St. Peter Cathedral (Marquette, Michigan)

Coordinates: 46°32′28″N 87°23′56″W / 46.54111°N 87.39889°W / 46.54111; -87.39889
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
St. Peter Cathedral
Roman Catholic Church
History
StatusCathedral
Architecture
Groundbreaking1881
Completed1890; post-fire restoration completed 1938
Administration
DioceseMarquette
Clergy
Bishop(s)Most Rev. John Doerfler
RectorMsgr. Michael Steber
NRHP reference No.12000307[1]
Added to NRHPMay 30, 2012

St. Peter Cathedral is a large

Upper Peninsula. The cathedral was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2012.[1]

History

The current church is nothing like it first was, when a

Jesuit priest named Father Jean-Baptiste Menet began holding services on the site in a small log cabin. Upon Bishop Frederic Baraga’s visit to the site, it was determined that a larger, more prominent church should be built, and that eventually the see should be moved to Marquette from Sault Ste. Marie. Construction began in 1864, with Baraga himself laying the cornerstone. Two years later he dedicated
the building, but he did not live to see his beloved cathedral catch fire.

Some have suggested that this first fire, on October 2, 1879, was caused by Irish arsonists who were enraged that Father John Kenny had been removed as pastor. Though the building was destroyed, the congregation's resolve was fervent as ever, and plans were made to continue meeting in the basement before a new cathedral could be erected. It took nine winters to complete the new building.

The church also faced another tragic fire which destroyed everything except the sandstone walls: a few minutes after four a.m. on November 3, 1935, the building again erupted in flames.[2] The parish celebrated Mass in high school auditorium for several months until the cathedral could be restored.

Extensive work and money was put into its reconstruction and beautification, including elaborate

steeples. This church is one of around 200, including at least three other cathedrals, that incorporates the work of architectural sculptor Corrado Parducci.[3]

Burials

Images

  • St. Peter Cathedral - southeast view
    St. Peter Cathedral - southeast view

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Weekly List of Actions Taken on Properties: 5/29/12 Through 6/01/12". National Park Service. Retrieved June 21, 2012.
  2. ^ "Cathedral Burns, Loss Is $350,000". Ludington Daily News. Associated Press. November 4, 1935. p. 1.
  3. ^ Carlson, Dale and Einar Kvaran, Corrado Parducci: A Field Guide to Detroit’s Architectural Sculptor, Dale A. Carlson, Berkley, MI 2020, Second edition, p. 73

External links

Media related to Saint Peter Cathedral (Marquette, Michigan) at Wikimedia Commons

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