Sarah Lim: A century ago, Merced County saw snowfall

A century ago on New Year’s Day, it snowed in Merced County. The snowstorm was greeted with a great deal of enthusiasm as residents around the county indulged on this rare occasion in snowman building and snowball fights. So would this be the sign of an eventful year?

Well, all things considered, 1916 was an important year in Merced County history, from the death of cattle king Henry Miller, to the opening of the Bank of Italy in Merced, to establishing the library as a county institution. Miller’s death would eventually lead to the dissolution of Miller and Lux Enterprise, the Bank of Italy would further consolidate the financial institutions in Merced, and a public library system administeredby the county would continue to improve the life of its residents.

But to many in Merced’s communities of faith, 1916 was a bittersweet year. Catholics mourned the passage of their beloved Father Michael McNamara, while Presbyterians celebrated the laying of the cornerstone of the Central Presbyterian Church.

McNamara, who died March 23, 1916, at age 79, should be remembered as the “Reverend Father of Merced” as he ministered to the faithful of his community before there was even a Merced. His profound influence, not only on the Catholic community but also on the larger Merced community, was greatly felt when all the schools and businesses closed for hours during his funeral service and when his funeral was attended by representatives of all denominations. His stature as a religious leader was apparent as Archbishop Edward Hanna declared that his name “should be forever a benediction” in the eulogy.

Born as the second of 10 children in an Irish family, McNamara spent his early life and received his theological training in Ireland. Shortly after he was ordained in June 1870, he headed for California and began his long and dedicated service in his adopted homeland. Interestingly, McNamara took over as the pastor of St. Joseph’s in Mariposa on his 34th birthday, on March 19, 1871.

As a pioneer priest in a not-yet-developed region, his pastoral duties often took McNamara to wherever he was needed including a settlement known as the Bear Creek District, about 2 miles from present-day Merced. It was there that McNamara’s baptism of a child of William Thornton, on June 4, 1871, marks his first recorded visit to Merced.

When Merced was established as a railroad town in 1872, the Bear Creek District was dissolved and the residents relocated to Merced. The new town was further developed when the post office was transferred from Bear Creek to Merced in March, and when Merced was chosen as the new county seat in November that same year.

McNamara faced challenges in the new town with its expanding population. Holding Mass and ceremonies in private homes, public meeting halls, even business warehouses, became increasingly difficult for the growing number of Catholics. McNamara decided it was time to build the first Catholic church in Merced County. Under his leadership and with the support of his parishioners, a simple timbered structure was erected on the northeast corner of Canal and 21st streets and was dedicated as St. Patrick’s Church in October 1873.

The new church demanded more time and energy of McNamara as he traveled from Mariposa to Merced much more frequently. By 1876, it became apparent that his parish home should be relocated to Merced. McNamara continued to minister to the faithful and oversee church business in Mariposa until the Rev. Antonio Fassanotti was appointed to the Mariposa parish in 1884.

When McNamara died on March 23, 1916, the Merced community not only lost a leader but also a friend. His remains are interred at Our Lady of Mercy Church.

While the passing of McNamara marked the end of an era for St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, the laying of the cornerstone of the Central Presbyterian Church marked a new beginning for Merced’s Presbyterians. What was unique about this ceremony was the symbolism of unity.

When Merced was still a relatively new town, two branches of Presbyterians developed here. The First Presbyterian Church was organized in August 1873 with 10 members. One of its most influential members was Charles Henry Huffman, “Father of Merced,” whose son’s funeral would be the first service held in the newly completed church in 1879. The edifice stood on the northwest corner of 22nd and Canal streets.

Merced’s Cumberland Presbyterian Church was organized in March 1876 with 16 members, and a church building was erected on the northwest corner of 19th and Canal streets in 1877. It was said that its original parishioners were mostly Southerners as the city at the time experienced an influx of settlers from the Southern states.

Setting aside their differences, the church leaders met and discussed a possible union in the winter of 1910 and subsequently the congregations voted for unification. Thus, the two churches became one in October 1912 and adopted the name of Central Presbyterian Church of Merced in February 1913. The cornerstone of the new church was laid on October 28, 1916, and the church on the southwest corner of 20th and Canal streets was dedicated in 1917. Today, the Central Presbyterian Church is the oldest continually used church in Merced. It is older than Our Lady of Mercy Church by a year.

In retrospect, the rare snow in Merced on New Years’ Day in 1916 marked the beginning of an eventful year.

For more history of Merced County, please visit the Courthouse Museum. While at the museum, don’t forget to check out our exhibit that celebrates the 10th anniversary of UC Merced.

This story was originally published January 22, 2016 at 2:16 PM with the headline "Sarah Lim: A century ago, Merced County saw snowfall."