Saint Michael Catholic Parish/Saint Michael Catholic Church and School
Posted by: 
S5280ft
N 43° 09.683 W 083° 59.336
17T E 257008 N 4783073
A magnificent structure on the west side of Lincoln Road, just north of Ferden Road. Parking available numerous places.
Waymark Code: WM11P5
Location: Michigan, United States
Date Posted: 12/16/2006
Views: 24
SAINT MICHAEL CATHOLIC PARISH
Joseph Voith, a German Catholic originally from Bavaria, settled Maple Grove Township in 1854. His brother-in-law, George Henige, hosted Maple Grove's first Catholic mass on April 17, 1865. Three other Bavarian Catholic families--those of Joseph Angst, William Walser and George Hirschmann--also attended. Around 1866 they built a mission church on the west side of Lincoln Road at the site of the present cemetery. Following their German tradition, these people made the church the center of community life. In 1876 Saint Michael's began holding classes in the church. As Maple Grove prospered during the 1880s, St. Michael's grew. The mission became a parish in 1883, with Father Nicholas Irmen as the first pastor. By 1889 both a school and a new church were dedicated on this site.
SAINT MICHAEL CATHOLIC CHURCH AND SCHOOL
In 1922 Saint Michael parish dedicated its third church. This Neo-Romanesque church was constructed primarily by parishioners. They used timber from nearby forests, Saginaw-milled oak trim and bricks from Clio and Montrose. Local stone carvers and masons erected the church. The stained glass windows were made in Germany. In 1930 a new Neo-Gothic school was completed. With an influx of Catholic families into Montrose and New Lothrop during the 1930s, Saint Michael Catholic School opened to all children, becoming a public school in 1938. Served by both lay and clerical teachers, it reverted to being a parochial school in 1953. It closed in 1971.
Historical Date: 04/07/1865
Historical Name: Joseph Voith, George Henige, Joseph Angst, William Walser, George Hirschmann
Parking nearby?: yes
D/T ratings: 
website: [Web Link]
Registered Site #: Local Site #1982
Description: Not listed
|
Visit Instructions:Take a photo of your GPS at the marker. We'd prefer a photo of you with your GPS, but we realize that sometimes that's just not possible or preferable.
Also include a bit about your visit to the marker.
NEW: Instructions for logging Missing Marker Visits.
If the Marker is missing, but still listed here, you must provide a photo of you at the actual item historically honored. (This should be the waymark's "default" image). Indicate in your log that you took your photo at the Historical Location instead of the marker, because the marker was missing. Please also still include a bit about your visit to the site.