By Our Correspondent

Last Saturday St. Joseph’s parish, Athens, celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the dedication of its church. The oldest Baptism records of the parish are dated 1873. The present church was dedicated on March 30, 1913.

High Mass was celebrated by Father Walter J. Donovan, pastor of Blessed Sacrament Church, Atlanta, who was pastor of St. Joseph’s for 13 years. The sermon was delivered by Archbishop Hallinan.

In attendance were Rt. Rev. Dom Augustine Moore, abbot of the Trappist Monastery, Conyers, Georgia, Rt. Rev. Msgrs. Joseph G. Cassidy, V.G., Michael J. Regan, V. F., Patrick J. O’Conner, Revs. Harold J. Rainey, Michael Manning, Joseph O’Shea, V.G., Harry Phillips, Daniel J. McCormick, John J. Cotter, Leonard F.X. Mayhew, Dale Freeman, Christian Malone, O.F.M., Leonard Spanjers, Clarence J. Biggers, S.M., R. Donald Kiernan, Jarleth Burke, J. Douglas Edwards, Daniel O’Connor, and Vincent Conner, C.P.

The anniversary Mass was followed by a reception in the newly acquired parish house. This historic home is in the process of restoration by the process of restoration by the parishioners of St. Joseph’s under the direction of the building chairmen of the parish council, Mr. Del Pankey and Mrs. Robert Kane. Built in 1830, the home was purchased by General Cobb in 1848.

It had been vacant for many years and was reported to be one of the few haunted houses in Athens. The Historical Society, however, reports that the ghost is “friendly.”

The reception was the first time the house was opened to the public. All the work of restoration, including painting, papering, paneling, and plumbing was done by parishioners. The entrance hall was papered by a university professor and his wife, the bedroom was painted by a non-Catholic, scraped paint from the walls and floors, a brick layer in the parish restored the fireplaces while a medical doctor laid tile in the meeting hall, an F.B.I. agent made cornices, and his wife made drapes. In every way the new parish house in Athens is deserving of its name.

Site plans for the new property, which completely surrounds the parish church and school, have been completed by Herbert C. Millkey, A.L.A. When the new property has been paid for a new school and cafetorium will be built. St. Joseph’s anniversary celebration reflected a parish with a glorious past and a future of great promise.