Humboldt County
Historical Association
PO Box 162
Humboldt, Iowa
50548
FEATURES
HCHA programs /
Historical features
Mount Calvary Catholic
Cemetery
Section 20, Humboldt Township
This cemetery is one mile south of Livermore on County Road P56 at the
corner of K Road and 140th Street. It is bordered on the east by highway
P56 or K Road, and on the south by 140th street. Its address is 1399
140th Street, Livermore, Iowa.
Before there was a
Catholic Church in Livermore, Mass was said occasionally in various
homes in the community. The first Mass in Humboldt County was said at
the Ed Sherman home south of town in 1862 with Father Marsh of Fort
Dodge as the celebrant. The very Rev. J. J. Smith also said Mass in
various homes in the area.
The church was organized
in 1881 by Rev. Father James Zigrang of St. Joe, and the first church
was built in 1882, a wooden frame building that cost about $2000. For a
time services were held only on alternate Sundays, as Father Zigrang
lived at Lt. Joe, and had other missions to care for.
Father Michael McNerrey,
the first resident pastor, was appointed in 1889. For the first year he
lived in the Commercial House Hotel, but in 1890 the congregation
purchased a rectory near the church. While he was pastor here he also
had a mission church in Dakota City. Each Sunday he said Mass in each
church, driving back and forth by horse and buggy, or on a handcar on
the M & St. L railroad. This double duty continued for other pastors
until 1917. In 1895 Father McNerrey started a new church. A large
building of pressed brick with stone trimming, and a slate roof. It cost
$10,000 and was considered the best building of its kind in Humboldt
County. The church was dedicated December 10, 1896 at which time the
name Sacred Heart Church was first applied. At this time there were
about eighty families in the parish.
A couple years after
Father Michael McNerrey became pastor of Livermore parish on January 0f
1891, the church bought land from the Rutz family and started a parish
cemetery. Mount Calvary was the name chosen for this cemetery. Father
Michael McNerrey was pastor of Livermore from 1889-1905.
In 1905 Father Maurice J.
Costello was assigned to Sacred Heart. He was pastor for the next 38
years, until 1942. In this era of time Father Costello suggested that
each family had to buy cemetery plots for burial of their family
members. In this way the cemetery got a good start. However, this also
explains why there are so many vacant and unfilled plots. As the
families split up and moved away from the area, some didn't return to be
buried here.
Mount Calvary Cemetery is
not classified as a Catholic Church Cemetery, as it is partially funded
by the county. It receives around $500 a year to be used for upkeep;, as
in the mowing of the grass. Catholics, as well as protestants can b
buried in Mount Calvary. There is a cemetery committee to oversee the
manage of affairs. Mount Calvary is also funded through interest from a
CD account in the bank but in no way does Sacred Heart Church have
access to or control of this account.
Nancy M. Kellner, member of Sacred Heart parish of Livermore, Oct.
15, 2002