Saint Joseph's Catholic Church

This nomination amends the December 8, 1972 listing of St. Joseph's Church by nominating as a district the parish complex consisting of the church and four subsidiary buildings centered at the corner of Jay and Orleans Streets. The contributing buildings in the complex are the church and rectory, both located on Jay Street between Orleans Street and the Grand Trunk railroad; the convent (first built as a rectory), located on the northwest corner of Jay and Orleans; and the 'Wermers house', now used as a sacristans' residence, located on Antietam Street immediately east of the chancel of the church. There is also a non-contributing concrete block garage located behind the rectory. Clearly, the church is the centerpiece of the complex. The decision to build it was made in the late 1860's when it became obvious that the parish's first church would not long be adequate, even with its added galleries. Plans were commissioned from Francis G. Himpler of Hoboken and New York, and the cornerstone was laid October 23, 1870. Construction took over three years; the structure was generally complete by the end of 1872, and the interior work took most of 1873. The church was dedicated on November 16, 1873.