| 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.
A church sits behind the sanctuary part of the building. To the west of the church is a stone grotto with steps and gothic arches that are filled with religious statuary.
2016 - appearance unchanged.
2017- "St. Anthony's Catholic Church is located on the south side of River Street between Brook Street and Pine Street. The property is over two acres in size and includes a church building, parish hall, and shrine of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The church building, completed in 1966, has a broad rectilinear footprint with a long axis oriented parallel to River Street. A parking lot is located immediately to the east, which includes an island with a freestanding bell tower that was constructed at the same time as the church building. To the south of this parking lot is a set of stairs that leads up to the shrine, dedicated in 1950. The parish hall, a side-gabled brick building constructed in 1958, sits on a rise south of the church building. Between the parish hall and Brook Street is a large parking lot. At the front of the property, between the church building and River Street, is a wide sidewalk and narrow front lawn. Two freestanding signs are located near the northeast and northwest corners of the church building. One is modern and the other appears to date from before 1966.
Contributing resources include the church building and bell tower. The parish hall, shrine, and signs are not contemporary with the church building and bell tower, nor do they add to the architectural qualities of the property. For these reasons, they are considered noncontributing resources.
Exterior
The church building consists of two distinct sections. The eastern two-thirds contains the narthex, nave, and sanctuary, while the western third includes the sacristy, administrative offices, classrooms, and an attached garage. The classrooms originally served as the rectory. The two sections of the building differ in appearance, but are complementary. The one notable characteristic they share is Indiana limestone cladding, which is laid in a random ashlar pattern and covers most of the building.
The narthex is located at the eastern end of the building. It is one-story in height with a box-like form and flat roof. Recessed entryways are located on the north, south, and east elevations. A pair of tall, thin aluminum windows is located on both the north and south elevations at the wall junction with the nave. A canopy with a wide white fascia projects from the center of the east elevation, marking the primary entrance to the building. Directly to the east, on an island in the parking lot, is the bell tower. The structure is 44 feet tall and consists of three white quartz cement posts connected at the top with two sets of cross bars. The bell, which is electrified, hangs from the lower bars, and a twelve-foot-tall stainless steel cross is affixed to the upper bars. The nave is the most sizable part of the building. It is two stories in height with a rectangular footprint.
The expansive flat roof is accentuated by a series of white inverted pyramids along the underside of the overhangs. The bold, expressive roof shape is both unique and the modernist building's identifying characteristic. It is further emphasized by the band of clerestory windows beneath it. Instead of traditional stained and leaded glass, they are faceted jeweled windows. The faceted style, also known as Daile de Verre, involves setting colored glass into epoxy rather than lead cames.
To the west of the nave is the three-story sanctuary. Though relatively small in area, it has added height to give emphasis to the altar. It shares the same interesting roof as the nave, and features much larger faceted jeweled windows. At the base of the windows, on the north elevation, is a statue of St. Anthony.
The western third of the building is a single two-story rectangular box. It has a much plainer appearance than the rest of the church. The north elevation has a central full height entry bay. Above the door is a flat metal canopy, pair of one-over-one sash windows, and white spandrel panels. The only other visible side of this section of the building is the west elevation, which has six full-height window bays. Each bay contains a pair of one-over-one sash windows per floor and white spandrel panels. Attached to the west end of the building by a short covered walkway is a three-bay-wide garage with a flat roof.
Interior
The principal interior spaces of the church were able to be accessed during the site visit. The narthex is essentially an open lobby. In the center of the room, naturally lit by a dome skylight, is the baptismal font. It consists of a two-ton granite boulder with a moat and is surrounded by a circular metal railing.
Three double doors provide access to the nave, which slopes gently downward to the sanctuary. Walls are covered in brick and the 100-foot-long concrete T-beams that support the roof are visible. Seating consists of two groups of pews separated by a central aisle. The pews were designed to keep them from getting more attention than they deserve. There are no pew ends, the backs are open, book racks are under the seats, and the supports are made of metal. A small stage is located on the south side of the front of the nave, next to the confessional and a side entrance. The stage was added in recent years.
The sanctuary is flooded with colored light by the large faceted jeweled windows on the north and south sides of the space. In the middle of the sanctuary is a stepped platform, or predella, with the altar. Two large doorways on the brick wall behind the altar lead to the sacristy, beyond which are typical administrative offices (first floor) and classrooms (second floor). As noted, the classrooms originally served as the rectory, which included two suites, two guest rooms, and a living room for the priests."
-""St. Anthony's Catholic Church", WisDOT#9560-02-74,75, Prepared by Greg Rainka, (2017). |
|---|
