St. Joseph in Pasco County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

St. Joseph Community

Photographed by Fr. Len Plazewski, November 8, 2010

1. St. Joseph Community Marker

Inscription.

St. Joseph Community. . , The St. Joseph community was founded by German Catholic immigrants who migrated to Florida from Minnesota. In March 1883, Andrew Barthle visited the area and in June 1883 his older brother, Bernard A. Barthle, established the first permanent home. Andrew settled across from Bernard in 1885. Known first as the “Barthle Settlement,” it was soon renamed the "St. Joseph Settlement” after the town in Minnesota from which they had emigrated., By 1888, Charles Barthle, Andrew’s younger brother, and a number of other families including the Blommels, Boettingers, Buttweilers, Fritzlers, Gerners, Nathes and Zierdens, had also joined the community. In July 1888, these pioneer families acquired five (5) acres of land from the Plant Investment Company, upon which they erected a small frame building, called Jubilee Chapel, to serve as a school and chapel. On October 1, 1888, Father Gerald Pilz, the Benedictine pastor of the parish in San Antonio, dedicated the building and celebrated the first Mass, naming the parish for the Sacred Heart of Jesus., On the same day, the school opened with the installation of its first teacher, Bernard A. Barthle. In September 1889, the Benedictine Sister of Holy Name Convent began teaching at St. Joseph School. When a church building was constructed in 1892, the Jubilee Chapel continued to serve as the schoolhouse until 1918., Because of a devastating freeze around the turn of the century, the pioneer families, who were farmers, could no longer support the school. They then asked the county to assume financial responsibility for it. Except for the years 1918-1921, the Benedictine sisters continued as the school’s teachers until it closed in 1981., In 1918, the county purchased an acre of land next to the church property where it erected a one-room frame building to serve as the school. A second room was added in 1924. After St. Joseph Public School closed, the parish bought the building and property for the Sacred Heart Daycare., The original Sacred Heart Church was replaced in 1978, constructed as in pioneer years, by the St. Joseph community. In 1889 Sacred Heart Cemetery was established on land donated by August Gerner., The St. Joseph Post Office (1893-1918) transferred to Dade City in 1918.

The St. Joseph community was founded by German Catholic immigrants who migrated to Florida from Minnesota. In March 1883, Andrew Barthle visited the area and in June 1883 his older brother, Bernard A. Barthle, established the first permanent home. Andrew settled across from Bernard in 1885. Known first as the “Barthle Settlement,” it was soon renamed the "St. Joseph Settlement” after the town in Minnesota from which they had emigrated.

By 1888, Charles Barthle, Andrew’s younger brother, and a number of other families including the Blommels, Boettingers, Buttweilers, Fritzlers, Gerners, Nathes and Zierdens, had also joined the community. In July 1888, these pioneer families acquired five (5) acres of land from the Plant Investment Company, upon which they erected a small frame building, called Jubilee Chapel, to serve as a school and chapel. On October 1, 1888, Father Gerald Pilz, the Benedictine pastor of the parish in San Antonio, dedicated the building and celebrated the first Mass, naming the parish for the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

On the same day, the school opened with the installation of its first teacher, Bernard A. Barthle. In September 1889, the Benedictine Sister of Holy Name Convent began teaching at St. Joseph School. When a church building was constructed in 1892, the Jubilee Chapel continued to serve as the schoolhouse until 1918.

Because of a devastating freeze around the turn of

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the century, the pioneer families, who were farmers, could no longer support the school. They then asked the county to assume financial responsibility for it. Except for the years 1918-1921, the Benedictine sisters continued as the school’s teachers until it closed in 1981.

In 1918, the county purchased an acre of land next to the church property where it erected a one-room frame building to serve as the school. A second room was added in 1924. After St. Joseph Public School closed, the parish bought the building and property for the Sacred Heart Daycare.

The original Sacred Heart Church was replaced in 1978, constructed as in pioneer years, by the St. Joseph community. In 1889 Sacred Heart Cemetery was established on land donated by August Gerner.

The St. Joseph Post Office (1893-1918) transferred to Dade City in 1918.

Erected by Pasco County Historical Preservation Committee and the Pasco County Board of County Commissioners.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Immigration • Religion & Religious Structures • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical month for this entry is March 1883.

Location. 28° 22.57′ N, 82° 17.019′ W. Marker is in St. Joseph, Florida, in Pasco County. It is on St. Joe Road (County Road 578) east of Lake Lola Road/Scharbar Road, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 32145 St Joe Road, Dade City FL 33523, United States of America. Touch for directions.

St. Joseph Community Marker reverse image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Fr. Len Plazewski, November 8, 2010

2. St. Joseph Community Marker reverse

Regionally, this marker is on Florida’s Gulf Coast

and on Tampa Bay.

It is also in the American South

and on the Gulf Coast.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Chipco Township (approx. 1.6 miles away); San Antonio Railroad Depot (approx. 2.3 miles away); Veterans Memorial (approx. 2.8 miles away); City of San Antonio, Florida (approx. 2.9 miles away); Joseph J. "Joe" Herrmann 1912-2002/Edward J. "Eddie" Herrmann 1936-2017 (approx. 2.9 miles away); St. Anthony of Padua Church (approx. 2.9 miles away); St. Anthony School (approx. 3 miles away); Lake Jovita Club (approx. 3 miles away).

Additional commentary.
1.
Marker was replaced on 2/21/2025 after original was destroyed by a tire and rim that was ejected from a passing trailer.

— Submitted February 22, 2025, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida.

Sacred Heart Church and Old St. Joseph School image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Fr. Len Plazewski, November 8, 2010

3. Sacred Heart Church and Old St. Joseph School

Marker is visible to the right of the Sacred Heart Church sign, behind the fence, at the edge of the parking lot.

Sacred Heart Cemetery image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Fillmon, February 21, 2025

4. Sacred Heart Cemetery

Photographed by Tim Fillmon, February 21, 2025

5. Sacred Heart Cemetery.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 22, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 8, 2010, by Fr. Len Plazewski of Tampa, Florida. This page has been viewed 3,018 times since then and 71 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 8, 2010, by Fr. Len Plazewski of Tampa, Florida. 4, 5. submitted on February 22, 2025, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.