Saint Ignatius Loyola Church facts for kids
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Saint Ignatius Loyola Church
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 Location in Michigan
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| Location | 703 E. Houghton Ave., Houghton, Michigan |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1898 |
| Architect | E. Brielmaier & Sons |
| Architectural style | Gothic |
| NRHP reference No. | 87001261 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | August 3, 1987 |
Saint Ignatius Loyola Church is a beautiful church found in Houghton, Michigan. It's located at 703 East Houghton Avenue. This church was recognized as a special Michigan State Historic Site in 1977. Later, in 1987, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places, which lists important historical places across the country.
Contents
History of Saint Ignatius Loyola Church
Building the First Church
Long ago, in the early days of Houghton, Roman Catholics (Christians who follow the Pope) gathered for worship. They first met in a boarding house, which was like a shared home. Later, they moved their meetings to a school building.
A leader named Bishop Frederic Baraga, who lived in L'Anse, Michigan, helped start the effort to build a proper church. Work began on the new church in early 1859. On July 31, 1859, Bishop Baraga officially opened the first St. Ignatius Loyola Church.
A New Church for a Growing Town
From 1859 onward, many different priests served the church, but usually only for a short time. However, in 1895, Father Antoine Ivan Rezek became the pastor. He stayed for a very long time, until 1946!
In the late 1800s, the Keweenaw Peninsula area grew very quickly. This was because of the local copper mining industry. Many Catholic families from different backgrounds moved to Houghton. Building a new, bigger church was one of Father Rezek's main goals.
He hired a company called E. Brielmaier & Sons from Milwaukee to design the church. This company designed many Catholic churches in the western Upper Peninsula during that time. Construction on the current church building started in 1898. It was finally finished in 1902.
Changes Over the Years
The church building has had some important additions over the years. In 1928, a glassed-in entrance area was added to the front. A new section was built at the back of the church between 1959 and 1964. Then, a connected building was added in 1991 and 1992.
Inside the church, there were also updates. Major renovations happened in 1959 and again in the late 1980s. These changes helped keep the church beautiful and useful for its community.
What the Church Looks Like
Outside the Church
St. Ignatius Loyola Church is a grand building that sits on a hillside above downtown Houghton. It is built in a style called Neo-Gothic, which means it looks like old Gothic churches from Europe. The church is made from red Jacobsville sandstone.
The front of the church is symmetrical, meaning it's the same on both sides. It has a tall, square tower in the middle, topped with a pointed spire. Inside the tower's bell area, there is a single brass bell. This bell was made in 1860 in New York.
Inside the Church
The church has beautiful stained glass windows. These colorful windows were made by Gavin Art Glass Works in Milwaukee and put in place in 1907. Inside the main part of the church, called the nave, there is a very detailed Gothic altar. An altar is a special table used for religious ceremonies.
