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  Saint Urban | |
| Coordinates: 46°31′05″N 122°53′13″W / 46.518°N 122.887°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | Lewis |
History
editThe 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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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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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
edit- ^ "Saint Urban". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ "St. Urban Is Swiss Name". The Daily Chronicle. June 6, 1953. p. 6D. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
- ^ Bill Wall. "History of Winlock and Vicinity".
- ^ C. C. Wall (1952). "A History of Winlock, Washington" (PDF).
- ^ "Lewis County Granges | St. Urban Grange 648". www.grange.org. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
- ^ a b Chambers, Margaret (2016). Saint Urban Church Community, Early Years. Centralia, WA: Self published. pp. 4, 67.
- ^ Lystra, Tony. "Winlock celebrates completion of St. Urban restoration". Longview Daily News. Retrieved December 2, 2016.
- ^ The Chronicle staff (April 27, 2007). "Enjoy Some Roadside History". The Chronicle. p. 14. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
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