1900
1953-1956
1912-1942
1908
The church was enlarged, making the structure cruciform in shape with the addition of two transcripts.
The rectory on Walnut Street behind the church was built at a cost of $4,400. St. Richard church became a full-fledged parish when Reverend John Berthelot was appointed resident pastor (1909 - 1912).
Rev. John Kiebel was named 2nd pastor (1912 - 1915);
Rev. James Elder was named 3rd pastor (1915 - 1916);
Rev. Thomas Kennedy was named 4th pastor (1916 - 1918);
Rev. Michael McFadden was named 5th pastor (1918 - 1922);
Rev. Alphonse Roach was named 6th pastor (1922 - 1933) during the depression;
Rev. Alfred Metzger was named 7th pastor (1933 - 1942).
1942-1953
Rev. Joseph Myers was named 8th pastor (1942 - 1946). The church interior was remodeled to increase the seating capacity as the parish had grown to 230 families (836 people). Rev. Matthew Clancy was named 9th pastor (1946 - 1970) to some 250 households. During the next seven years, Mass attendance doubled.
Twenty-two and six tenths acres of farmland was purchased for $19,775 on Farmer Avenue (now Brookside Drive); A building fund raised $140,000 which was $42,000 over the goal.
The history of St. Richard is too extensive to adequately cover in a few pages. It is the story of people sacrificing to build their parish of souls and buildings. And, it is the story of wise men sent here through the diocese to lead us in our faith in religion and our practical lives. We should all be proud that so much has been accomplished because of a handful of devout Catholic pioneers and those who followed in their perseverance for us and the future.
