Saint Urban, Washington

Saint Urban is an unincorporated community in Lewis County, Washington, United States.[1] It is located approximately three miles (4.8 km) northeast of Winlock.

Saint Urban, Washington
Saint Urban, c1915
Saint Urban, c1915
Saint Urban is located in Washington (state)
Saint Urban
Saint Urban
Saint Urban is located in the United States
Saint Urban
Saint Urban
Coordinates: 46°31′05″N 122°53′13″W / 46.518°N 122.887°W / 46.518; -122.887
CountryUnited States
StateWashington
CountyLewis

History

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The town's existence began as two families, who were German and Swiss immigrants, settled the area in approximately 1889. They named the new community after a small village of the same name in Switzerland.[2] The central hub of the community was located at the intersection of Military Road and Sargent Road and at its height of prosperity, consisted of a small store, a Catholic church, a school and a Grange hall.[3][4] As of 2022, only the Grange hall[5] and church remain.

Historic buildings and sites

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Saint Urban Church

The St. Urban Church, originally called the Assumption Catholic Church was dedicated on August 15, 1891, the day of the Feast of the Assumption.[6] By the early 2000's the church building had become dilapidated and had been decommissioned, though the cemetery was still maintained. The Archdiocese of Seattle was contemplating destroying the building. A group of former residents and their descendants, concerned about the loss of a historic landmark, formed the St. Urban Settlement Foundation in an effort to save the church. Volunteers worked towards the restoration effort that culminated in the reopening of the building with a ceremony on August 15, 2010.[7] The church is considered the first, and last, original public building of the early St. Urban community.[8]

Education

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St. Urban School Interior, c1915

The first school in St. Urban was built on property owned by Frederick Schlittler, approximately one-quarter mile (0.40 km) north of the main intersection of the town. A new school district, 37, was assigned on January 8, 1884. The original school was replaced with a somewhat larger building, c. 1908, and was located diagonally across the St. Urban intersection from the church.[6]

References

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  1. ^ "Saint Urban". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  2. ^ "St. Urban Is Swiss Name". The Daily Chronicle. June 6, 1953. p. 6D. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
  3. ^ Bill Wall. "History of Winlock and Vicinity".
  4. ^ C. C. Wall (1952). "A History of Winlock, Washington" (PDF).
  5. ^ "Lewis County Granges | St. Urban Grange 648". www.grange.org. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
  6. ^ a b Chambers, Margaret (2016). Saint Urban Church Community, Early Years. Centralia, WA: Self published. pp. 4, 67.
  7. ^ Lystra, Tony. "Winlock celebrates completion of St. Urban restoration". Longview Daily News. Retrieved December 2, 2016.
  8. ^ The Chronicle staff (April 27, 2007). "Enjoy Some Roadside History". The Chronicle. p. 14. Retrieved July 1, 2024.