| 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.
for St. Francis Complex.
See #0109212 (St. Martin's Hall for details)
The St. Francis complex consists of a monastery, chapel, parish church, convent and St. Martin's Hall (also referred to as the Annex.) Two school buildings at the north end of the complex, and the parish hall (a reconverted industrial building) have been demolished since 1979. The existing buildings are built of brick and stone masonry, utilizing cream brick extensively. The southernmost portion of the block consisted of a hill of gravel on which the ruins of an old house once stood.
The earliest or west wing was constructed in 1869, the south wing was built in 1871 in response to the growing demand for space. Finally the east wing was constructed in 1892. The buildings served to house the functions of a monastic order, although the cleriate classrooms and functions of the monastery were removed to Marathon, Wisconsin in 1919. Constructed as a part of the first wing of the monastery was the chapel behind the main church. When the final wing was constructed, the chapel was lengthened and the ceilings vaulted to make it the same height as the church sanctuary. At the same time a New York artist, William Lamprecht, painted a mural in the chapel.
St. Francis of Assisi Parish Church:
The church, a large brick building on Wauwatosa Limestone, replaced an earlier frame church. The St. Francis Church was begun in 1876 and completed in 1877. William Schickel, of New York, was the architect. The building itself had cost $42,000, while furnishings and decoration amounted to an additional $38,000.
Kraatz Brothers did the masonry work and built the south wing; Al Schmidt did the stonework; John Fellenz of Milwaukee did the carpentry; Mr. Mittermaier supplied the stained glass and Erhart Brielmaier of Milwaukee was contracted to furnish the alters and the pulpit. A projecting stone vestibule was added in 1900, covering the former three-arched entrance.
The church interior has undergone numerous changes through the years. Decoration was originally done by Mr. Muer of New York and William Lamprecht painted the mural "Triumph of Christianity" over the sanctuary arch. In 1893 an arsonist's fire damaged the interior. William Lamprecht was commissioned again, this time to paint murals depicting the life of St. Francis. From 1903 - 1907 the clerestory windows were replaced. From 1916 - 1917 all the furnishings were renovated. Electric lighting replaced gas fixtures. The old stained glass windows were replaced. Joseph Hermann (Milwaukee) was in charge of the decoration and Frank Zeitler restored the murals. In 1941 Liskowial Studios renovated the interior. Rock wool insulation was added to the ceiling. The pulpit, which was attached to a column on the south side of the nave, was removed. Lamprecht's altar painting and stenciled wall decorations were painted over. From 1944-1945 the old alter was replaced.
The first school:
The first school was constructed in 1871. In 1878, due to the large enrollment, the school was enlarged by adding a basement and a chapel. A new convent structure was built in 1909 on the site of the former convent.
St. Martin's Hall ( Annex):
See #010922 for details.
A board fence once enclosed most of the block but was changed to a concrete wall.
"Romanesque architecture flourished in Germany more than nine hundred years ago and the St. Francis Roman Catholic Church and Monastery complex is a fine example of the style as it was revived during the nineteenth century. The parish priest had asked the architect to design the church in a manner that was "architecturally true to its style," and when the building was dedicated in 1877 it was immediately hailed by observers as "a gem." The monastery was founded by a German-speaking order of Capuchin monks who later built the church to serve the order and the surrounding predominately German neighborhood. The church and monastery complex is a rare, surviving reminder that religious orders were a prominent part of community life years ago.
In broad terms, the hallmarks of a Romanesque style church building are its massive walls, tall, narrow, round-arched windows and bold but sparse exterior decoration. The front entry portals, however, are often the most decorative part of the exterior and often feature profuse carving. The Romanesque style was generally simpler and less fussy than most other historic church styles and so it appealed to the tastes of the Capuchin clergy who were devoted to a lifestyle of simplicity and moderation.
The exterior ethnic character of the church is chiefly manifested in its square, pyramidal-roofed bell tower which recalls the bold, angular lines of the medieval German Romanesque style. The front entry vestibule was added to the building in 1900, and the unusual, zig-zag decoration that trims the arches is a traditional Romanesque design called shark's tooth or dog's tooth ornament.
When the church opened in 1877, it was reported that the interior "awakened in the beholder the impression that the walls must have stood for centuries." That same architectural character awaits the visitor today. The interior is particularly remarkable because of its exceptionally tall, narrow nave and groin-vaulted ceiling which captures the essence of true Romanesque architecture. All of the fine wall paintings are original to the building including the large panel at the front of the church, done by German-American artist William Lamprecht, which depicts the "triumph of Christianity." A fascinating remnant of the monastery days is the "choir" which is a large room with a Gothic style vaulted ceiling that is located behind the main altar. It was here that the monks, friars and other clergy attached to the order gathered daily for prayer, instruction and discussion. The original wooden bench seats that are built-in to the wall, are a continuation of an old European monastic tradition. The choir was actually built in 1869 as part of the old monastery seven years before the church was constrcuted.
The large, brick building attached to the south side of the church was the monastery containing the monks' dormitories and work shops. Originally the building was U-shaped and it formed a courtyard, more correctly called a cloister, on the south side of the the church. The building is a well-preserved example of the straightforward, no frills approach to architecture that was favored for monastic buildings. The decorative brickwork at the top of the walls is called a corbel table frieze and was a very common feature on German Romanesque religious buildings.
The Capuchin friars left the monastery some years ago and the building now houses various social service agencies." MILWAUKEE ETHNIC CHURCH TOUR, CITY OF MILWAUKEE DEPARTMENT OF CITY DEVELOPMENT, 1994. |
|---|
| Bibliographic References: | Inscription.
Wisconsin Inentory of Historic Places, 1976
Places of Worship, 1977
Golden Jubilee Souvenir & History of St. Francis Parish, 1920
History of Milwaukee Wisconsin, 1881
Milwaukee City Directory, 1900
Rascher Insurance Map, 1876
Sanborn Insurance Map, 1910
MILWAUKEE ETHNIC CHURCH TOUR, CITY OF MILWAUKEE DEPARTMENT OF CITY DEVELOPMENT, 1994.
MILWAUKEE JOURNAL 11/6/1994. |
|---|
