St. Joseph's Church (Springfield, Massachusetts) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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St. Joseph's Church
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Engraving of church in 1884
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Howard St. and E. Columbus Ave., Springfield, Massachusetts |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1873 |
| Architect | Gagnier, Friar |
| Architectural style | Romanesque |
| MPS | Downtown Springfield MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 83002999 |
| Added to NRHP | February 24, 1983 |
St. Joseph's Church was an old and important Roman Catholic church in Springfield, Massachusetts. It was built between 1873 and 1877. The church was made of brick with brownstone decorations, showing off a beautiful Romanesque Revival style. This church was special because it was the first one in Springfield built just for French Canadian immigrants and French American families. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. Sadly, it was taken down in 2008.
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About St. Joseph's Church
St. Joseph's Church was located in downtown Springfield. It stood at the corner of Howard Street and East Columbus Avenue. Today, a different building is in its place. The church was a large, single-story building. It was built with red bricks and had brownstone details.
Church Design and Look
The church had a mix of old styles, including Gothic and Romanesque features. Its walls had strong supports called buttresses. Between these supports were round-arch windows. The roof was pointed, with a raised section in the middle called a clerestory. A tall, square tower rose from the front of the church. It had several octagonal (eight-sided) parts and was topped with a cross.
History of the Church
The first Roman Catholic church in western Massachusetts was St. Michael's in Springfield. It was started in 1860. As more Catholic people moved to the area, a new church group, called the Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts, was formed in 1870. This helped serve the growing Catholic community better.
Serving the French Community
Many French Catholics, especially those who had moved from Quebec, Canada, wanted a church just for their community. So, St. Joseph's Church was founded in 1873 to meet their needs. Friar Gagnier, who was from Quebec, helped design the church. He based his ideas on churches he had seen in his home country.
Building and Completion
The church's basement was finished in 1873. Church services were held there while the rest of the building was being built. The entire church was finally completed in 1877.
Later Years and Demolition
St. Joseph's Church closed its doors in 2005. In 2007, the church building was sold by the diocese. Then, in March 2008, the Colvest Group took down the historic church.
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