SAINT JOSEPH PARISH
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4011 ALEXANDRIA PIKE
COLD SPRING, KY 41076
RECTORY (859) 441-1604
SCHOOL (859) 441-2025
DRE (859) 441-5110
FAX (85) 441-7681
EMAIL stjoe@stjoeschool.net
History of our Parish

1870 - 1928  |  1949 - 1987  |  1991 - Present

1870 St. Joseph Orphanage opened on May 12. A small church that was to become St. Joseph Parish was built near the orphanage and dedicated by Bishop A.M. Toebbe. Members of the first Parish Committee were Wolfgang Bessler, Samuel Hoffman, Rudolph Kroger and John Holtz. A one-story school building was also constructed.
1881 Rev. Herman Kramer proposed the construction of a new church building. A member of the parish, Henry Baudensistel, offered to make the bricks for the building from clay dug from behind the orphanage cemetery. Kilns were set up to bake the bricks.
1882 The Cornerstone for the 92 by 42-foot church building was laid. The building cost $5,500.00. James Walsh of Covington donated $1,000.00 toward the project.
1884 Fire destroyed the orphanage on 30 June.
1888 Fire again struck the orphanage on 18 June.
1889 A new three-story orphanage was dedicated. A steady stream of wagons and carriages poured out Alexandria Pike and bands marched for the dedication of the site.
1892 On the church property, a two-story parish school was constructed. That building served as the parish school for the next 37 years.
1921 St. Joseph Parish celebrated its’ 50th Anniversary. Chicken dinners, a Homecoming for the former parishioners and music by the Knights of St. John provided the entertainment. The pastor, Rev. George Kaufman proposed building a new parish.
1928 Rev. George Kaufman died and a new pastor, Rev. Joseph Broerman selected a site about a quarter of a mile south of the church complex. The one-story four-room brick building still stands. It was the first parish building on what in currently the St. Joseph Church and School Complex.