From: “Rush County, Kansas..a century in story and pictures” 1976
The settlers of Loretto came to Rush County in August 1876 from Pfeifer, Russia, situated 75 miles southwest of Saratov, Ukraine, and west of the Volga River. In 1875 three explorers were sent to Kansas to locate a new home for those who would soon leave Russia. They reported that the land in Kansas was good, very much like that in Russia with fertile soil, grass and streams, but with a more moderate climate.
By 1912, seventeen families of the Ellis County settlement of Pfeifer were living just over the county line in Rush County. These families had contributed money toward the construction of a church in Pfeifer with the stipulation that if they decided to establish their own congregation, they could have that money back. Thus, with $3,000 in funds, they decided to build their own church, four and one-half miles south of Pfeifer. Adam S. Urban and Stephen S. Urban each donated five acres of land for the townsite; Martin Urban gave one acre for a cemetery; and Joseph Urban donated land for a church, parsonage, and school. From this, the town of Illinois was born.
In the fall of 1912, a combination church and school was built. It was a two-story structure 60 feet in length and 28 feet in width. Classes were held on the first level, and the second floor served as the church. In 1913, parishioners constructed a rectory.
In 1913, the name of the town was changed from Illinois to Marienfeld, and later, at the recommendation of Father Stutz, renamed Loretto. It was named after a city near the Adriatic Sea in Italy which is home to the Santa Casa di Loreto, a shrine believed to be the home of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
That year, the townsite was divided into building lots that were sold to raise money for the church. In 1916, there were sixty families living in town and a few years later, the school enrollment peaked at seventy students. At first, laymen taught in the school. In 1918, the Sisters of the Order of the Precious Blood were employed as teachers and a convent was built.
Construction of a new brick church began in the spring of 1927, and in May of 1928, the new “Mariahilf Kirche ” (St. Mary’s Help of Christians Church) was dedicated.
Loretto had a marching band during the years from 1916-1936 that proudly entertained at baseball games and celebrations in Loretto and the towns in surrounding counties. Music was in the heart of all the families. For many years, Loretto was also known for its winning baseball team. In 1920, Loretto managed to defeat Fort Hays State College, 10-8 in a dramatic upset. For a time, the Loretto club played semi-professional baseball in a lighted ballpark.
On March 10, 1948, the old combination church and school building was destroyed by fire. Parishioners built a new parish hall in 1955, and a new public school followed in 1958. The school remained in operation until being consolidated with the Otis-Bison Unified School District in 1968.
On June 29, 1997, the final mass was held in the church and the building was re-designated as a shrine. By 1999, less than a dozen people remained in the community. Today, very little remains of the towns of Loretto and Pfeifer.