St. Michael's Catholic Church Bell

In the early 1870's, amid much unrest in Poland, Francis Paprocki, a blacksmith, left his homeland in search of a better life and came to America, settling near what is now known as Tarnov, Nebraska. St. Michael's Catholic Church was founded in 1880, and in 1883 a wooden church was built on six acres of land donated by Mr. and Mrs. Francis Paprocki. In January, 1892, a decision was made to enlarge the church and build a sacristry, and work began on April 8, 1892; the bell in the steeple was donated by Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Paprocki. On December 17, 1899, the parish recognized the need for a larger church, and the new church was dedicated on October 11, 1901. In 1911, a school was built and the bell was transferred to a cupola at the school, then removed from the school in September, 1978.

Columbus, Nebraska · United States