One day later Father Michenfelder arrived in Norwalk, and at once continued the work of his predecessor. His first efforts were directed towards liquidating the obligations, and by January 1st, 1889, they were reduced to $294. The project of building a new church was now seriously considered. The councilmen were the same as in the previous year, and with them was associated a building committee consisting of the following men: J.P. Link, A. Riester, Martin Sattig, John W. Meyer and Joseph Stoll. A. Riester was made the custodian of the building funds. With a view of accumulating considerable ready cash towards erecting the prospective church, extra collection were made, and a successful fair was held, from which sources $4, 146. were in the treasurer’s hands by the end of the year. Subscriptions amounting to $9, 970. were obtained; these were to be paid in gradually as the work advanced. Of this subscription, however, $1,300. was never paid, and over $500. of it was paid after the departure of Father Michenfelder from the parish. Plans and specifications were made by J.C. Johnson, of Fremont, O., and the first contract for enclosing the building was let to John Parker of Norwalk, O., for $19, 950. but an additional $500. was later on paid him, making his amount $20, 450.

   Early in 1890 the excavations were begun, stones and other material were drawn, the foundation was commenced, and the work progressed so rapidly that on September 14th the corner stone was laid amidst great solemnities and happy rejoicings. The following is the report given by the Norwalk Reflector, Monday, September 15th, 1890:

The Corner Stone of St. Paul’s Catholic Church Laid with Imposing Ceremonies -
Over 5,000 People Attend the Exercises

   Yesterday, Sunday, September 14th, the corner stone of St. Paul’s German Catholic Church was laid with grand and imposing ceremonies in the presence of over 5,000 people.

   The day was perfectly lovely, the sun shone brightly, and the air was balmy and spring-like. The members of the congregation began to bestir themselves early in making preparations for the event, and how well they laid their plans is evidenced by the smoothness with which everything passed off.

   People from the surrounding country began to arrive early in carriages, but the first large delegation to come in was a train of seven cars bearing the Sandusky commandery, Knights of St. John, the Great Western band, and a large number of their friends. They arrived at 11:30 a.m., and were followed at 1:15 p.m. by a special train from Toledo and intermediate stations, both of these trains coming in over the W. & L.E. At 2:10 p.m. a special train of thirteen coaches arrived from Cleveland over the Lake Shore, bearing 750 passengers, including about 250 Knights of St. John. Immediately after the arrival of the Cleveland party the procession formed on East Main street in the following order:

Chief Marshal, J.W. Rexford and assistants,

FIRST DIVISION
Bellevue Junior Band.
Co. G., O.N.G.
Cleveland Battalion Knights of St. John, headed by Col. Dunn and the following staff officers:

Lieut. Col. Green,    Senior Major Hug,
Surg. Major Diemert,    Inspector Murphy,
Commander Gilfoil,    Quartermaster Kinney,
Paymaster Jenctien,    Serg. Major Manning,

The Battalion consisting of the following Commanderies:
St. Peter’s, No. 11, 34 men.
Father Matthew, No. 46, 25 men.
Sheridan, No. 20, 20 men.
St. Stephen’s, No. 27, 30 men.
Immaculate Con., No. 35, 36 men.
St. Francis’, No. 96, 27 men.
St. Michael’s, No. 140, 24 men.

Holy Trinity, No. 170, 24 men.
Bellevue City Band.
Bellevue Knights, 20 men.
Father Matthew Cadets, Fremont, 26 men.

SECOND DIVISION

Concordia Band.
Concordia Society, 50 men.
G.A.R., 40 men.
Herman Society, 75 men.
St. Peter’s Society, 40 men.

THIRD DIVISION

Great western Band, Sandusky.
Sandusky Knights, 40 men.
C.M.B.A. Societies, 200 men.
Norwalk Knights, 40 men.
City Officials in Carriages.
Clergymen in Carriages.

  Promptly at 3 o’clock the procession moved, marching east to Garden street, counter-marching to Pleasant street, counter-marching to the church, where followed the main ceremonies of the day.

   The exercises were performed by Monsignor F.M. Boff, Vicar General, who officiated in place of Bishop Gilmour, who was unable to be present on account of ill health. He was assisted by Rev. J.T. Schaffeld, of Elyria; Rev. G.C. Schoennemann, of Milan; Rev. Blaser, of Peru; Rev. N. Schmitz, of Monroeville; Rev. A. Dambach, of Norwalk; Rev. C.V. Chevraux, of Norwalk; Rev. J.A. Michenfelder, of Norwalk; and Henry Powers, of Norwalk, for the past year a student under the Paulist Fathers of New York City.

   During the reading of the ritual the copper box containing the souvenirs was deposited in the stone by Mayor Crawford, the large granite corner stone was lowered into place. Manseigneur Boff’s address, a very fine one, was delivered from a large platform erected at the rear of the church, and was attentively listened to by a large concourse of people.

   The copper box which was placed in the corner is ten inches long, five inches wide and four inches deep and contains:

   A short historical sketch of the congregation from the date of its organization, written by the pastor, Rev. J.A. Michenfelder.

  The names of the Pope, president of the United States, the Governor of Ohio, the Bishop of the diocese and the Mayor of the city.

   Copies of the Reflector, the Experiment News, the Chronicle and the Germania, of Norwalk; the America, of St. Louis; Stimme der Warheit, of Cleveland; Wahrheitfruend, of Cincinnati; Waisenfreudn, of Columbus; the Catholic Universe, of Cleveland; the Cleveland Press; and the Germania, of Oak Harbor.

   A one dollar bank note issued by the First National Bank, of Norwalk, in February, 1865.

   United States coins of the year 1890, from one cent to 25 cents. The pastor said he had use for the dollars.

   The corner stone is a large block of dark Quincy granite, highly polished and containing on its south face, in English, the inscription in gold letters, “St. Paul’s Church, 1890;” and on its west face, in German, the inscription, also in gold letters, “Dedicated to St. Paul, 1890.”

   The church will be built entirely of sandstone and will be 132 feet long, 54 feet across the transepts. The side walls will be thirty-five feet high above the water table. The stone work of the tower will extend about 90 feet from the ground, the height of the tower being 170 feet, surmounted by a gilded cross 16 feet high. There will be three front doors and one side door. The main front door, a very large one, will be flanked on either side by three columns ten feet long, made of Portage red stone from Lake Superior. The other front doors will be flanked on either side by two red stone columns seven and one-half feet long, and all columns will be finished with carved red stone caps. There will be in front two extremely large windows and eight smaller ones; on each side six large windows; and in the rear three large windows and five smaller ones. All the windows will be of stained glass. Romanesque arches of red, gray and blue sand stone will surmount all doors and large windows, adding greatly to the beauty of the edifice. All the stone, except the red stone, will come from the Bronson Stone Company’s quarry, and all will be finished in the best possible style. John Parker, of this city, has the contract for the construction of the building, a safe guarantee that it will be erected in a substantial manner and to the satisfaction of the building committee and the congregation.

   In January, 1890, Messrs. C.P. Venus and John Hoddick were elected councilmen, while Simon Storz and Charles J. Mueller held over from the former election; in January, 1891, Joseph Burger and Michael Schuh were elected to fill the places of the expired terms of Simon Storz and Charles J. Mueller.

   During 1891 the work on the new church was pressed forward with great vigor, and before winter set in the edifice was under roof. Separate contracts were let to the following parties: F.J. Meyer, of Norwalk, obtained the contract for the carpenter work, including floors the contract for stained glass windows was given to H.M. Hooker & Co., of Chicago, Ill., and that for plastering to Mr. Gaveraux, of Youngstown, O. In the following year for frescoing was

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let to H.C. Schubert, of Cleveland, O.; that for pews to the Pelzer Art Company, of Salem, O., and Mr. B. Horstmann, of Cleveland, O., was awarded the contract for altars and communion railing. The amounts of each of these contracts have not been kept separate and hence could not be accurately stated, but will appear in the total later on. In January, 1892, C.P. Venus and John Hoddick were re-elected to council, and in January, 1893, Michael Schuh and Joseph F. Wilhelm were made their associates.

   The dedication of the new church took place on Sunday, January, 22nd, 1893, and was thus commented on by the Norwalk Experiment:

Sunday, Jan. 22nd, will always be remembered as a red letter day by the German Catholics of this city. That is the day of the blessing of their handsome new church, the largest and grandest in this city. The dedication began at 10 o’clock A.M. Bishop Horstmann and the attending priests marched around the outside blessing it with prayers, and then proceeded to the sanctuary within. High mass was celebrated by the pastor, Rev. J.A. Michenfelder, assisted by two Franciscan Fathers as deacon and Subdeacon. Rev. C.V. Chevraux, of St. Mary’s, Norwalk, was master of ceremonies. The other priests present were: Rev. Joseph Blaser, of Peru; Rev. N. Schnitz, of Monroeville; Rev. F. Rupert, of Bellevue, and Rev. G.C. Schoenemann, of Milan. During the dedicatory services two sermons were preached, one in German by Rev. Blaser, and one in English by Bishop Horstmann. In the afternoon over two hundred persons were confirmed by Bishop Horstmann. The isles were, in the afternoon, packed to the doors, and it is estimated that 1,500 persons were in the church. The Rt. Rev. Bishop preached again in the afternoon, both before and after confirmation. Before the afternoon services the confirmation classes met in the old church, and were escorted to the new by the Concordia Band, the Concordia Society, the St. Peter’s Society and the Knights of St. John, in full uniform. The latter body acted as a guard of honor to the Rt. Rev. Bishop.

   The above is supplemented by the comments of the Reflector, which on Monday, 23rd, said: