St. Adalbert's Church (Milwaukee) facts for kids

St. Adalbert's Church is a beautiful Roman Catholic church in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. People from Polish backgrounds often call it 'Kościół Świętego Wojciecha'. It's located on Milwaukee's South Side and is known as one of Milwaukee's 'Polish Cathedrals' because of its grand size and design.

Why the Church Has Its Name

The church is named after Adalbert of Prague. He was a very important saint and martyr in the Roman Catholic Church. A martyr is someone who dies for their beliefs. Adalbert was from a Slavic country and is remembered for his faith.

A Look Back at History

Building the First Church and School

In the early 1900s, many new churches were needed on Milwaukee's South Side. So, on June 23, 1908, five pieces of land were bought. They were at the corner of Becher and South 19th Street. Just two months later, the first stone of the church was laid. This special event was led by Father Michael Domachowski. He also became the first priest for the new church.

On February 28, 1909, the church and its school were finished and blessed. The School Sisters of Notre Dame taught the students at the school.

Father Kruszka's Time

On September 18, 1909, a new priest named Wacław (Wenceslaus) Kruszka took over. He had moved from Ripon and was very happy to be in Milwaukee. A Polish bishop from Chicago, Bishop Paul Peter Rhode, helped him get this parish.

Father Kruszka was very dedicated to his church and school. The school grew a lot during his time. By 1924, there were 1,585 students! They were taught by 23 sisters. Because so many people came to the church and loved their pastor, the parish decided to build a new, bigger church.

Building the New Church

The land for the new church was given by another church, St. Hyacinth’s parish. The new church cost $252,000 to build. On April 23, 1931, the new and beautiful St. Adalbert's Church was finished and blessed. Father Kruszka also helped start another church nearby, called Blessed Sacrament Parish.

Cool Church Design

St. Adalbert's Church is special because it's the only church in Milwaukee built in the Romanesque Revival style. This style was inspired by Polish architecture.

The Tall Tower

The tall tower on the church's northwest side looks like a tower from Wawel Cathedral in Kraków, Poland. It's covered in shiny copper. Inside the tower, there's a bell tower with four bells. Each bell has a name: St. Adalbert, Jesus, Mary, and the Angel.

Beautiful Windows

The church is also famous in Milwaukee for its amazing stained glass windows. These windows have colorful pictures made from many small pieces of glass.

See also

• Wacław Kruszka
• Alan Kulwicki (a famous race car driver buried in the church's cemetery)