Property Record
201 S. Adams St
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | St. Willebrord Catholic Church |
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| Other Name: | St. Willebrord R.C. Church |
| Contributing: | Yes |
| Reference Number: | 2026 |
| Location (Address): | 201 S. Adams St |
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| County: | Brown |
| City: | Green Bay |
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| Year Built: | 1891 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 19862022 |
| Historic Use: | house of worship |
| Architectural Style: | Early Gothic Revival |
| Structural System: | Steel Frame |
| Wall Material: | Brick |
| Architect: | Adolphus Druiding |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Not listed |
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| Additional Information: | Photo code #2: 75BR-13/9,10 Excellent late example of the style. Tall cut stone foundation. Massive square single steeple on the southwest corner of the main facade. There is a separate pointed arch entrance door in the base of the tower of the steeple having cut stone voussoir blocks outlining the arch. Similar blocks act as quoins on the corners of the tower and are used to form string courses encircling the tower above. The lantern of the steeple is also square in plan and has a tall gable on each facade echoing the arched opening below. Each corner of the lantern is concave and has a fine free standing brick column set on a cut stone plinth and topped by a conical cap surmounted by a gilt finial place din the concave space. The lantern is topped by a tall octagonal spire above surmounted by a large gilt cross. The main facade of the church originally contained a single large rose window with stained glass and cut stone tracery placed over the large single pointed arch portal. Later, this was modified and a new entrance porch with triple pointed arch doors was added and the rose window was filled with a large cut stone design featuring a center circle with a cross surrounded by nine large leaf forms radiating from the center like a colossal flower. The nave of the church is lit by tall pointed arch stained glass windows having quatre-foil upper portions done in cut stone tracery. All gable ends on the church have corbel tables below. St. Willebrord Church is an excellent and notable example of the High Victorian Gothic style which was a favorite style for eccesiastical architecture in the post Civil War period. The use of contrasting colors and materials which identify the style is much in evidence here. The use of heavy quarry-faced cut stone blocks as quoins on the steeple tower, as stringcourses, window sills, and as voussoirs around the windows all contrast markedly with the tan brick of the walls. The exaggeration of design elements is notable, especially in the superbe design of the steeple lantern with its concave corners and attendent free-standing columns with their conical caps. The triple arched entrance porch with its three pointed arched doors is a later addition, but one which is faithful to the original design. Historical Background: The original Catholic Dutch settlers at Green Bay attended St. John The Evangelist Church until the 1860's when they left St. John's with the Germans in that parish to form St. Mary's (later St. Francis Xavier). In 1864, the forty-seven Dutch families at St. Mary's left to from St. Willebrord's as a Dutch church. They purchased a small building at the corners of Doty and Adams Street. The Reverend William Verboort was first pastor. The church was expanded in 1869 and replaced with this structure in 1891. (C,D) #650: Rectory building at 209 S. Adams Street (108/06) is now connected to the church by a modern addition. Green Bay Intensive Survey Phases 2, 3 & 4 |
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| Bibliographic References: | Historic name, date of construction: on building Other Sources: Heming, Harry, History of the Catholic Church in Wisconsin,Milwaukee, 1895-8. Pgs. 587-590. "St. Willebrord's Diamond Jubilee," St. Willebrord's Congregation, 1939, np. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |