St. Joseph's Church
From Salem Links and Lore
- 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 the new church.
- St. Joseph's Church is indicative of the International Style of architecture, with a minimum of ornament.
- 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 are to close.
See Also
- "Four local churches to close; Plans to affect Peabody, Salem, Beverly, Danvers" Salem Evening News, May 26, 2004, p. A1
- Architecture in Salem by Bryant F. Tolles, p. 233-4.
