Long a landmark on Highway 2 as it winds its way through Waterville, St. Joseph's is a rather elegant Romanesque Revival building with a touch of Italianate influence thrown in. With construction commencing in 1916, St. Joseph was dedicated on April 20, 1917. Since its construction it has been one of the two most revered buildings in the town of Waterville, the other being the County Courthouse a few blocks to the southeast
The concrete steps leading to the main, south, entrance have been dedicated to Frank Schreck. Schreck was, at one time, the general manager of the Waterville Union Grain Company which has been in business since 1908. We aren't certain of the dates on which Schreck entered or left the company, only that he was general manager in 1961 and was still in the position in 1968. After a number of mergers, Waterville Union Grain Company has become a part of
HighLine Grain Growers, Inc. While we assume that Frank Schreck was a member of Saint Joseph's Catholic Church, nothing more is known of him. He doesn't appear to be buried in a local cemetery. As there is a large concentration of Schrecks in Kansas, he could have originated there and could have retired there.
The dedication plaque is mounted on the face of the top step and reads as follows:
THESE STEPS
ARE DEDICATED
IN MEMORY OF
FRANK SCHRECK
Saint Joseph
Saint Joseph parish was founded in 1892. Under the direction of Father DeRough, a small church was built on the north side of Waterville. This building burned down in the 1970s and is now the site of the former Big Bend Equipment building.
The first resident pastor was Father Joseph Luyten. By 1915, the congregation had outgrown their first church. Father J.M. Schramm built the first permanent brick church which is the landmark that attracts the eye of travelers on Highway 2 between Waterville and Spokane, located on the corner of Poplar and Chelan Streets. It was dedicated on April 20, 1917, by Bishop Schinner of Spokane.
Father William Condon, who later became the third Bishop of Great Falls, Montana, built the present rectory in 1923.
From Local Prayers