St. Liborius Church and Buildings facts for kids
|
St. Liborius Church and Buildings
|
|
St. Liborius Church in 2012
|
|
 Location in St. Louis
Location in Missouri
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.
Contents
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.
