Basilica of St. Adalbert Catholic Church in Grand Rapids, MI

645 Davis Ave NW

Grand Rapids, Kent Co, MI

Before 1913

 

In 1872 St.  St Adalbert's Society was formed.

In May 1880 two lots were purchased at the corner of Forth and Davis. Later two more lots on Fifth and Davis were acquired.

 

Cuming and Ferry's Addition 1854

By 1881 they had  a small wood frame structure, 40 x 60 feet built by the firm of Richens and Stearns for their own Polish church. The exterior was of a modified Gothic style with it's pointed-arch windows, tower and steeple rising from the center , flanked on either corner by smaller spires facing Fourth Street. Jung

Jung  The caption says Fifth and Davis but elsewhere he says the church faces Fourth St. From its location on the 1913 map, it was moved so that the new church could be built. And since the backside of the convent faces Fifth St, it seems logical that it faced Fourth Street.

Original Church

Jung

From 1886 to Dec 1887, the church doubled in size with a 35x60 feet addition, from 400 seats to 800 seats.Jung

In 1891 the church was  enlarged, 40 x 60 ft.Jung

 IN 1907 the old church was relocated so a new church could be built. Jung

Jung The original convent.

Jung The school was built in 1884, finished in 1892. The classes were taught in Polish unlike St Mary's School where classes were taught in German.  When the new rectory was built in it's place in 1921,  the red brick from this school was used. Jung

GRPL Real Estate File  The old rectory also built in 1884 was moved to 39 Seward
                                                                after the new rectory was built in 1921.

Sanborn 1913

Showing the location of the original rectory, school and convent. The old church must have been moved from its original location pointing south towards Fourth St to accommodate the new church. It was later moved to Belmont where it became known as the Assumption of Mary and was used until replaced about 1986.

 

 

From Article Catholic

From Heading Architecture

From Website MyGrandRapids.info

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Last modified: 08/05/11