Saco Church - Owatonna, MN - This Old Church on Waymarking.com

The Saco Church (St. Wenseslaus Mission in Moravia Church) sits on the grounds of Steele County Historical Village of Yesteryear and proudly tells its background on a sign outside the front door. It reads:

Steele County Historical Society. Saco Church.

The St. Wenceslaus Mission in Moravia Church was built in 1891in the little community of Moravia, seven miles southwest of Owatonna. It was named after the first settler Frank Moravia who settled in the locality in 1860. Vaclav Pavek donated the land on which the church stood, and the church was named to honor him for his zealous work in the community as well as for Vaclav (Wenceslaus), a duke of Bohemia from 923 to 929. The duke had ended the attacks of the Germans upon Bohemia and stopped internal fighting to lead the region into safety and property. He was especially noted for his devotion to the church. In 929 the duke was stabbed to death at the doors of the church.

The community of Moravia, known as Saco by the area’s local residents, also had a school and several residences nearby. The cemetery still remains across the road from where the church once stood. At various times Saco church was served by pastors from Litomyst, eight miles away, and from Sacred Heart Parish, Owatonna. It closed in 1952, and in 1962, the Sacred Heart Parish donated it to the Steel County Historical Society as the first building to begin the Village of Yesteryear. It came complete with all its furnishings.

Date the Church was built, dedicated or cornerstone laid: 01/01/1891 Age of Church building determined by?: Cornerstone or plaque If denomination of Church is not part of the name, please provide it here: Catholic mission Street address of Church: Steele County Village of Yesteryear 1448 Austin Road Owatonna, MN USA 55060 If Church is open to the public, please indicate hours: Not listed If Church holds a weekly worship service and "all are welcome", please give the day of the week: Not listed Indicate the time that the primary worship service is held. List only one: Not Listed Primary website for Church or Historic Church Building: Not listed Secondary Website for Church or Historic Church Building: Not listed

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