The
Choctaw Railroad (Rock Island) donated 40 acres of the land to the
community for the construction of a church. The Saint Boniface
parish consisted mostly of immigrants from Germany, Switzerland, and
Ireland. Family names included Hampel, Lipsmeyer,
Miller, Nagel, Nutt, Olles, Rump, Siefker, McNulty, Straessle, and Volpert. One of
the monks from Subiaco came down the Arkansas River to serve the
community.
Over time, not only was the church built, but a school, rectory,
and a Sisters' house, house took care of and educated the children.
This house was connected to the church with a covered walkway.
In 1906 the Sisters' house caught fire and both buildings were
destroyed except for the high altar.
The new church was designed by Oswald Miller, a parishioner, and
built that year. To this day, the bells placed in the steeple
are still tolled by hand every Sunday.
