Saint Joseph's Church - Progreso TX - This Old Church on Waymarking.com

Built by Don Florencio Saenz for his rancho and villagers, as was custom of early dons, this church was dedicated July 30, 1899.

The church is a handsome Gothic Revival design with a tower placed at the main entrance. Sited just to the west of the ranch house, the church's entrance faces north. Entry into the church is by means of a pair of tall doors with lancet-shaped panels in their upper sections. The lancet-arch opening in which the doors are set features a transom with interweaving muntins. The corners of the tower are formed by right-angle buttresses. The first and second stages of the tower are separated by a dentiled stringcourse. The second stage features a single lancet opening with fixed louvres on each of its three sides. The masonry part of the tower terminates in a simple dentiled cornice. The tower is crowned by a wooden spire which rises from a low-pitched hip roof. Both the spire and the tower are covered in wood shingles.

In the National Register of Historic Places narrative, the church is called 'the Church of St. Joseph the Worker'. The Texas Historic Marker on the church is titled 'Saint Joseph's Church'.

Saenz descendents have maintained the church over the years and visitors could make arrangements to go to the church. But on Sept. 11, 2012, vandals broke every window pane and damaged the shutters, causing an estimated $30,000 worth of damages. The doors and windows are now boarded up.

I found the NRHP nomination papers by going to (visit link) and searching for the Site Name 'Toluca Ranch'. There isn't a direct link.

Date the Church was built, dedicated or cornerstone laid: 01/01/1899 Age of Church building determined by?: Historical Society If denomination of Church is not part of the name, please provide it here: Catholic Street address of Church: Toluca Ranch Road Progreso, TX United States 78596 Primary website for Church or Historic Church Building: [Web Link] Secondary Website for Church or Historic Church Building: [Web Link] 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

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Date Logged Log User Rating   01/19/2014 PeterNoG visited it