St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church and Parish House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church and Parish House
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 Location in South Dakota
Location in the United States
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| Location | Yankton and Lidice Sts., Tabor, South Dakota |
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| Area | 2 acres (0.81 ha) |
| Built | 1898 (church), 1910 (parish house) |
| Built by | August O. Goetz |
| Architectural style | Czech folk architecture |
| NRHP reference No. | 84000579 |
| Added to NRHP | December 13, 1984 |
St. Wenceslaus Parish is a Catholic church group in Tabor, South Dakota. Its old red brick church, built in 1898, is a special historic building. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. This means it's an important part of history that should be protected.
Contents
A Church Built by Immigrants
The story of St. Wenceslaus Parish began with Czech immigrants. These families came from a place called Bohemia (now part of the Czech Republic). They started arriving in the Dakota Territory around 1868.
Early Days of the Parish
By 1871, these new settlers were already holding church services. They worked together to build their first church. This first building was made of chalk rock and finished in 1874. Everyone helped out, giving their time and effort for free.
Building the Current Church
The first church quickly became too small for the growing community. So, in 1898, they built the beautiful red brick church you see today. A few years later, in 1910, a parish house (a home for the priest) was built next to it. It was made in a similar style. A builder named August Goetz helped construct the church.
A School for the Community
The parish also built a brick schoolhouse and a place for students to live (a dormitory) between 1903 and 1904. The school moved to a new location in 1960. However, it closed in 1970. Today, the old school building is used by the Bon Homme School District.
See also
