First - Public School in Columbia Falls, MT
Posted by: Groundspeak Premium Member T0SHEA
N 48° 22.436 W 114° 11.189
11U E 708344 N 5361687
This 1891 brick church was originally built as a Catholic church and also served as Columbia Falls' first public school. Built of locally made brick, this was one of the first churches in northwest Montana.
Waymark Code: WMKY1Z
Location: Montana, United States
Date Posted: 06/11/2014
Published By:Groundspeak Premium Member model12
Views: 3

The church is at 505 West 4th Avenue, on the southeast corner of 5th Street and 4th Avenue. No longer used as a church (there's a new St Richard's a few blocks away, at 9th Street and 12th Avenue), the building is now the offices of a chiropractor.

Beautifully restored, this is once again a fine looking building. Its prominent bell tower and steeple really finish the building, aided by the stained glass on the front elevation and the well finished belfry and spire. Though we can see that the belfry no longer holds a bell, we assume that it did when the building was still a church.
ST. RICHARD'S CHURCH
Built in 1891, this simple Gothic structure was one of the first churches to be erected in northwestern Montana. Originally built as Saint Richards Catholic Church and Mission it also served as the first public school Of Columbia Falls. Clay from the Flathead River was fired in a local brickyard to form the brick used in its construction by local residents.

The founder of the mission Father H. Alleys, completed payments on the building. In 1979 it was declared a National Historic Site. Restoration of this structure began in April 1979 by Dr.s Robert and Ruth Ann Hager and was completed in February of 1980. This project is dedicated to the residents of Columbia Falls for the preservation of their cultural and historical heritage.
From the NRHP plaque at the building
FIRST - Classification Variable: Place or Location

Date of FIRST: 01/01/1891

More Information - Web URL: Not listed

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wildernessmama visited First - Public School in Columbia Falls, MT 07/06/2017 wildernessmama visited it