St. Joseph's Church

• St. Joseph's Church (Roman Catholic) is at 135 Lafayette Street at the corner of Dow St. This new structure was a replacement for the original Romanesque Revival church built c 1910/11. The former church was burnt to a hollow shell after the 1914 Salem Fire.
• For years the parish used the renovated cellar and tower bases of the old church, until 1949, when they started rebuilding the church.
• The 1950 edifice of St. Joseph's Church is indicative of the International Style of architecture, with a minimum of ornament.
• In the park in front of the church is the Mourning Victory statue, dedicated to the men and woman of St. Joseph Parish who served in W.W. I and II for God and country.
• After many active years as a parish, the Boston Catholic Archdiocese decided to close St. Joseph's in 2004. They cited declining attendance, deteriorating finances, crumbling buildings and an aging priesthood as the reasons so many parishes must close.
• St. Joseph's parish ran St. Joseph's School for 116 years until closing in 2009.
• The St. Joseph's food pantry is now being run as "Harvest of Hope" out of a building on Franklin St.

See Also

• Saint Joseph Parish, Salem, Ma., 1873-1973 by St. Joseph's Parish, 1973.

• Vertical File in Salem Collection - St. Joseph's Church
• "Four local churches to close; Plans to affect Peabody, Salem, Beverly, Danvers" Salem Evening News, May 26, 2004, p. A1

• St. Joseph's will appeal closing plan" Salem News, May 27, 2004, p.A1

• "New St. Joseph's Church is dedicated amid pomp, splendor; 1900 at Banquet" Salem Evening News, May 22, 1950, p. ?

• Architecture in Salem by Bryant F. Tolles, p. 233-4.

• Visitor's Guide to Salem Essex Institute, 1953, p. 183