St. Mark

St. Mark through the years

Founded in 1888, the Catholic community in Waitsburg did not have a church building until 1916. Prior to that time, parishioners came together for Mass in the Parr Hayes home and the Knights of Pythias Hall. In the 1880's the eight mile trek between Waitsburg and neighboring Dayton was no small task. The route had to be traversed on foot, by horseback, eventually by buggy, and later by train. Catholics on Robinette Mountain, Jasper Mountain, and Lewis Peak Road rose at 4:00 am to hitch up the team for the two-hour trip in buckboards to church.

Over the years, St. Mark’s has been served by priests residing in Dayton, Walla Walla, or Pomeroy. Construction on the first church building was started in 1908 by Fr. Flavin and completed by his successor, Fr. Campion. In 1946, Fr. Schwemin became the pastor: the original church building and its property were sold, and a new church building was constructed on a new property (completed in 1954 for a cost of $25,000). It was known for its modern design—with a removable wall between the church and the hall that could be opened up, increasing the capacity for worshippers on special occasions. Updates over the last 25 years include new pews, the installation of stained glass windows, the addition of insulation and stucco over the concrete block, tile work on the exterior, new windows in the hall, and a new HVAC system.

In the 1990’s, the parish of St. Mark’s shared in the founding of Project Timothy, an ecumenical outreach which continues to serve those in need within the parish borders of both St. Mark’s and St. Joseph’s in Dayton. St. Mark’s has an active Altar Society: they clean and decorate the church, serve at funeral dinners, and organize a monthly parish potluck after Mass during the school year.