The complex consists of four buildings. The centerpiece of the district is St. Mary Church at 117 North Monroe Street. The church traces its origins to St. Antoine aux Rivière Raisin, which was founded by ethnic French Canadians on October 15, 1788. It is the oldest church in Monroe County. The current site was constructed in 1834, consecrated in 1839, and renamed in 1845. That year, the church fell under the leadership of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit.
The Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM) was founded in Monroe the same year.[3] Its first Mother Superior was Theresa Maxis Duchemine, an African-American woman of Haitian descent who was born in Baltimore. She was a founding member there of the Oblate Sisters of Providence, the first African-American religious order in the United States. Catholic churches had been founded in the 18th century by French Canadians in the Detroit area and across the Detroit River in Canada.
In 1846, St. Mary Academy, an all-girls educational facility, was built down the road from the church. Monroe Catholic Central was an all-boys school built next to the main church. These two schools merged in 1986 to form the coeducational St. Mary Catholic Central (SMCC) high school. It was based in the Monroe Catholic Central building, which had been expanded next to the church at 108 West Elm Avenue. The school continues to operate at that site. It is the largest building in the historic district and the largest private school in the county.[2]
The original church building was not changed from its completion in 1839 until it was expanded in 1903. he Brothers of the Holy Cross residential building was constructed in 1870. The St. Mary Parochial Elementary School was completed in 1903. The current rectory was added to the north side of the church in the 1920s. Each of these buildings has its own unique architecture.[2] Except for some additions to the SMCC building, the remaining buildings in the complex have remained largely unchanged since the 1920s.
The St. Mary's Church Complex Historic District is bordered to the west by Borgess Avenue, to the north by West Willow Street, to the south by Elm Avenue, and to the east by North Monroe Street (M-125). It occupies an area of about 60 acres (24 hectares). The district is located across Elm Avenue from the George Armstrong Custer Equestrian Monument and across North Monroe Street from the East Elm-North Macomb Street Historic District. The church complex is also located just across the River Raisin from the Old Village Historic District.
Referencesedit
^ ab"National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. November 11, 2009.
^ abcState of Michigan (2001–2003). "Saint Mary's Church Complex". Retrieved November 11, 2009.
^Groundspeak, Inc. (2009). "St. Mary's Catholic Church, Monroe, MI". Retrieved November 14, 2009.
External linksedit
Media related to Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church (Monroe, Michigan) at Wikimedia Commons
St. Mary Church homepage
St. Mary Middle School, part of Monroe Catholic Elementary Schools
St. Mary Catholic Central High School
April 12, 2024
mary, church, complex, historic, district, monroe, michigan, this, article, about, historic, district, monroe, michigan, other, uses, mary, historic, district, mary, church, complex, historic, district, historic, district, located, junction, avenue, north, mon. This article is about the historic district in Monroe Michigan For other uses see St Mary Historic District The St Mary s Church Complex Historic District is a historic district located at the junction of Elm Avenue and North Monroe Street M 125 in the city of Monroe Michigan It was listed as a Michigan Historic Site 2 and added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 6 1982 1 St Mary s Church Complex Historic DistrictU S National Register of Historic PlacesU S Historic districtMichigan State Historic SiteSt Mary Church from across the River RaisinLocation within the state of MichiganShow map of MichiganSt Mary s Church Complex Historic District Monroe Michigan the United States Show map of the United StatesLocationEast Elm Avenue and North Monroe StreetMonroe MichiganCoordinates41 55 08 N 83 23 48 W 41 91889 N 83 39667 W 41 91889 83 39667Area60 acres 24 ha Built1834 190 years ago 1834 NRHP reference No 82002855 1 Added to NRHPMay 6 1982The complex consists of four buildings The centerpiece of the district is St Mary Church at 117 North Monroe Street The church traces its origins to St Antoine aux Riviere Raisin which was founded by ethnic French Canadians on October 15 1788 It is the oldest church in Monroe County The current site was constructed in 1834 consecrated in 1839 and renamed in 1845 That year the church fell under the leadership of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit The Sisters Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary IHM was founded in Monroe the same year 3 Its first Mother Superior was Theresa Maxis Duchemine an African American woman of Haitian descent who was born in Baltimore She was a founding member there of the Oblate Sisters of Providence the first African American religious order in the United States Catholic churches had been founded in the 18th century by French Canadians in the Detroit area and across the Detroit River in Canada In 1846 St Mary Academy an all girls educational facility was built down the road from the church Monroe Catholic Central was an all boys school built next to the main church These two schools merged in 1986 to form the coeducational St Mary Catholic Central SMCC high school It was based in the Monroe Catholic Central building which had been expanded next to the church at 108 West Elm Avenue The school continues to operate at that site It is the largest building in the historic district and the largest private school in the county 2 The original church building was not changed from its completion in 1839 until it was expanded in 1903 he Brothers of the Holy Cross residential building was constructed in 1870 The St Mary Parochial Elementary School was completed in 1903 The current rectory was added to the north side of the church in the 1920s Each of these buildings has its own unique architecture 2 Except for some additions to the SMCC building the remaining buildings in the complex have remained largely unchanged since the 1920s The St Mary s Church Complex Historic District is bordered to the west by Borgess Avenue to the north by West Willow Street to the south by Elm Avenue and to the east by North Monroe Street M 125 It occupies an area of about 60 acres 24 hectares The district is located across Elm Avenue from the George Armstrong Custer Equestrian Monument and across North Monroe Street from the East Elm North Macomb Street Historic District The church complex is also located just across the River Raisin from the Old Village Historic District References edit a b National Register Information System National Register of Historic Places National Park Service November 11 2009 a b c State of Michigan 2001 2003 Saint Mary s Church Complex Retrieved November 11 2009 Groundspeak Inc 2009 St Mary s Catholic Church Monroe MI Retrieved November 14 2009 External links edit nbsp Media related to Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church Monroe Michigan at Wikimedia Commons St Mary Church homepage St Mary Middle School part of Monroe Catholic Elementary Schools St Mary Catholic Central High School Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title St Mary 27s Church Complex Historic District Monroe Michigan amp oldid 1208788346, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
