Old St. Mary's Church (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Old St. Mary's Church
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Old St. Mary's Church
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 Location in Wisconsin
Location in the United States
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| Location | 844 N. Broadway, Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1846–47, 1866–67 |
| Architect | Victor Schulte |
| Architectural style | Greek-Ionic / Zopfstil |
| NRHP reference No. | 73000253 |
| Added to NRHP | March 7, 1973 |
Old St. Mary's Church in Milwaukee, Wisconsin is a very old church. It was built in 1846 and 1847. The church was started by German Catholic immigrants a year before it was built. It was the first German church for the area. At that time, Milwaukee had just become a city. Wisconsin was not even a state yet! Old St. Mary's is the oldest church building still standing in Milwaukee. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. This means it is an important historic site.
Contents
Discovering Old St. Mary's Church Design
The church was designed by Victor Schulte. He was an immigrant from Prussia, a part of Germany. Schulte designed the church in a style called Zopfstil. This German style is similar to the American Federal style. It was a familiar look for the German immigrants.
What is Zopfstil Architecture?
The Zopfstil style has a few key features. It has a low-pitched roof and windows with round tops. The buildings look simple and neat. This was different from the very fancy Baroque and Rococo styles. Victor Schulte also designed other churches in Milwaukee. These include St. John Cathedral and Holy Trinity Catholic Church. He used the same Zopfstil style for them.
Building the Church: Materials and Art
The first stone for Old St. Mary's was laid on April 19, 1846. The church is built from cream city brick. This is a light-colored brick made from clay found near Milwaukee. Inside, there is a beautiful wooden high altar. It was bought in 1848. A special painting of the Annunciation is behind the altar. This painting was a gift from King Ludwig I of Bavaria of Germany. It was painted by Franz Xavier Glink.
Changes and Updates Over Time
Old St. Mary's Church has changed a bit over the years. In 1860, a clock was added to the church tower. Three bronze bells were added in 1868. These bells were made in Munich, Germany.
Major Remodeling in the 1860s
The church had a big remodel from 1866 to 1867. Victor Schulte, the original architect, led this work too. Before this, the main church area had two floors. The bottom floor was used for classrooms for the parish school. The top floor was where church services, called Mass, were held.
In 1866, the church built a separate school building. This meant they could remove the classrooms from the church. The floor of the main worship space was then lowered. The east side of the church was made longer. The front of the church on the west side was also updated. A new spire was added in 1866. The church bells were hung in 1868.
Later Decorations and Additions
The inside of the church was redecorated after a fire in 1893. However, the outside of the church still looks much like it did after the 1867 remodel. That was just two years after the Civil War ended.
More recently, a statue of the Cuban Madonna was added. This statue is called Our Lady of Charity. It was installed because many Cuban immigrants joined the church.
