Pencil drawing of St. Mary’s church in Barr Township, signed by Father Vieck. A Catholic mission in northeastern Barr Township existed as early as 1815 when it was served by the Rev. Simon LaLumiere of Vincennes. A parish was officially formed in 1834 and the first resident minister was a French noblemen named Fr. Maurice De St. Palais. A log chapel was built on land donated by Barnard Norris, Joseph D. Norris, and Mary Norris. There have been multiple church buildings over the years; the 1881 church, an 80′ by 55′ brick structure with a tall belfry tower, survived until it was destroyed by fire in 1925.
