St. Joseph Catholic Church is a parish of the Catholic Church located in Tontitown, Arkansas, in the Diocese of Little Rock. The parish and the town were established by a group of Italian Americans led by Father Pietro Bandini, who settled in the area as miners and tenant farmers in the late 19th century. According to local tradition, a picture of Saint Joseph hanging in the schoolhouse was untouched by an arson fire, and the parish was therefore dedicated to him.[2]
St. Joseph Catholic Church | |
Formerly listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places | |
 | |
  Location in Arkansas  Location in United States | |
| Location | 110 E. Henri de Tonti Blvd., Tontitown, Arkansas |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 36°10′43″N 94°14′6″W / 36.17861°N 94.23500°W |
| Area | 5.1 acres (2.1 ha) |
| Built | 1939 |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 06000080[1] |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | March 2, 2006 |
| Removed from NRHP | January 2, 2024 |
The historic parish church is located at 110 E. Henri de Tonti Boulevard. It is a large Late Gothic structure, built in 1939–44 from rusticated concrete blocks that were fashioned on site. Its architecture is characterized by buttresses, lancet-arched windows, and a square tower with open belfry projecting at one corner. The main entrance, on the south gable end, has a projecting arched surround finished in stucco. The church has been a major cultural civic center for the local Italian community,[3] and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2006.[1] It was delisted in 2024.
The high school Ozark Catholic Academy is on the church property.[4]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
- ^ Young, Susan, "Tontitown (Washington County)", Encyclopedia of Arkansas, retrieved November 17, 2017
- ^ "NRHP nomination for St. Joseph Catholic Church". Arkansas Preservation. Retrieved 2015-04-14.
- ^ "Who We Are". Ozark Catholic Academy. Retrieved 2022-09-20.
External links
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