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…
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.…
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…