Saint Mary's Catholic Church (Dubuque, Iowa) facts for kids
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St. Mary's Catholic Church
Historic District |
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Location | 105 E. 15th, 1584 White, 1501 & 1561 Jackson Sts., Dubuque, Iowa |
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| Built | 1864-1867 (church) |
| Architect | John Mullany (church) |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival (church) |
| Part of | Washington Residential Historic District (ID15000725) |
| NRHP reference No. | 15000436 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | July 21, 2015 |
| Designated CP | October 13, 2015 |
Saint Mary's Catholic Church was once a very important church in Dubuque, Iowa. You can find it at 15th and White Streets. It's easy to spot because of its tall steeple, which is one of the highest around!
In 2015, the church and its surrounding buildings were added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are special places worth protecting because of their history. They are also part of the Washington Residential Historic District.
Contents
The History of St. Mary's Church
How It All Began
In the 1840s, many German families moved to Dubuque. A lot of them were Catholic. At first, they went to Mass at St. Raphael's Cathedral. But the cathedral became very full. More and more German and Irish families were moving to the city.
So, in 1849, the Bishop gave permission for 40 German families to start their own church. A man named Gerhard Hueckels gave them land. In 1850, they built a church called Holy Trinity. It was made of stone and had a small tower.
For a few years, there weren't many priests. A missionary priest helped the Holy Trinity church. Then, in 1853, they finally got their own priest.
Building a Bigger Church
Soon, many more German immigrants arrived. The small Holy Trinity church was too crowded. In 1863, the church leaders decided to build a new, bigger church. They wanted to support the growing number of families, which was over 300!
They first tried to buy another building, but it didn't work out. Instead, they bought an orchard for $3,000. This land, about seven blocks north of the old church, is where the current St. Mary's Church stands today.
Construction of the New St. Mary's Church
Building the new church started in 1864. The plans were drawn by John Mullany, who also designed the Cathedral. Father Aloysius Meis was in charge of the building work. The new church was designed in the beautiful Gothic style.
Like many churches back then, the men of the church did most of the digging and building. By September 1864, after the foundation was finished, they only had $3.03 left! The rest of the money, about $80,000, was raised through donations.
St. Mary's Growth and Changes
On February 10, 1867, the new St. Mary's Church was officially opened. Over the next 55 years, Dubuque continued to grow. St. Mary's became the "mother church" for four other churches in the area. These included Sacred Heart (1879) and Holy Ghost (1896).
In 1910, a new Holy Trinity Church was built. In 1922, Nativity parish was built near what is now Loras College.
In the early 1870s, a large organ was installed in the church. It was built by a famous company called Hook and Hastings. In 1965, the organ was updated, but its beautiful case and most of its pipes were kept.
The church building was made larger in 1911. Two small chapels were added. In 1914, stunning stained glass windows from Bavaria were put in. These windows almost didn't make it because of World War I! Twelve large windows honor the Blessed Virgin Mary. A big painting of her was also added behind the altar.
Later Years and Closure
In 1935, Father Aloysius Schmitt became a priest. His first job was at Saint Mary's Church. In 1941, he was sadly killed during the attack at Pearl Harbor. He was the first American chaplain of any faith to die in World War II.
In the 1970s, the church made some changes to its inside. They moved the altar so the priest could face the people during Mass. However, the original altars were mostly kept.
In recent years, St. Mary's Church worked closely with nearby St. Patrick's Church. They shared staff and school buildings. The church faced challenges like fewer people attending.
In the 1990s, St. Mary's added a new entrance with an elevator. This made the church easier for everyone to access.
Because of financial challenges and fewer members, the church leaders decided to close the parish. On May 25, 2010, St. Mary's held its last Mass as a Catholic parish. About 700 people attended. The building is still considered a church, but it no longer has an active parish.
The movie F.I.S.T. was filmed in Dubuque. It included outdoor scenes of St. Mary's Church.
A book about the church's history was published in 2010. In 2014, there was a plan to fix up the church buildings. The idea was to create office spaces, a community kitchen, and homes for families.
Schools
St. Mary's School joined with St. Patrick's Catholic School in 1982. They formed a new school called Downtown Catholic School. Later, in 2001, a group called Holy Family Catholic Schools took over.
Downtown Catholic then merged with another school in 2002 to become St. Francis School. However, St. Francis School closed in 2004. In 2006, a group called Four Oaks Family and Children Services bought the school building.
Images for kids
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St. Mary's Catholic Church
