Saint Francis De Sales Catholic Church (Cincinnati, Ohio) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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St. Francis De Sales Church Historic District
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Front of the church
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 Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Location | Woodburn Ave. and Madison Rd., Cincinnati, Ohio |
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| Area | 18 acres (73,000 m2) |
| Built | 1879 |
| Architect | Francis G. Himpler |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 74001512 |
| Added to NRHP | March 1, 1974 |
Saint Francis De Sales Catholic Church is a beautiful old church located in the East Walnut Hills neighborhood of Cincinnati, Ohio, United States. It stands at 2900 Woodburn Avenue.
This church is known for its amazing history and special features. It's a place where many people have gathered for a long time.
Contents
A Look at the Church's History
The church community started way back in 1849. Their first building was ready on November 3, 1850. The church is named after Saint Francis de Sales.
Building the Church
The first stone for the current church was placed on June 30, 1878. A special leader named Archbishop John Baptist Purcell was there. Almost 10,000 people came to watch! The church building was officially opened on December 20, 1879. Many of the first members of the church were from Germany.
The Main Altar
Inside the church, you can find one of the most beautiful altars in the United States. An altar is a special table used in church services. This amazing altar was given as a gift by Joseph and Agnes Kleine. It was carved by Fred and Henry Schroeder from Cincinnati. They used designs by A. Kloster from New York.
The altar is made of pure white Rutland marble. Even the floor around it is white marble. It has shiny onyx pillars and delicate Gothic spires. There are also statues of Saint Joseph and Saint Agnes. These statues honor the people who donated the altar.
Discovering "Big Joe" the Bell
One of the most famous things about St. Francis De Sales Church is its huge bell. It's called Joseph, but everyone knows it as "Big Joe". This bell is the largest swinging bell ever made in the United States!
How Big is "Big Joe"?
"Big Joe" was made by the VanDuzen Company in downtown Cincinnati. The bell is about 9 by 7 feet (2.7 m × 2.1 m) tall and wide. It weighs a massive 35,000 pounds (16,000 kg)! That's like the weight of several cars. The part that hits the bell, called the clapper, weighs 640 pounds (290 kg) by itself.
The Bell's Loud Sound
The bell was named after a church member who gave the most money to help pay for it. When "Big Joe" was first rung, people said you could hear it up to 15 miles (24 km) away! It was so powerful that it even rattled nearby buildings. It also loosened stones and mortar in the church walls. Because it was so loud and strong, people decided to stop swinging it. For over 100 years, "Big Joe" has been rung by a special hammer hitting its side.
A Historic Landmark
In early 1974, St. Francis De Sales Church became a very important place. The church, its school, and the rectory (where the priests live) were all named a historic district. This means they are protected because of their history. The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This list includes important historic places all over the country.
