A new exhibit at the St. Jerome School and Museum in Fancy Farm is the the 4th Degree, second-generation Knights of Columbus regalia uniform used by the late Edward F. Pendel, donated by his wife Linda Pendel in memory of her husband. Also seen is the chalice of the late Thomas R. Elliott, donated by son and fellow Knight of Columbus Will Elliott in memory of his father.
COURTESY OF JOHN CARRICO
St. Jerome School and Museum continues to be active despite pandemic
BY JOHN CARRICO, SPECIAL TO THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC
St. Jerome School and Museum in Fancy Farm has been busy adding exhibits and doing renovation work even though it has been closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 4th Degree, second-generation Knights of Columbus regalia uniform used by the late Edward F. Pendel was donated by his wife Linda Pendel in memory of her husband. “Eddie” was a member of the Knights of Columbus Msgr. Albert Thompson Assembly #1594 in Fancy Farm. Also included in the exhibit is the Knights of Columbus chalice of the late Thomas R. Elliott, donated by son and fellow knight Will Elliott in memory of his father. The mannequin was donated by Assembly #1594. The podium for the chalice currently displays the names of Knights of Columbus Bob Spalding, Eddie Pendel, and John Ed Ballard who are deceased.
Newly on display at the St. Jerome School and Museum in Fancy Farm are a cassock and other possessions of the late Fr. Rudolph Charles Carrico, a priest of the Diocese of Owensboro born in Fancy Farm in 1904. COURTESY OF JOHN CARRICO
The other new exhibit includes items used by Fr. Rudolph Charles Carrico, who was a priest of the Diocese of Owensboro born in Fancy Farm in 1904 and who was the son of William Constantine and Alice Bridget (Cash) Carrico. He was ordained a priest in 1931 and died in 1957. The items, donated by the Connie and Katie (Carrico) Thomas family, through the efforts of Robert Eugene Thomas, include his cassock, pipe, briefcase and correspondence, lock of his hair and picture, as well as items he used while he was a monk in Utah in 1950/51.Those items include a wooden spoon and fork, fabric sleeves and slippers with the number 116 on them, and a prayer cord.
Butch Hobbs, a member of St. Jerome Parish, built and donated the wooden podium and stands for these exhibits.
Work has been completed on the second floor of the school to provide heating and air conditioning to the hallway and the northeast classroom. Electrical and lighting work has been completed for the hallway and all four classrooms. A website for the school and museum is the final stages of development. We appreciate the donation of the exhibit memorabilia by our school and museum supporters and look forward to when we can once again have the facility open to the public.
John Carrico belongs to St. Jerome Parish in Fancy Farm and is a member of the St. Jerome School and Museum Committee. He may be contacted at (270) 331-0948.
Originally printed in the May 2021 issue of The Western Kentucky Catholic.
