnesota. The other four have gone to their eternal reward.

During the Franciscans' administration a parish school was operated with an attendance of fifty pupils but with the coming of the Diocesan priest, the school was discontinued.

After the Franciscan regime came the Diocesan pastors: Fathers J. Gratza; William Michael; Patrick Lyons, who died pastor of Paris in 1925; Herman Gesenhues, who remained for eight years; Clement Sommer (died at Altamont three years after assuming charge), and J. H. Stuebe who was pastor for ten years during which time he built the St. Elmo mission church and bought the cemetery grounds.

Reverend James P. Walsh, successor of Father Stube, entered upon his duties as pastor of Altamont, October 1912. Since his coming the spiritual and temporal interest of the parish have been appreciably advanced. Under his direction the building of the St. Claire Church was begun in the Fall of 1921, the cornerstone of which was laid in June of the following year. The dedication took place on June 10, 1923. Dean (now Monsignor) Louis W. Lammert officiated at both ceremonies.

Regarding the dedication which proved the occasion of much local and general rejoicing we are inserting an extract taken from the Altamont News:

"Sunday, June 10, 1923, was a great day in the history of St. Clare Catholic Church, for it marked the dedication of the beautiful new church costing approximately $40,000.00. The services, beginning at 10:45, were beautiful and impressive. Very Reverend Dean Lammert of Effingham, conducted the dedicatory part of the program. The officers of the Mass were: celebrant, Reverend James P. Walsh, the pastor; deacon, Reverend William Quatman, of Sigel; sub-deacon, Reverend Charles C. Sandon, assistant pastor, and master of ceremonies, Reverend Daniel J. Doyle, of Effingham.

"The fine choir of St. Joseph's College, Teutopolis, furnished the music for the occasion under the able leadership of Reverend Thomas Rust, O.F.M. This choir, composed of eighty voices, has established more than a local reputation.

"Reverend William T. Sloan of Granite City, one of the Diocesan Missionaries, delivered a sermon on the occasion. In addition to the priest in the sanctuary, the following clergy were present: Fathers William Pachlhofer, George Nell, Jeremiah J. Cronin, Frederick Neveling, Philip Marke and Alphonse Rhode."

The Ladies' Altar Society and the Young Ladies' Sodality served a delicious dinner to almost one thousand guests.

The new church, Gothic in style, was designed by Ludwig and Dreisoner of St. Louis. It is built of rug-faced brick with Bedford stone trimmings. This combination produces a pleasing effect on the eye. Not alone the congregation, but the entire community, is proud of this new church.

It may be interesting to record here the names of the pioneer families and builders of the first Catholic Church at Altamont: Laurance Carr, John Swaters, Patrick Doran, J. F. Quatman, Bernard Keekenkemper, Mathais Faber, Nick Weider, Mrs. Mary Shab, Charles Vogel, Chris. Seibert, William Samuels, Mathias Johanns, Michael Zacha, Henry Muller, Herman Heimann, Franz Joseph Vogel, Mary Ann Drysdale, B. B. Mager, and Issac L. Dial.

Thirteen young ladies from the parish are serving God in various religious communities. They are: Agnes Warnet, Mary Johanns, Veronica Schoening, Agnes Weider, Elizabeth Bannister, Anna Wernet, Paulina Wernet, Augusta Johanns, Susanna Johanns, Mary Weider, Mary Vogel Mary Wernet and Cecelia Vernet. This roll call of consecrated virgins speaks volumes for the Catholic Faith of the parish. But the parishioners of St. Clare are not less patriotic than religious as may be seen from the fact that twenty-six boys from the parish answered their country's call in the late war, one of whom, Joseph Roedell, was killed in action.

St. Clare parish has several well-organized societies, namely, League of the Sacred Heart, Ladies' Altar Society, Young Ladies' Sodality, Children of Mary, Men's Building Fund Society, and Holy Name Society.

From 1922-25 Father Walsh was assisted by Reverend Charles Sandon who took care of the missions of Shumway and St. Elmo. Shumway is now attended by Father Heslin, chaplain of St. Anthony Hospital, Effingham.

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