This abandoned church and school have been on my list for months but school and work have left me little time for exploring lately. So when I had an unexpectedly free day recently, I jumped at the opportunity. Consecrated in 1903, this Roman Catholic parish was founded by Slovak immigrants who had been settling in the neighborhood between 1885 and 1900 and working in the nearby industrial setting. After a rocky start in which four consecutive pastors left the parish between 1904 and 1908, the church gained stability with a new reverend who would lead the church for the next 47 years. In 1913, he built a large two-story school after the parish school on the second floor of the church was quickly overwhelmed. The congregation continued to grow and services were crowded. A new, beautiful church was completed in 1926 next door to the school. A house opposite the church from the school was used as a rectory. Upon the death of the pastor in 1956, he was followed by seven others until the final resident pastor left in 1984. The school closed in 1972 and the church was forced to follow in 1992 owing to the thinning congregation.

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IMG_1238 by KMD1720, on Flickr

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IMG_1292 by KMD1720, on Flickr

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IMG_1293 by KMD1720, on Flickr

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IMG_1295 by KMD1720, on Flickr

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IMG_1300 by KMD1720, on Flickr

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IMG_1301 by KMD1720, on Flickr

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IMG_1304 by KMD1720, on Flickr

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IMG_1315 by KMD1720, on Flickr

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IMG_1325 by KMD1720, on Flickr

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IMG_1326 by KMD1720, on Flickr

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IMG_1241 by KMD1720, on Flickr

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IMG_1249 by KMD1720, on Flickr

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IMG_1251 by KMD1720, on Flickr

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IMG_1254 by KMD1720, on Flickr

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IMG_1255 by KMD1720, on Flickr

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IMG_1259 by KMD1720, on Flickr

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IMG_1261 by KMD1720, on Flickr

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IMG_1273 by KMD1720, on Flickr

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IMG_1275 by KMD1720, on Flickr

20. My favorite feature of the school was the skylights in the second floor classrooms and hallway.
IMG_1279 by KMD1720, on Flickr

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IMG_1282 by KMD1720, on Flickr

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IMG_1283 by KMD1720, on Flickr

23. Bonus picture from a small industrial location I also explored.
IMG_1216 by KMD1720, on Flickr

Nice!

Like #6 a lot, great set/site

Absolutely beautiful pics, and thanks for the history as well!

Cool history, spot, and pics! My favs were 6 and 20. Those skylights look awesome.

Great looking building. You did very well. Nice shots.

Good work!

Awesome shots. Loved 6 and 21

nice work!!!

This place is MAJESTIC