January 11, 2025
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St. Mary’s Church in Polo to mark 125th anniversary Jan. 12

By Larry Plachno
This photo of the new church was taken at the time of its dedication in January, 1900. While sidewalks are in place, the streets have yet to be paved. The steeple would later be removed. To the south (left) is the Chapman house which would be later purchased and moved to make room to build the new rectory.

This photo of the new church was taken at the time of its dedication in January 1900. While sidewalks are in place, the streets have yet to be paved. The steeple would later be removed. To the south (left) is the Chapman house, which would be later purchased and moved to make room to build the new rectory. (Polo Historical Society photo)

POLO – On Sunday, Jan. 12, St. Mary’s Church will celebrate the 125th anniversary of its dedication that took place Jan. 7, 1900.

Pastor Bernard Sehr will rededicate the church at the 10:15 a.m. Mass. A potluck fellowship and celebration will follow in the church hall.

All are welcome to attend.

Parish history

Pastor John McCann took over in Polo in 1894. Shortly after, the people of St. Mary’s became eager to build a new church of their own. A well-organized committee of parishioners was assembled to complete most of the work, including fundraising.

The decision was made in 1897 to purchase the lot at the southwest corner of Franklin and Dixon streets for the new church. This location was several streets south of the existing church in Irish Hollow. However, it was considered a much better location since it was much more centrally located and close to downtown Polo.

In addition to McCann, other members of the building committee were Maurice Herbert Sr., John T. McGrath, Maurice Herbert Jr., Robert Bracken, Thomas Bracken, Charles D. Weller, William Cavanaugh Jr., John L. Lonergan, Peter Bracken and James Herbert.

By spring 1899, the necessary funds had been raised, and construction began.

John T. McGrath planned the building and served as superintendent, overseeing its erection. Details are not available, but later observations suggest the church plans were copied from or originally designed for a Methodist church because of its distinctive features.

A special ceremony was held June 25, 1899, for laying the cornerstone of the new church. Several members of the clergy from the Archdiocese of Chicago took the train from Chicago to attend the ceremony. The Rev. Thomas P. Hodnett of St. Malachy’s parish in Chicago officiated and spoke at the ceremony.

Newspaper accounts at that time indicated that the church was 52 feet by 82 feet in size. On the east end of the church was a gallery for the choir, and the ceiling was 28 feet high. The sacristy was 10 by 12 feet, while the winter chapel was 12 by 22 feet. Eighteen gothic memorial windows, which were said to have been made of opalescent and cathedral glass, were a noteworthy feature of the new church. These windows were donated by the families of Maurice Herbert Sr., Maurice Herbert Jr., McGrath, Weller, John C. Coleman, Peter Maloney, Robert Bracken, Patrick O’Connor, John Attley and Michael Vaughn. When built, the church was lighted with electricity.

McCann was transferred to Elgin just as the church was completed. Hence, the first service in the new church and McCann’s last Mass in Polo took place Dec. 21, 1899. Pastor Jeremiah J. Crowley replaced McCann and immediately had his hands full with the official dedication of the new church.

The dedication took place Jan. 7, 1900. Several priests had arrived by train from Chicago the night before to participate. Pastor Thomas F. Cashman of St. Jarlath’s church in Chicago was the celebrant of the 10:30 solemn high Mass. He was assisted by Pastor D. Coke of St. Mary’s church in Freeport and Pastor D. Hayes of St. Rose of Lima’s church in Chicago. Pastor Thomas Hodnett of St. Malachy’s parish in Chicago delivered the dedicatory sermon.

Solemn vespers were held that evening, and Cashman delivered the evening address. Newspaper accounts indicate that the church was at capacity for both services, and several people could not get into the church for the 10:30 service. The choir presented a special musical program assisted by several soloists from other churches and by Polo’s orchestra.

The cost of the lot and church building was about $12,000. Maurice Herbert Sr., the treasurer of the building fund, and the building committee had done their job well because the new church was fully paid for by the time of the dedication.

After the dedication, a decision was made to sell the old church building. The building itself was then moved to the rear of the 100 block of East Mason Street, behind what was then the office of the Tri-County Press. It was used for a while as a hall and then as a bakery. Its final use was as a storehouse for a grain elevator company.

Surprisingly, records indicate that the old church building survived more than seven decades after the dedication of the new church.

PoloHistory