Property Record
6307 344TH AVE
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | ST. ALPHONSUS CATHOLIC CHURCH |
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| Other Name: | |
| Contributing: | Yes |
| Reference Number: | 240462 |
| Location (Address): | 6307 344TH AVE |
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| County: | Kenosha |
| City: | |
| Township/Village: | Wheatland |
| Unincorporated Community: | |
| Town: | 1 |
| Range: | 19 |
| Direction: | E |
| Section: | 2 |
| Quarter Section: | |
| Quarter/Quarter Section: |
| Year Built: | 1907 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 2019 |
| Historic Use: | church |
| Architectural Style: | Romanesque Revival |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Brick |
| Architect: | |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Not listed |
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| National Register Listing Date: | |
| State Register Listing Date: |
| Additional Information: | The St. Alphonsus Catholic Congregation was established in the community of New Munster in 1849. The first non-extant stone church, a non-extant parsonage, and cemetery AHI #240517 were constructed in 1851. A parochial school was established in 1863, with a non-extant school building completed in 1871. A second, non-extant Gothic Revival style church was constructed in 1883, and the older church building converted into a concert hall. During the mid- to the late nineteenth century, many German immigrants to the United States erected decorative wrought iron crosses as burial monuments. A number of these crosses #AHI 240518 can be found in the St. Alphonsus Catholic Church Cemetery. Some of the crosses in the St. Alphonsus Catholic Cemetery are stamped “Burlington,” and therefore were likely produced by the foundry of Hubert Wagner in Burlington, Wisconsin. A non-extant parsonage was constructed in 1895, and the parish had over 110 families at the turn of the century. In 1907, a large fire destroyed the church, parsonage, and school; and a new Gothic Revival style church building AHI #240462 was constructed that same year by Olaf Hoganson for $17,000. The church held services in German until the 1910s. A new brick school AHI #240463 was completed in 1916 for $11,000 and contained four classrooms. The church and school were renovated in 1941 and again in 1954. The school was remodeled in 1967; and in 1973, the parish switched to a completely lay staff at the school. The latest round of additions to the school building were completed in 2001, including an elevator. The parish had 225 families by 1976. |
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| Bibliographic References: | “About our Parish,” St. Alphonsus website <www.st-alphonsus.com/about.php> |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |