This brief chronicle of Immaculate Conception has been included to identify the people and events that created the parish. It is by no means all-inclusive, and because it is drawn from many sources, may differ in exact dates and details. However, it is readily seen that Immaculate Conception had a rich history and firm foundation to continue with its mission.

Just exactly where should one look to try to find the history of a particular parish? Let us say that this history starts in several archives and obtains more material from numerous books and letters and records within our own parish. This history, then, is a compilation of all of this material.

     Research directs us toward several dates, depending on which historian we are reading. Several say the first Catholic Church built in Lorain County was in LA Porte or near LA Porte in 1835. Most say 1835-1838 and even others give 1840 as the date. Two tell us of small log building called "Holy Cross." They go on to tell us that the building was replaced by a frame building named for St. John of the Cross. Most, however, start by saying it was a small frame building and agreeing on St. John of the Cross. All do seem to indicate that the location of this mission church was where now find St. Mary's Cemetery. Finally an area of total agreement. Please note; the distinction of being the first Catholic Church refers only to the building. The honor of being the first parish in Lorain County still goes to Holy Trinity in Avon 1833. (building 1843) We are the second parish in Lorain County and one of the first twenty-five parishes in Ohio. 

        With these ambiguities now out of the way we can proceed.

     Among the things that we should appreciate about the clergy of that era is that their lifespan averaged about thirty six years. When we study the lifestyle perhaps we can begin to understand. First, in riding the circuit from mission to mission, we find them exposed to the elements. Second, they ate poorly since they stayed very often with the poorer people of the missions or with any family who would offer them shelter. Yes, some even suffered alcoholism. Third, many of the missions were damp and not heated again causing more exposure. And finally the lack of medicine.
 

THE FOUNDATION LAPORTE-CARLISLE-GRAFTON

     By the year 1828 the eastern part of Carlisle Township, incorporated in 1822, an area called LA Porte, we find a thriving community. Located on the Black River, we find a grist mill, a cheese factory and an Inn for travelers. The area would be considered a definite farming community. It was during this era that many Irish were immigrating, due to the "potato famine", to this area. Having very little money, they could not afford farms and so were forced to work for others. They worked the farms and the sandstone quarries of the area. Grafton (Rawsonville) provided employment for many. These same quarries brought the railroads into Grafton and Elyria which was more or less the reason LA Porte did not continue to grow.

     Records show us that there were several churches in the area but not a single Catholic church. Perhaps one of our founding fathers wrote a letter to Bishop John Baptist Purcell, Diocese of Cincinnati, to ask for a missionary priest. Cincinnati was then the only diocese in Ohio. It was around 1834-35 that Bishop Purcell dispatched a missionary priest to serve some of the Northern Ohio area. By 1835 the Rev. John Dillon had organized a congregation in Cleveland: Our Lady of the Lake or more commonly known as St. Mary's on the Flats. From there he provided a base for his circuit riding to the outlying missions. Well established by 1843 the circuit included Cuyahoga Falls, Akron, Ravenna, Painesville, Avon, Sheffield, Carlisle, Vermillion, Suffield, Liverpool and Sandusky. Certainly a busy schedule since the missions were visited once a month. St. John of the Cross Church

     Let us now focus on the mission church of Carlisle. Built, as earlier indicated between 1835-38. The founding fathers are listed as Frank Moran, Patrick and Michael Fox, William Gilliam and Patrick Murtaugh. The same had built the original mission. Lorain County records show the marriage of Francis Moran to Emily Fox on October 25, 1836. The deed to the property was sold to Bishop Purcell for $10.00 by the same Francis and Emily Moran in 1841.

     This is the same land which is used as St. Mary's Cemetery, where, all the above except William Gilliam are buried.

     In their letters to Bishop Purcell both Fr. Dillon and Fr. O'Dwyer say very little (if any) about any of the mission churches. This is probably because they were busy trying to build the Church in Cleveland. Prolific letter writing however, can be attributed to the next two successors of the Cleveland missions. Fr. McLaughlin and Fr. Howard' both sent very detailed reports to Cincinnati, Fr. McLaughlin writes of about fifty-seven Catholics in the LA Porte area in 1841 and that at Easter time 1842, there were twelve communicants. He stated that "my rule of conduct as touching the admitting of children to the Adorable Sacrament of the Altar is, when I find any child sufficiently instructed, and of excellent morality I admit him, making but very little account of years." Generally children were not admitted to First Communion until about thirteen years of
age.
     He generally spent two days a month in LA Porte and Carlisle. It was his practice to preach for the Protestants at LA Porte on the first Monday of each month, and the next morning to offer Mass and preach a moral sermon there. He was not pleased with his German speaking parishes but very much liked Painesville and Carlisle townships. He regarded "LA Porte as even more promising mission, than Painesville.

     Bishop Purcell visited the area at least three times. First in 1840 then again in 1845 and finally on June 2, 1846 when at the mission in Carlisle he Confirmed 16. He was then invited by the Sheriff of Lorain County to deliver a lecture in the courthouse at Elyria. This was probably one of the last times that he would visit Northern Ohio in an official capacity as the Rt. Rev. Amadeus Rappe was consecrated first Bishop of Cleveland on October 10, 1847.

     Fr. Howard assumed the missions in February 1846. He writes "The little church is about 5 miles S. of Elyria. There are in that neighborhood, about thirty-five families - - mostly Irish good, sober people with a very few exceptions, I hope they won't be exceptions longer than my next visit - - some of them having already taken the pledge from me. They speak of building a new church: I do think in a year from this time they will have within themselves, resources sufficient to build a pretty one. They will be attended the fourth Sunday of every month.

     This letter of Fr. Howard's, dated April 7, 1846 definitely indicates that there was a "log church" called "Holy Cross". And then around 1850 the "frame building" of "St. John of the Cross" was built. It would have been too early to think about a new site, since they were still growing. They were not near the railroad so it would be unlikely that they thought about sandstone.

     Bishop Rappe had a total of 16 priests to help him serve the growing area of Northern Ohio. This number must be considered very limited.

    After 1840, the Elyria mission had grown large enough that by 1853 St. Mary's, Elyria had its own pastor. Until 1862 the missions of Lorain County and especially that of Carlisle would be attended by its pastor.

FOUNDATION GRAFTON IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CHURCH

     Bishop Rappe had taken note that most of the thirty families of the mission were now, 1862, living in Grafton and so decided to phase out the mission of LA Porte. He appointed Fr. Halley as the first pastor of Grafton-LA Porte. By September of 1863 he acquired several lots on Erie Street

and in 1865, with the help of the parishioners, hauled St. John's chapel down the road to the site on which the present hall stands. A new church was the real goal, with St.John's to serve as an interim meeting place during construction.

     A project of huge proportions, Fr. Halley secured $3000 in cash, labor and material from his thirty families. Remember that these men worked for a dollar a day. Sandstone was the obvious choice for building material; the quarries were in town and a spur track was directly behind the Church. (where the parking lot is now) So by 1865 foundation digging was underway for the new stone church. Few stones had been laid when Fr. Halley found out he needed twice as much money as he thought to finish building. So he traveled to Cleveland, Cincinnati and New York to try to raise the capital. When he returned home, his pockets still empty, he requested and received a transfer.

     Fr. Alexander R. Sidley replaced Fr. Halley in January1868. He put new life into the project. The walls and the roof went up, the interior was plastered and the floor was put down. By the end of 1870 the church was ready for pews.

     In the spring of 1871 Fr. Daudet, the new pastor. Had the church ready to be used. Certainly a beautiful way to start a pastorate. Of course he also had to pay off the debt of $8000 which he had completed by 1890. The new church was to be called Immaculate Conception after the newly defined doctrine by Pope Pius IX on December 8, 1854.
 

PRIESTS AND THEIR LEGACY

     FR. COUGHLIN Believed to be the first priest to say Mass here.
    FR. JOHN DILLON Ordained in 1834 and sent to Cleveland in early 1835. Being the only priest in this area at this time, he is assumed to have been in charge when this church was founded.
    FR. PATRICK O'DWYER Succeeded Fr. Dillon in Cleveland in September, 1837 and was pastor until June 1840. During this time "he attended the missions in Lorain County."
     FR. PETER MCLAUGHLIN attended the mission in Carlisle the first Tuesday of every month, starting with September 1840 and preached to the Protestants on the first Monday. Made arrangements for the first Confirmation here.
    FR. MAURICE HOWARD Sent to Cleveland to assist. In February 1846 he took over the pastorate. He was here when the 16 were Confirmed on June 2, 1846.
      FA. MICHAEL BYRNE Assisted in Cleveland from January, 1846 till early 1847.
      FR. FRANCIS X. ROTH Assisted in Cleveland from November 1847 till February 1848.   
    1847 DIOCESE OF CLEVELAND RECEIVES ITS FIRST BISHOP. In 1848 Fr. Howard was transferred to Tiffin and Cleveland is given a Vicar General.
    FR.DEGOESBRIAND Also in charge of the first seminary. New administration sets up new records and so we find Fr.DeGoesbriand signed the first entry of Baptism in the parish
record book in 1849. The following assistants and professors at the seminary also signed the Baptisms and administered in Grafton.
     FR. WILLIAM O'CONNOR 1851-53 He was in charge of Grafton from Cleveland.
     FR. MICHAEL HEALY in May 1853, was appointed first resident pastor of St. Mary's in Elyria and therewith the mission churches of Lorain County. He served as pastor until March 1859.
     FR. ROBERT A. SIDLEY assumed the same responsibilities until August 1862.
   FR. THOMAS H. HALLEY in August 1862 is named as the FIRST RESIDENT PASTOR appointed in Grafton. Fr. Halley is considered to be the architect of our present sandstone church and credited with the moving of the mission church to the site of our current hall. Though he managed to raise $3000, he left much discouraged in 1868 when he found he did not have nearly enough money to complete the building. 
     FR. ALEXANDER R. SIDLEY Arrived in January 1868 and managed to complete the building of the church. In November 1869 stained glass windows were in place leaving only the pews and the communion rail necessary for the church to be in use.
     FR. JOHN DAUDET Followed in December 1870 and reduced the debt of $8000. He did this by degrees and the debt was finally cancelled in 1890. In the spring of 1871 the church was ready for occupancy and was dedicated by the Very Rev. Administrator Edward Hanin. Fr. Daudet was an innovator and had conducted school in the old hall. This was closed in 1889 because few students could travel the long distance. He has the honor of being the first priest in
the Cleveland Diocese to have complete his fiftieth year in the priesthood. He worked for another seven years until his death on February 10, 1892. His pastorate is the longest Immaculate Conception has ever had. 
     During Fr. Daudet's sted Grafton was doing some changes of its own. America being what she is, we found ourselves with a new line of immigrants. Among these were the Poles. Coming to Grafton presented a new problem for Immaculate Conception Parish. Most of the established parishioners were of German-Irish culture and spoke only English. This was not the case with the Poles. And so they never felt quite at home and longed for a church of the own. In 1890 Bishop Horstmann saw the validity of the claim and urged them to form a new parish. They bought land on Elm Street in October of 1892, but the Bishop couldn't find them a Polish pastor until the fall of 1894. When Fr. Wozny finally did arrive his parishioners built a new wooden church. On August 25, 1895 Grafton became a two parish town with the dedication of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Church.
     FR. M.J. CLEAR Arrived in 1892 and undertook the long awaited completion of the church. His remodeling included a new interior paint job, new pews, and altars, while the church tower and belfry were finished off. Apparently in those first two decades the tower just cleared the roof and stopped without a belfry, so that the men of Fr. Clear's parish had to hoist the highest stones of the church. Most of the work was simplified, however, by horse-drawn cables pulled around central revolving posts (winches or capstans), which eased the builder's burden considerably. Two bells were installed in the belfry, and although the toll bell is hardly used anymore, the Angelus bell used to announce Mass can still be heard most anywhere in Grafton on a clear day. In January 1896, just several months after the Polish had moved to Assumption, Fr. Clear moved to a new assignment.
     FR. WENCESLAUS HORAK The next pastor was the Rev. Wenceslaus J. Horak who was appointed in January 1896 to succeed Father Clear. To Father Horak was assigned the Polish parish as a mission but this arrangement lasted only two years when in January 1898 the Rev. P.C.N. Dwyer came to Immaculate Conception.
     FR. P.C.N. DWYER He canceled the parish debt, which now amounted to about $3,500, in 1900. This he was enabled to do only by extraordinary efforts, as the parish was reduced by degrees from fifty paying families in 1898 to 36 in 1900. This is a most creditable showing for the parish as well as for its pastor. In 1903 we find about sixty families and all are in full accord with their pastor in his efforts to raise and maintain a high spiritual tone to the parish.
     FR. THOS. F. CONLON Pastor from 1901 to 1903. The baptismal register at this time shows entries by the Reverends Thos. F. McGuire and F.J. O'Connell in 1902.
     FR. GEO. A. BRANIGAN Served one year as pastor. The new stained glass windows were put in during his pastorate. (1902-1903)
     FR. J.P. WACHOWSKI Served four years as pastor of both Catholic churches in Grafton. Like his predecessor he was within the limits of the newly established diocese when Toledo was made an episcopal city and so belongs to that diocese. He did much towards beautifying the church and is very kindly remembered. (1903-1907)
    FR. JAMES A. HEFFERNAN Pastor from 1907 to 1908. Also had charge of a church in Lorain where he lived, the rectory in Grafton being in very great need of repair.
   FR. PETER E. DIETZ Pastor from 1908 to 1910. During his brief pastorate the beautiful rectory and ambulatory were constructed. He was highly involved in the labor movement.
     FR. P.J. QUINN 1910 - Three records of Baptism are signed by Fr. Quinn.
    FR. P.J. CLANCY Pastor from 1910to 1914. Reduced the debt from $12,000 to $2,000. This in his quiet unassuming way. He left Texas for health reasons where he was dearly missed by all.
    FR. J.E. CASEY Pastor from 1914 to 1918 and 1919 to 1922. He was quick to answer his country's call and with the permission of his bishop left this peaceful assignment to face the dangers he knew not what, with the armed forces of this country. No one doubts that the rigors of camp life hasten the apprehension of his crown.
     FR. F.J. BURNS Pastor from 1918 to 1919. Upon Fr. Casey's departure for the war Fr. Burns was appointed and in a few short months endeared to himself not only the hearts of the Catholics but of all Grafton. Mindful that Our Lord said: "The Good Shepherd giveth his life for his sheep", with his last ounce of weakened strength he went about his Father's business and died at the post of duty.
     FR. GEO. L. KOOB Pastor from March 1919 to November 1919. He took charge until Father Casey's return. And the latter remained until his appointment to Massillon in 1922.
     REV. JOHN KELLY Pastor from 1922 to 1923. He completed the building by erecting the garage.
     REV. OWEN L. GALLAGHER Pastor from 1923 to 1924. He accomplished a great deal in organization work. Died in Youngstown as a Monsignor in 1988.
     FR. WM. F. HAGGERTY Pastor from 1924 to 1927. He added much to work begun by his predecessors. It is a matter of joy to these people that he and his predecessors, though promoted were still neighbors.
     FR. H.L. COLLINS Pastor from 1927 to 1935. These were depression years but his geniality triumphed over every obstacle and he left the parish in excellent financial shape. His continuous solicitude for the sick and afflicted and his extraordinary improvements in "God's Acre" will forever enshrine him in the hearts of the people.
     FR. JAS. F. SMITH Pastor in 1935.
    FR. PATRICK J. FERRON Arrived at a time when the parishioners were about to celebrate the 100th anniversary as a parish. He put together, in booklet form, a small history and chronology of our priests. Our parish marked the occasion with a week of liturgy and festivals.  On May 30, 1 944, Bishop Hoban blessed the Crucifixion scene place in the in Cemetery at Fr. Ferron's direction. Fr. Ferron's stay from 1935 to 1951 stopped the rapid succession
of priests.
     FR. GEORGE MANNING had the sad distinction of having to supervise the tearing down of the old wooden building that was St. John of the Cross. Yet he would have the joy of building a new parish hall. Once again, most of the work was done by the parish men. The new hall opened in 1956 and the old one torn down. Loved by the parishioners, no one wanted to see him transferred to St. Jude's in Elyria. On December 9, 1957, his belongings already in Elyria, Fr. Manning had a heart attack and died. After six years the parish was stunned.
     FR. EDWARD HABERBOSCH holds the honors of the third longest pastorate at Immaculate Conception. Arriving in December 1957, Fr. Haberbosch took on many jobs. Painting the church, adding air-conditioning and renovating the hall. He encourage the Hot Stove League in Grafton to convert our back acreage into baseball diamonds. After 17 years of service to our church he retired in 1975. As a fitting tribute, a young seminarian, Dan Smith, wrote and presented
him with a booklet on our history of 140 years.
     FR. JOSEPH LEHANE spent a short time with us from 1975 until 1976 when he passed away November 19, 1976. While here, following the orders of Vatican II, he had the communion rail removed and set up the new confessional. He liked to work quietly, one-on-one. He also worked with alcoholic priests. He should be remembered as a founder of Elyria Catholic High School.
      FR. JAMES FORTMAN 1976-1977 (4 months).
     FR. NICKOLAS NOVOSEL rolled up his sleeves when he arrived in February, 1 977 and had part of the church repainted. Repainted the statues, and regilded the altars. He was responsible for remodeling the ambulatory-changing it from a breezeway to an office. He passed away on September 9, 1981.
     FR. ROBERT R. VIEWEG Busy since he arrived on November 19, 1981, he has had our church redecorated inside and out. He has overseen the reroofing and painting of the bell steeple and kept us comfortable in church with new air-conditioning and fans. He saw to it that the office in the rectory was reopened. In 1989, he added a whole new section to our hall, to be used for Parish School of Religion classes as well as for meetings and storage. He ordered the beautiful new statue of Mary which now stands in front of the hall addition. Father Vieweg actively participates at all parish functions such as Holy Name Society, Altar and Rosary Society, PSR Classes, Knights of Columbus and St. Vincent DePaul. He actively visits the sick and distributes Communion throughout our community. One thing Father should be remembered for is the Wednesday evening Devotion to Mary, as have our pastors for over fifty years. We can consider Father Vieweg more of a traditionalist priest than many others, in that we do see him keep with so many other traditions of the Catholic Church. A quality that is much appreciated by many parishioners. Father Vieweg chose to use 1990 as the 150th Anniversary Celebration Year since there were no exact records, as pointed out earlier, to the founding of our parish. Later that year Bishop Anthony Pilla of the Diocese of Cleveland celebrated an Anniversary Mass and get together in the hall. In 1998 the church steeple was rebuilt, in 1999 the storage garage was built and in 2000 the Church interior was repainted. Father Vieweg retired in 2003
     FR. JOHN P. SEABOLD arrived in July of 2003. Father became pastor of both the Assumption and Immaculate Conception parishes.  Father was instrumental in the formation of the new parish Our Lady Queen of Peace from the merger of the Assumption and Immaculate Conception parishes. On October 29, 2006, Father was appointed Pastor of Our Lady Queen of Peace.

Those are our priests and legacy of Immaculate Conception Church. We ask you to pray for and with us that we may all be one in Christ our Lord.