The windows of St. Michael's at 13th and Cherry Streets were given by members of the parish in memory of their beloved deceased. The following names appear on the windows:

 

J.F.B. Meyer - window above the altar

A. F. and Laura Burns - first window, left side

Joseph Pisher - second window, left side

Nalissa McKnight - third window, left side

Barney and Honora Quinn - fourth window, left side

James O'Kane - first window, right side

Mary Alvey - second window, right side

Joseph H. and Louis R. E. Doerr - third window, right side

Sara V. DeLagrange - fourth window, right side

 

From 1913 until 1930 there were only visiting priests at Van Buren. They came from Fayetteville, Fort Smith or Subiaco. Many of them would come to Van Buren on an early train and have Sunday Mass. The priest would eat lunch at various church members' homes and then return to Fayetteville on the train that evening. Several Chaplains from St. Scholastica also served as pastors at St. Michael's. The nuns from St. Scholastica also came over on Saturday to teach catechism to the students.

When Reverend Joseph G. Laughlin was pastor during 1933 and 1934 he started a fraternity of boys called the Trojans. Its purpose was to keep the boys busy and teach them etiquette.

The parishioners, during the time of Reverend Francis Pendergrass, felt the need for a resident priest. The church had been served by Fort Smith priests. It would be necessary to build a rectory for a resident priest.

Included in the one-half block purchased for St. Michael's Church, there was a dwelling on the corner. Some time during the 1 930's the house was rented to a carpenter, Mr. Lee Zuber and his family, who occupied it until the middle forties.

With the aid of the men's group and the Altar Society, reconstruction of the dwelling on the corner began. This work was unfinished when in 1947 Reverend Joseph N. Doyle came to serve St. Michael's. After much discussion among parishioners and the Reverend Doyle, an architect was employed to draw plans for a two-story brick dwelling. The old dwelling was sold to Mrs. Nora Cates, a member of St. Michael's Parish, for $600 and removed.

 

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