BRIEF HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH STATION MELBA, IDAHO

1916 - 1997

St. Joseph Station, which originally was St. Joseph's Mission, a mission of St. Paul's Catholic Church in Nampa had its beginning in 1916. The first Holy Mass was celebrated in the home of Mrs. Mary Finnigan (an early homesteader in the Glendale area) in 1916.

The Priest would come from Nampa by train and was met at the Melba Depot by parishioners and taken by horse and buggy to the Finnigan home where he would celebrate Mass. He would stay overnight with one of the parishioners and take the train back to Nampa the next day.

The services were held two or three times a year and later the Mass was alternated between the Finnigan home and the Jim Graves home north of Melba.

Some of the early parishioners were the Martin O'Haras, Julius Hermans, Jim Graves, Harry Charters, Sr., Tom Duffy, Mrs. Finnigan, Jennie Johnson, Gus Olson, Bird Hawleys and Walter Hermans.

In 1924 an anonymous donor from Nampa gave the land and a small house in Melba to become the very first St. Joseph's Mission Church. The little house was not insulated and very drafty. Sometimes the parishioners would arrive at the little house to find that mice had eaten the candles. Dirt flew in the cracks and Bill Herman would come down early to build a fire - sometimes with corn cobs - to heat the church. The parishioners complained because there was only a curtain on the confessional door and everyone could hear the confessions.

Members came from Wilson, Glendale, Melmont, Melba and Bowmont and Murphy. Approximately 25 families were served. Mass was then held on the first and third Sunday of the month. An Altar Society was organized with five members.

The most memorable Mass in this little Church was one Christmas morning. The Priest desired to reach everyone in the Mission, which included a trip into Owyhee County over snow covered dirt roads with many stops to visit the sick. In order to do this, Mass at the Melba Mission Church was set for an early hour. A gas lamp was usually used to light the Church, on this Christmas morning the person in charge forgot to bring the lamp. One of the parishioners had used a coal oil lantern doing chores on the farm that morning and had put it in his car. The lantern was brought in and with two candles on the Altar and the coal oil lantern hanging overhead in the tiny little Church - the likeness to the first Christmas was beautiful.

The Little Church was the scene of many Missions and Baptisms for the early residents of the area. Harry Charters, Jr. was the first baby to be baptized in the Church. In later years he became World Champion Steer Wrestler.

This little Church served the area until 1963 when the present Church was built.

In 1956 plans for a new church building was begun under the direction of Fr. Herbert Merzbach, S.M. He was the architect, designer and engineer of this little gothic church and the new Pastor of St. Paul's in Nampa. He also directed the completion of the beautiful mission Church, Our Lady Queen of Heaven, in Oreana.

A $10,000 donation was received from Frank B. Auer through the Catholic Extension Society of America in memory of his wife. Dances and dinners at Melba's American Legion Hall were held to raise money for the project. By 1960 the plans had been drawn and work began.

In the meantime Fr. Merzbach was transferred to St. Peter's Chanel Seminary in San Rafael, California and Fr. James Pratt, S. M. who became the new Pastor of St. Paul's in Nampa, continued the work. Fr. Edward McMonagle along with the parishioners worked shoulder to shoulder and the Church was completed. The total cost was $22,000.

St. Joseph's new building was dedicated on August 11, 1963 with the Most Rev Bishop Sylvester W. Treinen officiating. Many Priests from within and without the Diocese of Boise attended along with Fr. Merzbach of San Rafael, California who returned for the dedication.

Many items-- The outside statue on the top of the building door and mirror in priest's room - bell in priest's room - first tabernacle light - stained glass windows on the sides of the front door - the macramé rosary on the back wall and many other items were donated by parishioners.

In 1974 a hall, kitchen and rest rooms were added to the Church. The hall, kitchen and rest rooms were built by Bill Engelbert, a parishioner, and the wiring was done by Jack Burke. This made more room for religious education which continues today for all of our youth after Mass on Sunday.

With the new addition, St. Joseph's began to have Christmas and Halloween parties for the children every year and a Christmas party for the adults.

St. Joseph's began to get involved with the community of Melba along with other organizations and churches. Until the construction of the new Senior Citizens Center, once a year St. Joseph's Altar Society cooked and served a lunch for "The Young of Heart" who were the senior citizens of Melba.

The parishioners have a "Corned Beef and Cabbage" dinner and a Basque Dinner once a year which is open to the Community and to the public. The parishioners used to participate in a Christmas Bazaar at the American Legion Hall and now run a concession booth at the 4th of July activities in Melba.

During the 80's St. Joseph's built several floats for the 4th of July parade and always won first place for religious entries.

At Christmas time the children put on a Nativity Play during Mass and one evening go caroling around Melba on a hayrack terminating with hot chocolate and cookies at the Church.

In 1991 a coffee room was added to the kitchen so the adults could visit and have refreshments while the children receive their religious education.

St. Joseph's Station today consists of about 65 registered families with one Mass held every Sunday at 9:30 A.M.

By Wilma Herman

10-12-97