St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church was struck by lightning and burned to the ground within hours. Only the cross in the foreground and the bell tower at the extreme left survived the flames.
The concrete footings and bell tower bear silence witness, with the unscathed fir trees, to the rubble that once was St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church. Built entirely of wood within eleven months, between 1924-1925, the church was struck by lightning and burned to the ground.
"Portage about 1929, beginning church." Young workers assist Father Ruh in the excavation of the basement of the Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Father Ruh stands at the top, on the left.
Father Ruh’s Silver Jubilee in Parish, 1930-1955. Ukrainian typescript under the photo on the album page reads: "Anniversary of twenty-five years of hard work in Cook’s Creek." Celebration of Father Ruh’s service in the Parish of the Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Ukrainian typescript under the photo on the album page reads: "Flowers – the symbol of love and gratitude." Father Ruh accepting a bouquet from his parishioners as they celebrate his jubilee, twenty-five years of service in the Parish of the Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Workers assemble during the excavation of the basement of the Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which was built between 1925 and 1929. Father Ruh stands in the centre back, wearing his fedora and overcoat. Young Walter Michalchyshyn stands with a shovel, in the centre foreground, wearing the white and dark striped turtle-neck shirt.
The Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, with scaffolding, during construction. The church was designed by Father Ruh and built between 1925 and 1929.