s , ▁the ▁German ▁Catholic ▁Church , ▁in ▁recognition ▁of ▁the ▁parish ' s ▁many ▁German ▁parish ion ers , ▁as ▁well ▁as ▁other ▁names . ▁The ▁confusion ▁ended ▁in ▁January ▁ 1 8 7 4 ▁when ▁St . ▁Joseph ' s ▁was ▁given ▁its ▁own ▁past or . ▁The ▁new ▁parish ▁was ▁placed ▁under ▁the ▁patron age ▁of ▁St . ▁Mary ▁of ▁the ▁Ass umption . ▁At ▁its ▁beginning ▁St . ▁Mary ' s ▁had ▁ 1 , 0 0 0 ▁parish ion ers ▁and ▁it ▁double d ▁in ▁size ▁by ▁ 1 8 8 7 . ▁There ▁were ▁ 2 , 5 0 0 ▁parish ion ers ▁when ▁the ▁parish ▁was ▁divided ▁to ▁create ▁Sac red ▁Heart ▁parish ▁in ▁ 1 8 9 3 . ▁ ▁German ▁was ▁used ▁in ▁the ▁parish ▁throughout ▁the ▁ 1 9 th ▁century , ▁but ▁was ▁replaced ▁more ▁and ▁more ▁by ▁English ▁in ▁the ▁early ▁ 2 0 th ▁century . ▁Anti - G erman ▁sentiment ▁ended ▁the ▁practice ▁with ▁the ▁on set ▁of ▁World ▁War ▁I . ▁ ▁The ▁church ▁building ▁was ▁designed ▁by ▁the ▁St . ▁Louis , ▁Missouri ▁architect ural ▁firm ▁of ▁Wal sh ▁& ▁Schmidt . ▁The ▁corner stone ▁was ▁laid ▁on ▁July ▁ 8 , ▁ 1 8 6 6 . ▁Work ▁proceeded ▁until ▁late ▁ 1 8 6 7 ▁and ▁did ▁not ▁res ume ▁until ▁ 1 8 6 9 ▁when ▁the ▁tower ▁was ▁finished . ▁The ▁building ▁measures ▁ ▁by ▁. ▁A ▁wooden ▁sp ire ▁was ▁added ▁to