Church of St. Mary (Melrose, Minnesota) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St. Mary |
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Church of St. Boniface
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The Church of St. Mary in 2015
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 Location in Minnesota
Location in the United States
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| Location | 203 5th Avenue Southeast, Melrose, Minnesota |
| Area | Less than one acre |
| Built | 1899 (church), 1907 (rectory) |
| Built by | E. D. Richmond |
| Architect | George Bergmann |
| Architectural style | Romanesque Revival (church), Queen Anne (rectory) |
| NRHP reference No. | 93001234 |
| Designated | November 12, 1993 |
The Church of St. Mary was a very old and important Roman Catholic church located in Melrose, Minnesota. It was once known as the Church of St. Boniface. This church and its nearby rectory (the house where the priest lived) were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1993.
This honor meant they were important to the history of the area. They showed how much German American families contributed to the culture and religion in Minnesota's small towns long ago. Sadly, a big fire damaged the Church of St. Mary on March 11, 2016. The old church building was taken down starting May 19, 2020. A new church, costing $10 million, was built close by.
Contents
History of the Church
How the Church Started
The church community began in 1878. It was started by German immigrants who came to the area. This was six years after another church, St. Patrick's, was founded by Irish immigrants nearby.
The first church building was made of wood. It was built in 1879 and cost about $3,000. In 1882, the community also started a Catholic school and a convent for nuns. The larger, more permanent church building, which stood for many years, was finished in 1898. It cost $50,000 to build. The older wooden church then became the school, but it was destroyed in a fire in 1910.
Merging Parishes
In 1958, the bishop of the Diocese of St. Cloud made a decision. He decided that St. Boniface and St. Patrick's churches would join together. They formed a new church community called St. Mary's. The St. Patrick's church was getting too small for its members. They needed more space. In 1970, the old St. Patrick's church building was taken down.
Today, the Church of St. Mary is part of a group of four churches. This group includes churches in Meire Grove, Greenwald, and Spring Hill.
The Fire and Demolition
On March 11, 2016, a large fire badly damaged the Church of St. Mary. Luckily, no one was hurt in the fire. Firefighters put out the blaze before the roof or outside walls were completely destroyed. Investigators later announced that the fire had been started on purpose.
Many people from the church and the community wanted to fix the old church. It was 122 years old at the time. However, despite their efforts, the building began to be taken down on May 19, 2020.
See also
- List of Catholic churches in the United States
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Stearns County, Minnesota
