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St. Liborius Church and Buildings facts for kids

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St. Liborius Church and Buildings
St. Liborius from N. Market.JPG
St. Liborius Church in 2012
St. Liborius Church and Buildings is located in St. Louis
St. Liborius Church and Buildings
Location in St. Louis
St. Liborius Church and Buildings is located in Missouri
St. Liborius Church and Buildings
Location in Missouri
St. Liborius Church and Buildings is located in the United States
St. Liborius Church and Buildings
Location in the United States
Location 1835 N. 18th St.
St. Louis, Missouri
Built 1889 (church)
1890 (rectory)
1905 (convent)
Architect William Shickel
Architectural style Gothic Revival
NRHP reference No. 79003637
Quick facts for kids
Significant dates
Added to NRHP October 11, 1979

St. Liborius Church and Buildings is a special historic place in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. It used to be a Catholic church and its surrounding buildings. This area is so important that it's listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is also a City Landmark in St. Louis.

A Look Back: History of St. Liborius

St. Liborius was first started in 1856. It was a special church for German families living in the area.

Building the Church and Other Structures

The main church building is very large and built in the Gothic Revival style. This means it looks like old European churches with tall, pointed arches. It is covered in red brick. A famous architect from New York City, William Shickel, designed it. The church used to have a tall, stone spire on its central bell tower. This spire was taken down in the 1960s.

The church was finished in 1889. The building where the priests lived, called the rectory, was built the next year in 1890. The convent, where the nuns lived, was built in 1905. For many years, from 1859 to 1969, the School Sisters of Notre Dame taught at the church's school.

Becoming a Landmark

Because of its importance, the church buildings were named a City Landmark in 1975. A few years later, in 1979, they were added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Over time, fewer Catholic families lived in the area. This led to the church joining with other nearby churches. St. Liborius merged with Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Holy Name, and Holy Trinity parishes. The church building officially closed in 1992. Many of the beautiful decorations and items from inside the church were sold in 1993. Later, a company called Hogan Street Partners LLC bought the property.

Sk8 Liborius: A New Chapter

After the church closed, the building was given a new and exciting purpose. It was turned into a private skate park called "Sk8 Liborius." This unique skate park became a popular spot. In 2016, famous artists like RasTerms and Depoe visited it. Later that year, the skate park was even shown on a TV show called "Abandoned" on VICELAND.

Community Spirit: Rebuilding After the Fire

Sadly, on June 29, 2023, a fire badly damaged the church building, the rectory, and the skate park inside. However, the community has come together. They are working hard to rebuild the space and bring it back to life.

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