Many of these immigrants began arriving by way of Winnipeg, Canada, in 1896, and came from several Ukrainian villages, including Boryshkivtsi [uk], Melnytsia-Podilska, and Okopy in Ternopil Oblast.

[6] In 1912, St. Josephat Ukrainian Catholic Church was established in Gorham as a mission of St. Demetrius,[3]: E6  and they initially shared a priest.

Because of Billings County's remote location, priests often had to travel long distances to perform religious ceremonies in the community.

This dispute ultimately ousted the priest from Ukraina; he then moved to the church in Gorham, causing enmity between the Catholics in both towns.

[3]: E6  In 1928, a fire destroyed St. Demetrius Church, and the Catholics blamed the Orthodox residents, although foul play was never proven.

Many older residents chose to retire there from their homesteads, while others gave up farming as a result of the Great Depression and entered new fields of work.

[1] St. Demetrius Church was moved next to St. Mary's Cemetery in Fairfield in 1949,[4]: 96 [3]: E7  where it continued to be run by then-pastor Michael Bobersky.