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 a historic Roman Catholic church in Springfield, Massachusetts. It stood at the corner of Howard Street and East Columbus Avenue. Built between 1873 and 1877, it was a beautiful building made of brick with brownstone decorations. It was a great example of the Romanesque Revival style. This church was very important because it was the first one in Springfield made especially for French Canadian immigrants and French Americans. 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. Today, a different building stands where the church once was. The church was a large, single-story building. It was built with red bricks and had fancy brown stone details.
Building Design
The church combined different styles, including Gothic and Romanesque elements. It had strong walls with supports called buttresses. Between these buttresses were round-arch windows. The roof had a central section with windows, known as a clerestory, which let light into the church. A tall, square tower rose from the front of the church. It changed into octagon shapes at the top and was finished with a cross.
A Church for French Canadians
The very first Roman Catholic church in western Massachusetts was St. Michael's, founded in Springfield in 1860. As more Catholic people moved to the area, the Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts was created in 1870. This helped serve the growing Catholic community better.
Many French Catholics, mostly French Canadian immigrants, wanted a church just for their needs. So, St. Joseph's Church was started for them in 1873. A person named Friar Gagnier, who came from Quebec, is believed to have designed the church. He based his design on churches he had seen in his home country. The basement of the church was finished in 1873. Church services were held there until the entire building was completed in 1877.
The Church's Final Years
St. Joseph's Church closed its doors in 2005. The diocese sold the church building the next year. In March 2008, the church was taken down by a group called Colvest.
See also
