Property Record
CA. 303 E WALNUT ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | ST. JOSEPH'S CATHOLIC CHURCH |
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| Other Name: | ST. JOSEPH'S CATHOLIC CHURCH |
| Contributing: | |
| Reference Number: | 27588 |
| Location (Address): | CA. 303 E WALNUT ST |
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| County: | Iowa |
| City: | Dodgeville |
| Township/Village: | |
| Unincorporated Community: | |
| Town: | |
| Range: | |
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| Year Built: | 1898 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | |
| Historic Use: | church |
| Architectural Style: | Early Gothic Revival |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Brick |
| Architect: | |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Not listed |
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| National Register Listing Date: | |
| State Register Listing Date: |
| Additional Information: | A 'site file' exists for this property. It contains additional information such as correspondence, newspaper clippings, or historical information. It is a public record and may be viewed in person at the Wisconsin Historical Society, State Historic Preservation Office. THIS ONE STORY, FRONT GABLED CHURCH FEATURES A RECTANGULAR SHAPED PLAN CONFIGURATION, A CUT STONE FOUNDATION, A BRICK EXTERIOR AND A GABLE ROOF. POINTED ARCH OPENINGS AND BRICKWORK PATTERNS EMBELLISH THE SIMPLY DESIGNED STRUCTURE. IT WAS BUILT IN 1898 BY THE McKINLEY BROS, WHO PERFORMED THE CARPENTRY WORK, AND BY C. WHITFORD AND SONS, WHO PERFORMED THE MASONRY WORK. (SEE BIB. REF. A, D). ALTERATIONS AND/OR ADDITIONS TOOK PLACE IN 1937. (SEE BIB. REF. D). PRESENTLY, THE CHURCH IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND: ST. JOSEPH'S CATHOLIC CHURCH WAS ORGANIZED IN THE IOWA COUNTY SEAT IN C. 1883 BY FATHER WIENHARDT OF MINERAL POINT, WHO SERVED AS THE PARISH'S VISITING PASTOR FOR TWO YEARS. THE OLD GROVE SCHOOL BUILDING (SEE EDUCATION THEME IN FINAL REPORT), TOTALLY RENOVATED AND REFITTED, HOUSED THE CATHOLIC SOCIETY FROM ITS ORGANIZATION UNTIL 1898-99 WHEN THIS STRUCTURE WAS BUILT UNDER THE PASTORSHIP OF REVEREND ANDREW AMBAUEN. THE BUILDING, CONSTRUCTED BY LOCAL BUILDERS C. WHITFORD AND SONS AND THE McKINLEY BROS., WAS DEDICATED ON OCTOBER 12, 1899, AND DESCRIBED AS "A LARGE, WELL-LIGHTED BRICK STRUCTURE OF SIMPLE AND DIGNIFIED DESIGN AND BEAUTIFULLY DECORATED INTERIOR." (SEE BIB. REF. C). IN 1937 THE CHURCH UNDERWENT ALTERATION -- THE BELL TOWER WAS REMOVED AND THE STRUCTURE LENGTHENED BY THIRTY-FIVE FEET. (SEE BIB. REF. D). A PHOTOGRAPH OF THE BUILDING BEFORE THESE CHANGES IS INCLUDED IN THE COLLECTION OF THE ICONOGRAPHY DIVISION OF THE STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY. ATTACHED TO THE CHURCH ON THE EAST IS A ST. JOSHPH'S GRADE SCHOOL WHICH OPENED AT THE END OF 1941. IN C. 1896 THE FIRST PARISH SCHOOL WAS BUILT (SAME SITE AS CURRENT BUILDING) AND RUN BY THE FRANCISCAN SISTERS OF MILWAUKEE. ON JULY 1, 1906, THESE SISTERS WERE RECALLED AND THE SCHOOL CLOSED. (SEE BIB. REF. D, E). |
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| Bibliographic References: | A. CORNERSTONE. B. ON BUILDING. C. GEORGE AND ROBERT M. CRAWFORD, EDS., MEMOIRS OF IOWA COUNTY, WISCONSIN, 2 VOLS. (CHICAGO: NORTHWESTERN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION, 1913, 2:1-2. D. JOHN W. GRIFFITHS, JR., "A HISTORY OF DODGEVILLE CHURCHES AND RURAL CHURCHES THAT WERE IN RURAL DODGEVILLE AND STILL ARE AND CHURCHES OF SURROUNDING VILLAGES IN IOWA COUNTY," DODGEVILLE, 1984 (?), PP. 24-25. (TYPEWRITTEN). E. 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF ST. JOSEPH SCHOOL, 1942-1967 (DODGEVILLE: BY THE CHURCH, 1967). |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |