Even before the town of Elkader was laid out and named for the brave Arab Chief, Amir Ab Del Kader, religious services were held for the Catholics by an Irish Missionary Priest traveling by horseback from Holy Cross to surrounding missions parishes offering mass on alternating Sundays in Elkader, Guttenberg, Garnavillo and other parishes.

The first mass was said at this location in the mid 1840's in a log cabin that was located where the Elkader Post Office now stands. The first Baptism recorded here was in 1855. 
(click on photo to enlarge)

The first resident Pastor was Rev. Peter McGinnis who took charge in 1856. His first action was the purchase of land. Soon after began the erection of the first rock church from limestone, quarried on the hill behind the church. That early Church was a large building for so few members. It was 1858 before the roof was completed. The congregation had to stand or kneel on the dirt floor, because the interior was not finished until later. As time went on, the furnishings were added. The wooden min altar and the pair of side altars were tall and ornate.

At the time the church grounds were completely enclosed, with horses and a cow grazing within the fence. The horses were used to pull the pastor's buggy and the cow provided the pastor's milk. there were no gates, so the parishioners had to enter the grounds by crossing the stiles. Later the church fence was removed and the grounds were circled with a wrought iron fence and rows of pine trees.

Three large brass bells, cast in Cincinnati and weighing 5,400 pounds, were purchased for $1,800 in 1876. At that time, "there was not a larger or better set of bells anywhere in the states," stated a newspaper clipping of that time. A separate belfry was built on the Church grounds to house the bells. On the largest bell, the names of 72 donors were inscribed.

In 1887, Father J.F. Reilly was transferred from McGregor to Elkader. During this time, a sanctuary and sacristy were added to the Church with seating capacity for 100.

By 1897, St. Joseph's parish had outgrown the "Rock Church." After months of discussion, the majority of parishioners agreed to erect a new church. Thomas Byrnes, builder of the Elkader Keystone Arch Bridge, and the Bayless Hotel was awarded the contract for the erection of the new church without decoration and furniture at a price of $12,000. On April 24, 1898, the Cornerstone was laid. the Church was dedicated on Thanksgiving Day, 1900.

The dimensions of the main body of the building are 50' by 85' and the total length is 104', including the sanctuary. The steeple above the bell reaches 142' to the top of the Cross. The Gothic vaulting in the interior is supported by two rows of ornamental columns. These columns were originally marbleized. Between the columns on the vaulted ceiling were large circular oil paints of various Saints. During the 1960 renovation, major pieces of the church's original furnishings were removed. At that time, the interior was plastered with Kalloite and finished with artistic Fresco painting. The roof and spire were covered with the best quality Pennsylvania black slate. In the 1980's the roof was replaced completely with new black slate.

The inside woodwork and furniture was yellow pine and oak finished in their natural color. The ornate high Altar and the two side Altars were removed from the "Rock Church" and moved to the new Gothic structure. Two sacristies were built. In the beginning, the sacristies were connected by a walkway behind the high Altar. In 1998, the walk-way was removed, and the back high Altar was moved to the back wall and the original three step platform to the Altar was also removed. Over the years, the high Altar was cut down to what is today. The original seating capacity was 500, exclusive of the gallery for the organ and choir. Pews were replaced in 1997 and the seating is now about 300.

Many of the windows, glazed with Cathedral stained glass were memorials. The tree bells were transferred to the belfry of the new Church.

A few years ago, the original blue prints of the interior of this church were found in the attic of a house in Elkader that had been originally owned by John Schneider who was the chief carpenter for the interior of the church. They were in excellent condition and color.

In the 1998 Church renovation, the woodwork was stripped. The interior painted and some of the original furnishings were restored. Other pieces were found and used in other ways. Parts of a confessional were returned and are now on the back wall of the choir loft were they are used as an ornate stand for the Sacred Heart Statue. The hanging brass Sanctuary Lamp was returned and again hangs in the front of the Tabernacle. The gates from the communion railing have been used as ornate tops for two side tables, one near the presider's chair and the other in the Reconciliation Chapel. The ornate ends of the other side Altar were used for the main mass table while the side Altar was turned into two stands which compliment the main Altar and can be used anywhere in the Sanctuary.

The old "Sedalia" became the presider's chair. The Pulpit, Baptismal Font and Ambry (storage for the Holy Oils) are all new but every effort was made to retain the "Gothic" design so that they seem part of the old rather than a stranger to it.

All of the work was done by woodworkers who are members of our parish

In 1998 John C. Kaiser Company, Dubuque, Iowa was selected to redecorate the interior of this wonderful church. Of special interest, is the way the beautiful stations and statues were shaded to pick up the gold and browns in the stained glass windows. The miraculous thing about all of the recent changes in the interior of the Church, is that they look like they belong.

St. Joseph Catholic Church today continues to be a house of prayer and worship for young and old alike.