History of St. John's Parish
From the booklet “St. John’s Church, Borger, Texas February 25, 1962”

When oil was discovered in the Panhandle Field in 1921, the area around Borger was cattle country, sparsely inhabited but rich in history, the site of recorded Indian battles (1864,1874) and perhaps traversed by Fray Juan Padilla and Coronado ’s Expedition in the sixteenth century.

     In early 1926, twin oil wells blew in, and into the undeveloped area came thousands, attracted by the “black gold” under the surface. On March 8, 1926, the city of Borger was born, “entirely a commercial enterprise”, with a Missouri entrepreneur, A. P. Borger, selling out his townsite in six months and with a city of tents, shacks, and “shotgun houses” mushrooming on the bare prairie. Thirty thousand persons came into the “boom town” within ninety days to drill over 1500 oil wells and live under extremely difficult conditions. The necessities of life had to be trucked thirty miles from Panhandle, water sold for five dollars a barrel, streets were muddy lanes, hastily erected houses were mere shelters without water, lights or sewerage, and dust was everywhere.

     Law and order in Borger was non-existent until October 28, 1926, when the city was incorporated and city officials elected. Even then, the law and order was ineffective, so much so, that the town became known as “The Sodom of the Plains”, because of its corruption, unsavory conditions, killings and violence. The Texas Rangers and then the National Guard, were called in to establish order.

     In spite of the unpleasant early history and predictions that the town would die at the end of its boom, Borger survived. Good Christian Lives were led by many early residents and churches were organized the year of Borger’s birth.

Establishing the Faith

Father John H. Krukkert, pastor at St. Francis, was a zealous missioner. Hearing of the Borger boom, he drove thirty five miles over rough roads to round up Catholics, and to offer Mass at Nell’s Boarding House, Gray’s Boarding House, the Francis Dunnigan home, and at the American Theatre. The stocky Dutch priest not only assembled a flock, but also solicited donations, so that he was able on September 25, 1926, to purchase three lots on Hedgecoke Street and erect a temporary church which was in use by December.

     D. C. Kennedy, one of the first Catholics in Borger, described the church thus: “It was like a boxcar, with rounded roof, made of 22 foot long 1” x 2” boards, covered with tar paper. W. E. French, a pioneer parishioner, recalls that it was referred to as “the bunkhouse church”, as it was similar to sleeping quarters for oilfield workers. In this church, the first baptism was on March 8, 1927; the first wedding, April 18, 1927.

     The feeling of impermanency, the belief that Borger would soon become a ghost town, prevented improvements, until Bishop Rudolph A. Gerken, first bishop if the newly created Diocese of Amarillo, visited the town, and “told the people that they must have a church.” Father Edward Clinton, Amarillo, took charge of Borger in November 1927, and erected an oblong frame building, 56’ X 30’, on the corner of Hedgecoke and Adams Streets at a cost of $917.72.

     The Church of St. John the Evangelist was dedicated by Bishop Gerken, November 4, 1928. It served the parish under Father Clinton (1927-30); Father Elmer McFadden (1930-1931); Father Gabriel Diamante, S. A. (1933-34), with the priests coming from Amarillo. Progress was made during those years despite the fact that the parish was small and those were depression years.

Keeping the Faith On July 12, 1934, Father Andrew Quante was named Borger’s resident pastor. He slept on a cot in the sacristy until a rectory was provided. On December 13, 1934, a “bunkhouse” was purchased from Empire Gas and Fuel Company of Pampa. The building was remodeled into a rectory and parish hall at a total cost of $3,422. It was formally opened April 22, 1935.

     St. John’s Parish grew into a closely knit Family of God. Improvements were made, and an active Altar Society earned enough money to aid in furnishing the rectory and hall. On December 9, 1938, Father James L. Daly was appointed pastor. He was succeeded in 1939 by Father Walter R. Washila, with Father Rupert M. Schindler as assistant (March 1941-January 1942). From 1942-1946 Father Charles A. Knapp was pastor.      During this period, roads and sidewalks were paved, trees and shrubbery planted, a fence erected, a garage built. The interior of the church was improved. The pastor cared for the missions of Perryton, Spearman and Huntoon.

Extending the Faith In the ‘40’s and ‘50’s the future of Borger was assured, so St. John’s grew and improved, and began to realize definite ways to extend the faith.

     Father Matthew F. Schafle became pastor, September 14, 1946. His fourteen years tenure gave stability to the parish and brought about changes to permit greater spiritual development of his people, the Catholic education of their children, the opening of the doors of the Church to converts, and the unification of the parish to insure its maximum accomplishments.

     In September 1948, the church was extended 24 feet. Father B. J. Binversie became assistant pastor, in charge of missions, and in 1950, became the first pastor at Spearman, thus relieving Borger of its missions.

     On June 30, 1949, the old Presbyterian Church, two blocks south of St. John’s, was purchased with the expectation that a parochial school might soon be a reality. That same summer a 14’ by 30’ garage was built near the rectory.

     Then the local picture changed, with Borger becoming a fast-expanding, more stable community. Realizing that existing parish properties would not fulfill future needs, the parish acquired twenty acres of land west of Borger in1953. At first, plans were made to build a new church, and a fund drive was conducted.

     Reconsideration at a parish meeting brought the decision to construct a school first, using its auditorium as a church, since the School Sisters of St. Francis of Panhandle had agreed to serve as teachers.

     On February 13, 1955, ground was broken for the new St. John’s Church-School, rectory and convent. Midnight Mass, Christmas, 1955, saw the auditorium used as a church for the first time. Bishop John L. Morkovsky, Amarillo’s new auxiliary bishop, officiated at formal dedication services on April 22, 1956.

     With adequate facilities and the assignment of assistant pastors to St. John’s the extension of the faith increased. Father Daniel J. O’Sullivan was assistant in 1955. Father Joseph James 1958-59; Father Curtis Halfmann, 1959-60; Father George Sallaway, 1960.