A Short History of St. Dominic Parish
Delhi Township (or West Price Hill as it was called in the 1930s) was not the same busy area we know today. It was a rural area of farmers, truck gardeners and florists with family ties to European countries, great faith in God and a commitment to the Catholic Church. Worshipping was more than a Sunday activity. It was the basis of ones social connections and family life. St. Vincent de Paul Parish founded in 1861 was designated for Irish immigrants and Our Lady of Perpetual Help founded in 1878 was for the German immigrants and families.
The eastern portion of the area had no parish and school of its own. The walk was 2.5 miles to Our Lady of perpetual Help for school children. The western portion was served by Our Lady of Victory Parish known as St. Stephen in 1844, then Maria Zum Siege and finally the same name as today, but it was quite a distance to travel for those in the eastern sections of the area.
In 1930 Archbishop McNicholas accepted a plot of land donated by the Robben family on Tanner Rd. (now Pedretti) to build a new parish. Rev. J.A. Grimmelsman, chaplain at Mount St. Joseph, was assigned the task of building the parish. On October 29, 1933 the first mass of the new St. Dominic Parish community was said at the Mutual Aid Hall on Greenwell Rd. Rent amounted to $25.00 per month and the first collection was $20.00.
On July 22, 1934, the cornerstone for the first building was laid. It was a one-story brick building with four classrooms and a temporary chapel in the basement. September 10th of that year the school opened with 93 students and three Sisters of Charity as the faculty.
With the growth of the parish, a new chapel was built in 1938 on the south side of the school building. In 1940, Fr. Basil Haneberg became the first associate in the parish. The class of 1942 was the first to have completed all eight grades at St. Dominic School. Four more classrooms were added to the existing physical plant and 180 students were enrolled that school year.
The face of Delhi began to change. The family farms were being divided and new homes constructed. A larger population meant more people worshipping at St. Dominic so in 1948 construction began on a new undercroft church. Christmas Day 1949 saw the first mass in the new facility.
With World War II and the Korean War over, Delhi began to grow again. From 1950 to 1960 the population increased from 6,347 to 14,579 people. In June 1955 construction began on the final church building. The steeple was raised in February 1956 and Archbishop Karl J. Altar dedicated the new church on June 2, 1957.
The school building also needed to grow. In Fall 1959 the new addition was ready for use and the enrollment approached 1000. In 1962 a convent was added for the Sisters of Charity who served the parish as teachers.
Fr. Grimmelsman retired in 1969 as pastor. In July of that year Fr. Charles Blum stepped in for 6 months until Fr. Edwin J. Bertke was assigned as the new pastor.
In the Summer of 1972 Mt. Alverno Boys Home and its expansive property was sold to a developer. More homes were to be built in the new subdivision. St. Dominic parish was able to purchase the Skinner organ from the brothers for $1500. The organ was blessed on the 39th anniversary of the parish.
Fr. Grimmelsman died in January 1981. The parish mourned the loss of the man who was driving force behind the development of the parish.
During Fr. Bertke’s time as pastor the parish, the Church experienced Vatican II
April 1933 Property deeded to Archbishop McNicholas from Mrs. Bernadine Robben
October 29, 1933 First Mass in the Mutual Aid Hall at Delhi and Greenwell.
September 2, 1934 First Mass offered in the basement of the new building (now Tile Hall) and school opens in four classrooms upstairs
October 9, 1938 Chapel and open basement dedicated. (Now School offices, classroom upstairs and Teal Hall downstairs) Ed. Honnert general contractor
August 19, 1940 New Rectory (demolished in 2004 for the new parish center) built on property and old residence is sold for $5000.
September 1942 Addition to school (four classrooms and an open basement “playroom” is opened. (Current second grade classrooms upstairs and first grade downstairs) At a later point the play area was divided off to provide a library area. It had an outside direct entrance from the parking lot. It was subdivided later into classrooms.)
December 25, 1949 First Mass offered in new basement church (undercroft – now school library, computer areas, etc.) built at a cost of $125,000. Addition to rectory completed in early 1950.
June 1953 old chapel area remodeled into three classrooms.
June 1, 1955 Construction begins on new (current) church building. Ed. Honnert is general contractor and Albert V. Walters is the architect.
June 2, 1957 Dedication of the new church
November 15, 1958 plans approved for new 8-classroom addition to the school (current 4th/5th grades hall) Tillar Bros. General Contractors
February 5, 1962 construction of convent begun, (now art room, teachers’ lounge, music room area)
November 1963 building project proposed – ten room school addition and auditorium/gymnasium. (Dedicated on November 1, 1964 in honor of Fr. Grimmelsman.)
1970 church undercroft is remodeled into classroom space.
1998-1999 Interior of the church is remodeled with new floor, painting and pews
August 2004 Former classroom and teachers’ lounge turned into school office and nurses’ office areas
December 4, 2005 New Parish Center and Gathering Space
Ann Andriacco 1/23/2006 from the parish archives in Fr. Grimmelsman’s own handwriting or current information. Revised 5/7/2007