2. St. Adalbert Church Complex - National Register Nomination

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United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 St. Adalbert Church Complex St. Joseph, IN Name of Property County and State Section 7 page 7 The largely original interior features woodwork, chandeliers, tiles, and multiple stained-glass windows. Like the interior decoration of the church, church societies sponsored stained glass windows in the rectory. The children of St. Adalbert School donated a stained-glass window of the Last Supper in 1917, the Society of the Holy Virgin of the Rosary a heraldic shield of the 1863 Polish Uprising with the inscription “Boże Zbaw Polskę” or “God Save Poland,” and the Society of St. John Chrysostom a cross with the Sacred Heart of Jesus. St. Adalbert Church, 1923-26, Late Gothic Revival Worthmann & Steinbach, architects. Constructed from 1923-1926 and designed by the Chicago-based firm Worthmann & Steinbach, largely by J.G. Steinbach, St. Adalbert Church is a brick masonry, late gothic revival church in the "Polish Cathedral" style. At its dedication, Bishop of Fort Wayne John F. Noll proclaimed it the "most beautiful" church in the diocese and noted its costliness. At almost $250,000, the cost of the church was four times greater than the original church-school. Following a cruciform plan, the church has a central nave with two side aisles. The church is notable for its 150’ tall twin steeples, the city's tallest. Structural steel and iron were erected by the Cerny Pickas Company for $19,400 and original lighting (since replaced) by the Rambusch Decorating Company from New York for $4,000. The impressive front façade faces east with a limestone entry that has three arches and castellated parapet. A limestone crucifix flanked by two angels crowns the entrance, with finials on both sides. In the central arch’s jambs are pointed trefoil arches with niches. The outer archivolts feature modillions. Beneath the plaster tympanums are stained glass transom windows with gothic designs. Plaster artwork decorates each of the tympanums. At center, St. Michael the Archangel slays the devil, at either side are symbols of Christ, at north the Lamb of God, and at south a pelican piercing its own breast to feed its young. The side arches have modified Corinthian pilasters. The three center stained-glass windows echo the design of the entrance portal, with a large central arched panel and two smaller arched panels to the sides. The center glass has a large limestone cornice with pinnacles on either side, the small arches have a rowlock arch and limestone cornice above. To the far side of each pinnacle are two blind limestone gothic arches. At center is a stepped parapet with limestone cross and gothic niche. There are two large bell towers with steeples. A small course of five brick arches runs parallel with the entrance portal between limestone cornices. Small arched stained-glass windows formed a triangular composition with the larger central arches. Parallel with the central parapet are pointed arches with two courses of rowlocks with limestone lintels and a central limestone cross. Beneath the lintels are arrow slit windows. The north bell tower has three original bells. Abutments were added to support the towers in 1951-52 during reconstruction owing to damage and faulty construction of the original structure, costing $80,000. A gothic fleche surmounts the crossing.