Father Cuthbert Poirier was appointed the first Pastor of Fruita in the summer of 1911 by Bishop Matz of Denver and it was at this time that the rectory was built.
The mission at Palisade was assigned as part of the Fruita Parish in an effort to help the Grand Junction priests with their heavy workloads. Father Poirier was instrumental in erecting a permanent building there. St. Anne's Church was dedicated in 1914.
His first recorded baptism was dated December 11, 1911 and the first marriage on record is dated April 7, 1912.
Father Cuthbert went home to his native Montreal, Canada for a short vacation in 1914. However, due to the lack of priests in Montreal, as a result of the start of WWI, Father Cuthbert was not allowed to return to Fruita.
The Reverent John B. White, assistant rector of St. Philomena's parish in Denver was named by Bishop N.C. Matz, to succeed Father Poirer.