1897 - Basilica of St. Josaphat - Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Posted by: 
BruceS
N 43° 00.167 W 087° 55.149
16T E 425084 N 4761533
Historic Catholic Basilica started in 1897 and dedicated in 1901 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Waymark Code: WMCDN7
Location: Wisconsin, United States
Date Posted: 08/25/2011
Views: 3
"St. Josaphat's congregation was founded in 1888 by immigrant Poles on Milwaukee's (then) far south side. In 1896, when the parish church proved to be too small, Pastor Wilhelm Grutza commissioned the most prominent church architect of the late 19th century and early 20th century, Erhard Brielmaier. Like a number of other Polish churches in the so-called Polish Cathedral style, such as St. Mary of the Angels in Chicago or Immaculate Heart of Mary in Pittsburgh, the architectural plans for the new edifice were intentionally modeled on St. Peter's Basilica.
As the design neared completion, Father Grutza learned that the Federal Building in Chicago was being razed. He purchased the 200,000 tons of salvage material for $20,000 and had it delivered to Milwaukee on 500 railroad flatcars, where parishioners were waiting to begin construction.
The Basilica was formally dedicated in 1901 by Archbishop Francis Xavier Katzer with 4,000 people in attendance. Once completed, it met the requirements of Milwaukee's growing Polish Catholic population by seating 2,400 members and was the city's largest church." - Wikipedia
Year of construction: 1897
Cross-listed waymark: [Web Link]
Full inscription:
July 4
A. - IHS - D.
1897
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