Browse Items (120 total)

909 W. Ohio Street

148 N. Desplaines Street

The third location of Old St. Mary's was on the southwest corner of Madison and Wabash. It was a much grander structure than the previous churches, being as it was made out of brick. This also represented the status of the Catholic community in…

(Record Under Construction)

This is the second location. At the time, the parish was predominantly Irish. Rev. Timothy O'Meara built this church.

The builder recorded was Augustine Deodat Taylor, and it was reportedly the first balloon frame construction in Chicago.

As with the rest of what is now the Loop, Old St. Mary's burned during the great Chicago Fire of 1871. Bishop Thomas Foley (appointed in November 1869) had already moved his activities to Holy Name, as had his predecessor Bishop James Duggan. Old St.…

21 E. Van Buren Street

W. 18th Street and S. Federal Avenue

By the era of postwar Chicago, much of the parish of Old St. Mary's had become travelers and downtown workers. In a somewhat surprising move, the diocese sold off the historic structure of the church to the Standard Oil Company; while the church had…