St. Joseph at Jump-Off Joe - Valley, WA
Posted by: Groundspeak Premium Member T0SHEA
N 48° 09.169 W 117° 41.580
11U E 448458 N 5333517
St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church is a little Gothic style country church just off Highway 395 near the little town of Valley, WA.
Waymark Code: WMZ1M3
Location: Washington, United States
Date Posted: 08/26/2018
Published By:Groundspeak Premium Member iconions
Views: 0

More precisely, the church is on Church Road, about one half mile south of Bulldog Creek Road, which heads west from Highway 395 about two miles to Highway 231, which, in turn, runs north through Valley, about 2 miles away. Church Road is just west of the intersection of Bulldog Creek Road and Highway 395.

The church was founded about 1898, with services being held in various homes until this building was built. Along with the founding of the church came the founding of the St. Joseph Cemetery, in 1898. When the church was built, in 1905, the cemetery was moved to the site of the new church. The church was initially a Jesuit Mission, built by Jesuit missionary Father Aloysius Folchi, who was also responsible for the construction of St. Mary of the Rosary Parish in Chewelah.

Through the years very little renovation has been done to the church, leaving the church much the same as it was in 1905. Though it is now shrouded within an aluminum roof and vinyl siding, structurally it is still original. Given that there is another, associated, parish in nearby Valley, served by the same pastor, it is unclear whether regular services are still held at this church.

There is an old story associated with this church, which I shall allow the church to relate here:

A popular parish legend involving beloved pastor, Father Pius Mutter, recounts the theft of the church’s altar cross, sanctuary lamp fixture, thurible, and other sanctuary implements. Every Sunday, Father Mutter pleaded that the “missing” items be returned, but to no avail, until finally, he threatened to cancel hunting season for the year, and all of a sudden, the “missing” items mysteriously returned.

NB: Since there is no sign at the church I've included a photo of the cemetery sign. The one with the church in the background and the sign to the left has been flipped to make the sign a bit easier to read.
Public/Private: Public

Tours Available?: Unknown

Year Built: 1905

Web Address: [Web Link]

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