A High Victorian Gothic church and a brick Italianate house mark the oldest Catholic parish in Waukesha, Wisconsin.
At a glance
St. Joseph’s Catholic Church Complex comprises a limestone church from 1888 and a brick house from around 1878. Both were added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 28, 1983.
History
St. Joseph’s Parish was organized in 1842, the first Roman Catholic church in Waukesha. Solomon Juneau donated the first church building, a log cabin, on the site of the current complex.
In 1844 the parish built a stone church. That building later served as a parish hall, school, and medical clinic. It has been remodeled enough that it is not part of the National Register nomination.
Work on a larger church began in 1888.
What you see
Adolphus Druiding of Chicago designed the 1888 church in High Victorian Gothic style. The emphasis is vertical.
The exterior is rock-faced, randomly-coursed limestone. Multiple rose windows and lancet windows punctuate the walls. Gables and spires rise at several points, each gable topped with a cross. The layout is asymmetric: a large tower stands on one side of the main entrance, climbing to a tall steeple with a cross at its peak.
The Brown House is the other building in the NRHP nomination. Built around 1878, it is a two-story brick house with Greek Revival massing and Italianate details. Martin Brown, a harness maker, lived there first. The church later used the house as a convent.
Cultural significance
Both buildings were nominated to the National Register for their architectural significance. They are among the best surviving examples of their styles in Waukesha.
Key facts
- Country: United States
- City: Waukesha
- Coordinates: 43.0075, -88.2269
- NRHP listing: October 28, 1983
Practical information & getting there
The complex is located in Waukesha, Wisconsin. Visitors should check local parish schedules for access to the buildings.
Sources & resources
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