Chronicles of Notre Dame du Lac
Edward Sorin, CSC -- Translated by John M. Toohey, CSC, 1895

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1855

pg 277            11. Laporte, Indiana.  This mission formed a station of the 
             Notre Dame district since 1842.  It is distant thirty miles, and 
             the journey is now made by rail in one hour.  In 1851 F. Sorin 
             opened a subscription for building a brick church there which was 
             to be called after the mystery of the day, the Nativity of the 
             Blessed Virgin.  But it was slow work.  The Catholics were not 
             numerous, and those best off lived far away in the country, coming 
             only occasionally to assist at the celebration of the holy 
             mysteries in a private house.
                  It was not until 1854 that the Fathers of the college took 
             upon themselves the responsibility of letting out the contract, 
             built the church, and opened it for worship the following year.  
             The congregation soon reassembled and all were astonished to see 
             how numerous they were.  Sisters were asked for, a house in front 
             of the church was bought, and the school began in the month of May 
             1855.
                  The following winter a young Father having taken the place of