Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church (Pocahontas, Iowa) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church
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 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Location | 16 2nd Ave., NW, Pocahontas, Iowa |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1882 |
| Built by | Will Hubel |
| Architectural style | Italianate Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 94000086 |
| Added to NRHP | March 1, 1994 |
Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church was once a church for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sioux City in Pocahontas, Iowa, USA. This old building is important because it served the Bohemian people who lived in the Pocahontas area. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1994, which means it's a special historic site.
Contents
History of the Church
Early Beginnings (1875-1890s)
The very first Catholic Mass (a church service) in Pocahontas happened in 1875. It was led by Reverend T.M. Lenahan from Fort Dodge, Iowa. For a few years, services were held in a schoolhouse. In 1881, Pocahontas became a mission of St. Patrick's Church. Reverend Mathew Norton then began holding Mass once a month. At this time, the churches in this area were part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dubuque.
In 1882, a man named Warrick Price gave three acres of land for a church and a cemetery. Will Hubbel designed the church building. He also led the construction, with help from local Bohemian community members. Hubbel built many of the early buildings in Pocahontas. The church's altar was made by Charles Andera from Spillville, Iowa. Mary Payer donated the altar and a painting of St. Peter and St. Paul from Bohemia. The church bells, named Agnes and Joseph, came all the way from St. Louis, Missouri.
The first full-time pastor, Reverend J.P. Bronz, served the church from 1891 to 1895. During this time, the rectory (the priest's house) was built. In 1894, the church building was moved from its original spot to where it stands today. The church was made bigger and updated the next year. In 1896, the church started a school. Sisters from St. Francis of the Holy Family in Dubuque, Iowa came to teach there.
Changes and Challenges (1900s)
In 1901, another church, Sacred Heart Parish, was started in Pocahontas for German and Irish families. The school moved with them. Saints Peter and Paul then became a "national parish" specifically for the Bohemian immigrant community. When the Sioux City diocese was created in 1902, this church became part of it.
It was sometimes hard for the bishop to find a priest who could speak Bohemian for the parish. Reverend Michael J. Kolvek was the pastor from 1923 to 1938. Reverend John Turza served from 1954 to 1957. Other pastors could not speak the language.
The church building was updated in 1957. It received new floors, pews (church benches), an altar, and a communion rail. It was redecorated in 1964. A few years later, more changes were made because of new church rules from the Second Vatican Council. The altar was changed so the priest could face the people during Mass.
Merging Parishes and Closure
By 1975, Pocahontas no longer needed two Catholic churches. Bishop Frank Henry Greteman decided to combine Saints Peter and Paul and Sacred Heart churches. They became one new parish called Resurrection of Our Lord. At first, both church buildings were used for services. However, Saints Peter and Paul Church officially closed its doors in 1983. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1994. The very last Mass held in the church was in 1997.
Church Design and Importance
Architectural Style
The church is a wooden building that is about 90 feet long and 32 feet wide (about 27 by 10 meters). It has a tall, three-story tower. The building shows a mix of two old architectural styles: Italianate architecture and Greek Revival architecture.
You can see the Italianate style in the round-arched windows. It's also in the paired brackets (decorative supports) on the belfry (where the bells are). The Greek Revival style is seen in the fanlight (a window shaped like a fan) above the main entrance. This style also appears in the pilastered corner boards (flat columns on the corners) and the fanlight design on the upper part of the tower. The very top of the tower has a lantern-like cap.
Why This Church is Special
Saints Peter and Paul Church is important for several reasons:
- It was the first Catholic church built in Pocahontas County, Iowa.
- It has a strong connection to the Bohemian people who settled in the area.
- The church building is special because of its unique Italianate and Greek Revival design.
- It is also important because of its builder, Will Hubbel.
- It is the last wooden church building left in Pocahontas, and one of the last in the entire county.
