Mark1984
34 posts
Dec 18, 2012
3:15 PM
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Does anyone remember when St. Mary's church on Xenia Ave had clocks up on all four sides of both steeples? I always thought that looking up there it looked like clocks could have been there at one time. Patched over holes in the center of the large circles. Painted over spots where it looks like number could've been. I found a picture online of the church with the clocks on all four sides of both towers. Just no date. Anyone that actually remembers them being there? Pictures of it maybe? Also wondering, why do the bells ring everyday at 6 pm? No mass. 6pm mean something? I love old clocks. Especially BIG ones. Like the old Gem City Clock downtown. But that's another post.
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oldrndirt
35 posts
Dec 18, 2012
4:40 PM
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It used to be traditional for most Roman Catholic churches to ring the Angelus at 6AM, noon, and 6PM - you can read more about it here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angelus
I used to sub on a paper route in that area in the late sixties and had spent time down on Xenia Ave as a kid with my dad (early '60s) and also walking back to Linden Heights from the Boys Club down at Keowee back in the early '70s and I don't recall seeing clocks in St. Mary's during that timeframe.
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luv my dayton
198 posts
Dec 18, 2012
6:44 PM
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Holy Family church at the corner of Fifth and Findlay always played the bells at 6 which signaled us kids that grandpa and Dad would be heading home. Nothing was any more peaceful than the bells ringing and the distant sounds of the train whistles while visiting with Ma and Pa.
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jfox68
60 posts
Dec 19, 2012
4:38 AM
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I went to St Mary's from the 1st grade until halfway through the 6th grade. 1956-1962. I don't remember the steeples ever having any clocks on them.
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Syxpack
27 posts
Dec 19, 2012
9:14 AM
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I lived on Church Street which dead ends into what used to be St. Marys school playground in the '40's and don't recall any clocks being in the towers.
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Mark1984
40 posts
Dec 19, 2012
5:03 PM
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I found the picture on Yahoo. Did an image search, St. Mary's Church-Dayton, Ohio. Got the picture. The front steps were different in this picture. But its definitely the church. Clocks all the way around both steeples. Just no date on the picture. jfox68, when did they stop using the school there on Steele? I vaguely remember the convent. I clearly remember when there was the large open field and ball diamonds behind the church.
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Mark1984
41 posts
Dec 19, 2012
5:44 PM
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rdebross. The bell still rings every evening at 6. Not sure if its the actual bell or not. Someone had told me that the bell sounds were recorded and replayed when needed. They don't sound as loud as I remember them being. Maybe something to it?
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rdebross
10 posts
Dec 19, 2012
6:00 PM
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The twin tower domes were originally covered in slate. When they needed replacement roofing in the 1950's, the bishop wanted the towers cut off in a fashion seen on Emmanuel Church on Franklin St. across from Chaminade. Stubborn dutchman that he was, Msgr. Beckmeyer refused to take them down. In the late 1950's the tower domes were completely rebuilt and copper roofing installed.
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rdebross
11 posts
Dec 19, 2012
6:20 PM
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The Steele Ave. school building was used for grade school classes until the school closed around 1970. The playing fields behind the rectory and school building is now home to a senior living center. The playing fields were originally covered with typical neighborhood houses. Msgr. Beckmeyer set about buying the properties between Allen St. and Steele Ave. down to Haynes St. in the early 1920's. He wanted grounds for a Garden Party festival that would raise money to pay off the church debt and pay for major interior renovations like marble altar, pipe organ etc.,etc. I have heard stories that some of his tactics for getting people to sell their homes were somewhat scandalous for a Christian churchman. The Garden Parties were quite a hit and very popular annual events. When the debt was paid the Garden Parties ended and the area used only as playing fields. The playing fields area was originally fenced with iron work, but it was donated to the war effort in the 1940's.
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Mark1984
43 posts
Dec 19, 2012
7:25 PM
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rdeboss. Thanks for all the info. It was interesting reading. I've only been able to find one picture of the church when it had clocks up there. I still have a relative that lives on Church St. She remembers Msgr Beckmeyer well! I would still love to go up in those towers. Who do I have to bribe?
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jfox68
62 posts
Dec 20, 2012
4:55 AM
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Mark1984, I see that rdebross answered you question about when they stopped using the school. After my family moved to Vandalia around 61-62 the only contact I had with St Marys was when my new school (St Chris in Vandalia) would play St Mary's in CYO sports. I should have kept in touch with some of my classmates.
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Syxpack
28 posts
Dec 20, 2012
10:49 AM
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My very earliest childhood memory is of me setting on my dad's lap on our porch roof at the NW corner of Steele Avenue and Haynes Street and watching the goings-on at the garden party at St. Marys. I was about 4 years old and it was right during the "great depression" and I'm sure we couldn't afford to attend. I also remember Father Beckmeyer bringing my older brother to our front door one day and telling my dad that my brother had called him a S.O.B. (probably a word he had heard my dad say about him). Father Beckmeyer was the original crochety old man in the neighborhood and from what I heard my parents say about him, Father Beckmeyer always kept a close watch on his playground and wasn't particulary fond of kids. He evidently had caught my brother and the neighbood kids doing something he disagreed with. During WWII when my brother was home on furlough from the Army, and wanted to be married in St. Marys Church, Father Beckmeyer used a lame excuse not to do so. He said he didn't have enough advance notice, even though he had married other couples with less notice. We always thought it was in retaliation for the earlier event with my brother. I remember how beautiful, the church was on Christmas Eve. I haven't been there in years, and only recently was wondering if it is still decorated on Christmas Eve. I'm afraid to go down on Xenia Avenue in the daytime, let alone on Christmas Eve. I have enjoyed reading all the posts about the church and am gooing to try to find some of those old photos of it on-line.
Last Edited by on Dec 20, 2012 11:04 AM
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Mark1984
45 posts
Dec 20, 2012
2:32 PM
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Syxpack. Yes, they still have quite the elaborate nativity scene. Still have midnight mass. I still have a relative that lives in the area. Xenia Avenue definitely has changed. But its not like DeSoto Bass. The still hoist the star up between the two towers. Its there right now. I found the photos on Yahoo. Did an image search. Typed in the church name and Dayton, Ohio. There was two pictures last I looked showing the clocks up on both steeples, all four sides. Love to know when they were up there.
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Syxpack
30 posts
Dec 20, 2012
3:44 PM
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I just saw a fellow on youtube playing "A Mighty Fortress is our God" on the 1920 Austin organ in St. Marys Church. He was refurbishing the organ in 2009. He called it St. Marys Cathedral, but someone in their comments set him straight, that it was not a cathedral, but a Roman catholic church. It was beautiful at any rate and showed some of the inside of the church.Wonderful!
Last Edited by on Dec 20, 2012 5:37 PM
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Mark1984
46 posts
Dec 20, 2012
4:24 PM
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I've seen that video. I'm a head banger (heavy metal) but I love hearing that organ! I've been past the church on foot when it was warm and the windows were open. Someone who knew what they were doing was playing it. Sounded good! I've been told that the bass pipes can make the floor in the sanctuary vibrate. That's power!
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rdebross
34 posts
Jan 20, 2013
10:18 AM
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Mark1984 - I don't have any inside information on getting a tour of the towers. I'd try contacting the custodian. I also noticed that some type of volunteer crew installs the lighted Christmas star that spans between the top of the two towers. This seems to be done around Thanksgiving time each year. Someone has to climb the stairs to the top of each tower to install it. Maybe you could volunteer to help if you're in good physical condition.
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Mark1984
65 posts
Jan 20, 2013
11:03 AM
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I'm pretty sure that its parish members who put the star up each year. I have a relative who lives on Church St. But I have yet to see them put it up or take it down. Its like it appears when you're not looking.:)
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Mark1984
240 posts
Mar 29, 2015
6:19 AM
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I wanted to bring this thread back up. There is a video on the church's web site. St Mary Dayton dot org. There is a link to YouTube that shows them going up into one of the towers and how they raise the star every christmas. You get to take the trip from the front door of the church. Up the very narrow stairs in the tower. Very interesting to watch. And yes, there are actual bells up there. The bells you hear now are not a recording as was suggested to me by a parish member. There are also two other videos taken from a drone that show some nice aerial views of the church and surrounding neighborhood.
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