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IN THE COUNTY OF WATERLOO 181 The church site caused not a little difference of opinion and debate. Fin- ally a large majority agreed on the present site on Allan and Willow Streets. One who looks at the site now can not realize what an unsightly hill it was, nor wonder that many would have preferred another place. An immense amount of labor had-to be spent in grading and beautifying the site. Most of this work was done gratis by church members and others, after working hours and on holidays. The architect was commissioned to make plans for the church. When completed tenders were called for. The contracts were let: Mr. John Letter receiving that for masonry, etc.; Mr. Rockel the carpenters', and Mr. C. Hoff- man the painter's. In the spring of 1890 Mr. Letter made an early beginning and had the basement finished towards the end of June. His Lordship, Bishop T. J. Dowling, came to lay the corner stone on the afternoon of the third Sunday of June, a beautiful day that drew a very large c owd of people. By New Year's of 1891 the church was so far completed that it could be dedicated on the Feast of Epiphany, January 6th, 1891, by our beloved Bishop. It was a day of great rejoicing and congratulations for the good people of Waterloo. At last they had the long-coveted church, and at that one of which they did not need to be ashamed. A loan of $2,500.00 had, however, to be obtained to payoff the contractors. Henceforth Waterloo had Mass every Sunday and Holy Day. For many years two Masses have been the rule. The first year or two everything went well. Towards the fall of 1893 hard times began to interfere with industry. In consequence quite a few church members, some of the better ones, moved away, while no new ones came to fill their places. Yet the congregation was always able to meet the terms of the mortgage without extra effort. In a few years a turn in affairs came. Prosperity again prevailed, and new members moved in to swell the depleted ranks. This growth has kept up ever since. The mortgage was lifted in 1900, nine years after it was given. At first the church was but" poorly furnished. As the means came to hand this was gradually done. The site and building cost about $8,000.00. But much labor and money had yet to be spent in getting the land in order. Here is a list of Waterloo Catholics who subscribed towards the site and building: Baumann, Antony. xBaumgaertner, John. Ball, Jacob. Berges, J os. xBeitz, John. "'Braniff, Henry. xBrandt, John. Connor, M. E. '-Callaghan, Miss. Carey, John. *Davis, James. xDauer, Antony. xEgle, Cajetan .. xFischer, Jos., Sr. xFischer, Jos., Jr. Fischer, John B. xHeimann, Michael. *Hirt, Franz. x-Heimann, August. xRopf, Aloysius. x Herringer, John. Huber, Jacob. "Haffie, Miss. Beirschbach, John. ':'Hiemler, J os. xKuntz, David. , xKuntz, Louis. Kinski, August. xKuntz, David K. xKoesterer, F. J. xKern, Adolph. xLauber, Conrad. xMemel, Henry. "Nowakowski, Michael. *N eumeier, Francis. xi ihill, Thos. xO'Donohoe, James, Sr. xO'Donohoe, Richard. Ginter, John. Seiler, Adam. Sobisch, Frank. Sobisch, Jos.