Browse Items (120 total)

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…

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.…

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…

In order to service Polish families who lived more than a mile away from St. Stanislaus Kostka, the main polish church at the time, St. Hedwig Parish was first created starting 1887. The Polish population was growing quite rapidly at the time, and…

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

S. Clark Street and W. Polk Street

2127 W. 22nd Place

One of the most beautiful churches in the Chicago area.

1019 S. May Street

St. Peter's Church was organized originally in 1846 as the first German parish in the city of Chicago. Later during the pastorate of Father Leander Conley O.F.M. in 1942, the Woods Theatre (located at Randolph and Dearborn) building was bought to…