Saint Joseph's Parish in Salem Township began in 1849 when the bishop of the newly formed Diocese of Cleveland
encouraged pioneer settlers to gather for mass in a log chapel constructed on the farm of John Schumacher. The Precious Blood
priests (Sangunists) traveled from New Riegel several times a year to celebrate Mass in this 20x26 foot chapel. In 1859, as the
county began to construct roads, the location of the parish shifted by more than a mile to a spot where two roads would intersect.
At this more convenient spot, a larger frame church which measured 25x50 feet was erected. In that same year, the first parish
cemetery was developed across the road from the church. In 1883, when the parish had grown to 38 families, ground was broken for a
larger church with a 128 foot steeple. This third frame church, which measured 40x85 feet was completed in 1888; but tragically,
it burned to the ground on December 10, 1893. By 1896 a church made of brick with an 80 foot bell tower and measuring 40x80 feet,
was dedicated on the same site which served the two previous churches. Between 1888 and 1912 St. Joseph alternated as a mission
between Carey and Kirby several times. In 1912, the bishop of the newly formed Diocese of Toledo invited the Conventual Franciscans
to begin serving at the shrine of Our Lady of Consolation in Carey and also to pastor the mission at St. Joseph. For the next 91
years a succession of several friars served at St. Joseph until the Franciscans informed the diocese that they could not longer
pastor St. Joseph due to the dwindling number of friars. From 2003 until the closing of St. Joseph's Parish in 2005, it was clustered
with St. Mary's Parish, Kirby and St. Peter's Parish, Upper Sandusky.
