Monsignor Timothy O’Sullivan and the fire of 1965

On December 19, 1949, Father Timothy O'Sullivan came from Jackson, Nebraska, to be the successor of Monsignor McNamara. Father O'Sullivan was born in Ireland and received his theology at Tharles Seminary in Tipperary and at Innsbruck, Austria. He came to the United States at the age of 27 with a contingent of Irish-born, newly ordained priests landing in New York City in 1915. His first assignment was St. Cecilia's in Omaha. He was pastor at Tilden for seventeen years and was then transferred to Jackson and then to O'Neill.

The following spring witnessed a blizzard which paralyzed the whole community. St. Mary's celebrated its golden jubilee with Mass celebrated by its priestly alumni: Fathers Clement Ryan, S. J.; Eugene Gallagher, S. J.; Francis Price; Peter Price, S. J., and William Froelich, S. J.

In the fall of 1952, a dream of the O'Neill community came true in that St. Anthony's Hospital was dedicated on September 24. It was also the Diamond Jubilee of St. Patrick's Parish. The hospital was first thought of in 1946 and a committee was formed with William J. Froelich as chairman. The first shovel was turned by Mother Erica on Sunday July 16, 1950. Two years and five days later, on July 21, 1952, the work of moving in equipment by volunteer labor was finished and the formal opening was on Wednesday, September 24.

The following year, the threat of polio was among the people. A blizzard on February 20th found many of the students pushing cars so that traffic could be resumed. A helicopter crash near O'Neill killed six men in July and the Mass schedule was changed for the first time in seventy years to have Sunday Masses at 7:30, 9:00 and 10:30.

In May of 1954, Father Thomas DeBacker was ordained to the priesthood, and in June, Father Basil Price, S. J., was ordained to the priesthood and the First Masses of these two native sons was big celebrations in the parish. The following May, Danny Ryan, a fourth-grade student at St. Mary's was killed by an automobile.

Grass Fires threatened O'Neill in October of 1955 and the Asiatic Flu hit in epidemic proportions in 1957. 1958 witnessed the final passenger trip of the Chicago-Northwestern Railroad and St. Mary's won the State Championship in eight man football by beating Lawrence 530. The following year St. Mary's won the State Track Meet in their division and also received the State All Sports Championship Award. In September St. Mary's Academy became the parish school of St. Patrick's after permission was granted by the Franciscan Order from Rome. The streets in front of the church and school were paved during the summer and on October 9, Father Timothy O'Sullivan was named Monsignor by Pope John XXIII. It was the third tine St. Patrick's Parish's pastor was raised to the rank of Domestic Prelate.

On December 8, Father O'Sullivan fell and was confined to bed and on December 11 the students of St. Mary's schools put on its congratulatory program on the lawn in front of the rectory. But Father was made a Monsignor in Omaha by Archbishop Gerald T. Bergen on December 15.

Later back in O'Neill, on Sunday, parishioners and friends turned out in strength to honor the new Monsignor. Participating in the program were fellow clergy and members of the O'Neill parish. Highlights included a gift for Monsignor, a resume of his life, and many congratulations. Father Robert Duffy was master of ceremonies and presented Monsignor with a check donated by parishioners and friends. Monsignor O'Sullivan in turn placed the money in the building fund for the new school at St. Mary's. Presenting their congratulations were Mrs. Rynold Cimfel, president of St. Patrick's Altar Society, on behalf of the ladies of the parish, and Bill Mattern, Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus, on behalf of the men. Father Peter Burke, pastor at St. Peter's in Ewing, spoke and told of his days as an assistant at St. Patrick's. Father Burke noted that the O'Neill people taught him how to keep time during his sermons. Father Richard Parr, pastor of St. Joseph's in Atkinson, confirmed Father Burke's statement by saying that Father Burke's speech was just four minutes, his allotted time. Father Parr then went on to congratulate Monsignor on behalf of the clergy. William J. Froelich added to the reception program when he reviewed Monsignor's life from his boyhood days in Ireland to the present. The Ladies of the Altar Society served coffee and cake to more than four-hundred well-wishers at the close of the reception.

In 1961, St. Mary's no longer took boarders. The new convent opened and was blessed on November 17. Larry Donohue, a young man at the age of twenty-one who was serving in the Air Force, died of cancer and was buried from St. Patrick's. The winter was rough and the schools had to be closed due to the shortage of natural gas. On January, 24, 1962, Monsignor O'Sullivan laid the cornerstone for the new Saint Mary's High School, which was blessed by Archbishop Gerald Bergan on April 25, 1962.

The O'Neill High-St. Mary's Band went to Indianapolis, Indiana, to perform in 1963, and the New Liturgy of Vatican 11 went into effect in November of 1964.

February 16, 1965 -a day in our history that happened and will be remembered by both St. Patrick's Parish and the citizens of O'Neill. It was the day on which the mystery fire destroyed St. Mary's Academy. The fire was discovered near a basement shower room at 4:08 p.in. The alarm was sounded by a high-school student, John Dewitt, who had left the new St. Mary's High School to go to the original portion of the Academy to practice piano. lie activated the fire alarm when he saw smoke. The alarm brought Phil Haverkamp, the school custodian, from the newer portion (west wing) to the fire detection station to determine where the fire was located. Sighting what appeared to be the source of the blaze, Phil met young Dewitt, ordered him to summon the fire department and then assist him in removing the Haverkamp family who lived on the third floor of the east wing. Also living near were three high school girls: Jane Muff of Clearwater, Sandy Pfiester of Long Pine, and Rita Shindler of Neligh. The fire was spreading fast.

O'Neill's fire chief G. E. Miles invoked the countywide fire defense plan which brought firemen and equipment from Atkinson, Chambers, Page and Stuart. The fire was now roaring through the whole east wing. Firemen had to protect the church, the rectory, the new high school and the hospital. The water pressure in the city dropped to the danger point. Water to several sections of the city had to be shut off for a time. Fortunately most of the pupils and teachers had left the building when the fire was detected. The total loss might well be in the neighborhood of a half million dollars. Many items destroyed will never be replaced.

Flames and smoke in the winter's night sky were visible as far away as Lynch and Butte. Sioux City and Omaha news media sent airplanes to the scene. Thousands of persons congregated in the school playground, on the church parking lot and in the streets to witness the flames.

On the lips were prayers as brave men risked their lives against tremendous odds to remove highly explosive oxygen bottles (part of a civil defense emergency hospital unit in storage) and to search for anyone who might be in the once stout and elegant building. Many wept. Many lingered as dying flames turned into smoldering embers in the early morning hours. The St. Mary's Academy that was had yielded.

The school was gone and adjustments were made. Temporary school quarters were set up for three classes in the National Guard Armory and the rest were put in the public school. Books were loaned from St. Francis Mission. Desks were salvaged from the ruins and also some water-soaked books. Soon the insurance adjustors came and the insurance on the building was three-hundred-and-seven-thousand dollars and the contents were thirty-nine thousand dollars.

Wrecking crews tore down the ruins and plans for a new school with the designers of the new convent and new high school were being drawn up.

Photo caption: Monsignor O'Sullivan's Anniversary Cake baked by Freda Beha

On May 19, 1965, Monsignor O'Sullivan celebrated his golden jubilee to the priesthood. It was an informal occasion because Monsignor was sick and was confined to his bed but he managed to be celebrant at the 10:30 Mass.

It was a "surprise occasion" for Monsignor and a reception and program was held in the auditorium at two o'clock in the afternoon, with an informal reception again at seven in the evening. On May 29, Fathers Allen Martin and George Shoemaker were ordained to the priesthood and they celebrated their rust Masses at St. Patrick's.

Monsignor O'Sullivan retired on June 17, 1965, due to ill health, and lived in retirement at St. Vincent's Home in Omaha. His successor was Father John Connenly who was born and raised near Decatur, Nebraska. He graduated from Decatur High School and attended Wayne State College,

Creighton University and Conception Seminary. He then attended Kenrick Seminary in St. Louis for six years before being ordained in 1943. He was assigned to St Patrick's in Fremont until 1947. He also served at Boys Town, Dixon, and Wisner where he was for twelve years before coming to O'Neill.

Construction on the new elementary school began in September and hot lunch program began for St. Mary's students at the public school on December 2. With the new construction project, the winter season brought its hazards.

The water pipes froze due to exposure and water had to be hosed to the convent for the Sisters. It was an adjustment for them because the water had to flow continuously so it wouldn't freeze in the hoses, but every now and then, one of the Sisters would forget and turn off the hose and once again there would be no water. There were blizzards and winds and even a few "black snow" storms.

On April 20, 1966, Monsignor O'Sullivan died at Bergan Mercy Hospital in Omaha. The Pontifical High Mass was conducted by Archbishop Gerald T. Bergan of Omaha, at St. Patrick's on April 23, 1966. Music for the services was furnished by Sister Flores as organist, a choir of priests, members of St. Patrick's, and students of St. Mary’s High School. Pallbearers were Fathers Cyril Werner, Rudolph Kluthe, Robert Duffy, Thomas Hitch, Terrence Finney and Anthony Milone, all who served with Monsignor O'Sullivan.