Known from news reports in The Baltimore Sun and The (Gettysburg, Pa.) Star and Banner in 1854. See DOCUMENTS tab.

From the church history web page:
"St. John Neumann, as Bishop of Philadelphia, notes in his official diary that the cornerstone of the church was laid in 1852. In 1852, Father Crane, a priest at Mt. St. Mary’s Seminary received monies to begin the construction of a church in what was now called Fairfield. In 1855, Bishop Neumann visited the church and conferred the Sacrament of Confirmation on 29 Catholics. A ledger in the parish files dated 1909, gives the name “St. Mary’s of the Snows.” It seems that “St. Mary’s” was the popular name even from the earliest days.

There is some confusion about the history of St. Mary’s due to an undocumented one page history written by Father McDermott in 1905. His written statement says “Father Deneckere from Gettysburg, built the church in 1854 and named it The Church of the Immaculate Conception.” This story he placed on file at the chancery office, and thus the name of the parish remains to this date.

The original church building was located at 12 East Main Street and was sold to the Fairfield Church of Christ."