Sacred Heart Cathedral, Sacred Heart School and Christian Brothers Home

Sacred Heart Cathedral, Sacred Heart School and Christian Brothers Home comprise a former Roman Catholic diocesan complex in the Central Hillside neighborhood of Duluth, Minnesota, United States. Sacred Heart Cathedral was built from 1894 to 1896 and served as the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Duluth until 1957, after which it became a parish church. Sacred Heart School was built in 1904 and the Christian Brothers Home—a monastic residence for the school faculty—was built in 1907.[2]

Sacred Heart Cathedral, Sacred Heart School and Christian Brothers Home
Sacred Heart Cathedral viewed from the east
Location206 and 211 W. 4th Street, 315 N. 2nd Avenue W., Duluth, Minnesota
Coordinates46°47′15″N 92°6′19″W
Area2 acres (0.81 ha)
Built1894–96 (cathedral), 1904 (school), 1907 (home)
ArchitectGearhard A. Tenbusch (cathedral), William T. Bray & I. Vernon Hill (school), Bray & Carl E. Nystrom (home)
Architectural styleLate Gothic Revival (cathedral), American Craftsman/Gothic (school & home)
NRHP reference No.86001382 (original), 05000446 (increase)[1]
Significant dates
Added to NRHPJune 26, 1986
Boundary increaseMay 19, 2005

In 1985 the diocese merged the parish into another and sold off the Sacred Heart buildings.[3] The cathedral is now the Sacred Heart Music Center, a performance and event venue.[4] The school has been repurposed as the Damiano Center, an ecumenical provider of social services.[5] The monastery is now Alicia's Place, which offers Section 8 housing for homeless women.[6]

The cathedral and school were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986. In 2005 the listing was expanded to include the Christian Brothers Home.[1] The complex was listed for its state-level significance in the themes of architecture and religion.[7] It was nominated for its exemplary Late Gothic Revival cathedral designed by local architect Gearhard A. Tenbusch and for representing the historical seat of authority of the Diocese of Duluth and its educational efforts.[3]

History

The buildings belonged to the first Roman Catholic parish in Duluth, founded by Rev. John Chebul in 1870. The parish originally occupied a small wooden building, but it burned down in 1892. A new building was started in 1894 and completed in 1896.[8][9] The church had a 1,493-pipe pipe organ installed in 1898, built by Felgemaker Organ Company, of Erie, Pennsylvania.[10] The organ has been listed by the Organ Historical Society for its "exceptional historic merit, worthy of preservation."[11]

In 1985 the Diocese of Duluth announced that the congregation would be merging with the congregation of Saint Mary, Star of the Sea, and that the building would be closed. Joan Connolly, who had started playing the Sacred Heart organ in 1930 when she was a sophomore in high school, wanted to preserve the building and keep the organ in its original space. She recruited volunteers, and bought the church from the diocese for $1.[10] The church building now serves as a performance space for live music, and is also a venue for weddings, receptions, meetings, and other potential uses.[12]

  • Former cathedral from the north
  • Sacred Heart School from the north
  • The Christian Brothers Home from the east

See also

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. Tschofen, Carmen (November 2004). "National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet: Sacred Heart Cathedral, Cathedral School and Christian Brothers Home". National Park Service. Retrieved 2018-08-04. Cite journal requires |journal= (help) With five accompanying photos from 2004
  3. Baago, Jay; Lawrence Sommer (1984-07-15). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory—Nomination Form: Sacred Heart Cathedral and Cathedral School". National Park Service. Retrieved 2018-08-04. Cite journal requires |journal= (help) With two accompanying photos from 1985
  4. "Sacred Heart Music Center". Sacred Heart Music Center. 2016. Retrieved 2018-08-04.
  5. "About Us". Damiano Center. Retrieved 2018-08-04.
  6. "Alicia's Place". Center City Housing Corp. 2018. Retrieved 2018-08-04.
  7. "Sacred Heart Cathedral, Cathedral School and Christian Brothers Home". Minnesota National Register Properties Database. Minnesota Historical Society. 2009. Retrieved 2018-08-04.
  8. Woodbridge, Dwight Edwards; Pardee, John Stone (1910-01-01). History of Duluth and St. Louis County, Past and Present. C. F. Cooper.
  9. The Official Catholic Year Book: A Comprehensive Summary of the History, Activities and Accomplishments of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States of America. P. J. Kenedy and Sons. 1928-01-01.
  10. "History of Sacred Heart Music Center". 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-27.
  11. "Sacred Heart Music Center, Duluth, Minnesota (Performing Arts)". Online Highways. Retrieved 2009-04-27.
  12. "Special Events at Sacred Heart Music Center". 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-27.
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