| Additional Information: | 1983: Entrance flanked by towers of unequal height. Although this church suffered an unfortunate loss of interior integrity due to fire in the 1950s, it remains na important visual landmark. The oldest extant church (still being used as a church) in the city, and a fine example of High Victorian Gothic design. Much detailing decorates the brick facing including corbel tables, gablets, crockets and buttresses. Wausau's first Catholic Church, a white frame structure, stood on this spot from 1871 to c. 1890.
2018 survey report write-up: The St. Mary’s Catholic Church complex includes a Gothic Revival-style church (AHI#29256), a Colonial Revival-style, brick-clad rectory (AHI#51355) and a largely vernacular brick convent (AHI#51353), the lattermost structure of which now serves as the Wausau Conservatory of Music (a large addition was completed by the Conservatory in 1997). Regarding the church, a pair of square towers flanks the central gabled section where the primary, wooden double-door entrance and transom is located beneath a Gothic-arch opening; the opening is flanked by small rounded towers. Openings along the primary elevation are generally pointed-arch openings and corbel tables accent both square towers, as well as the central gable, above the focal window. Side walls are delineated by brick buttresses which alternate with Gothic-arched windows. Copper crockets accent the entrance elevation. An addition at its east end appears to physically connect the church to the rectory. In 2002, a rather substantial entrance addition designed by Charles Ghidorzi was completed on the north side of the church. That addition, executed in brick, directly reflects the architecture of the original block.
Designed by Chicago architect Adolph Druiding and built by Henry Hoffman of Appleton, St. Mary’s Catholic Church was completed in 1892. Although the land was purchased by the congregation as early as 1861, St. Mary’s first church edifice was not completed until 1871. A school was established in 1883. In 1892, the existing Gothic Revival-style church replaced the earlier frame building, where the congregation continues to worship. In 1898, a brick convent was built at 404 Seymour Street for the School Sisters of Notre Dame. The rectory, located at 408 Seymour Street, was completed in 1904. A new school was completed in 1916, with an addition in 1934. In March 1953, a fire significantly damaged the church’s interior; however, great strides were taken to restore it to its original grandeur. The school, which was located immediately north and adjacent to the church, was demolished and, in 2002, a large entrance addition was completed. |
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| Bibliographic References: | (A) CORNERSTONE.
(B) MARCHETTI, PP. 355-356.
(C) "ST. MARY'S, WAUSAU, WI, 1849-1935," P. 11.
Wausau Daily Herald 2/18/2000.
“Architecture/History Survey: Reconstruct USH/Bus. 51 (Grand Ave.): Kent St. To Division St.” WHS project number 12-0992/MR. June 2012. Prepared by Rachel E. Bankowitz.
Citations for 2018 report information below: Aucutt, Hettinga & Jansen, Wausau Beautiful, 182; “A Handsome Church” Unidentified newspaper clipping, 18 June 1892, In St. Mary’s Church file, Marathon County Historical Society Research Library (hereafter cited as MCHSRL), Wausau, WI; “Highlights of St. Mary’s History,” Wausau Daily Record-Herald, 25 October 1974; Mary L. Malaguti and Maryanne C. Norton, “Final Report: Intensive Historic Survey,” Prepared for the City of Wausau (May 1984), 123, 179-80.
City in the Pinery, A Guide to Wausau's Historic Architecture, The City of Wausau, 1983.
City in the Pinery, A Guide to Wausau's Historic Architecture, The City of Wausau, 1984. |
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