Springerville in Apache County, Arizona — The American Mountains (Southwest)
Presbyterian & Catholic Churchs
Photographed By Bill Kirchner, September 19, 2010
1. Presbyterian & Catholic Churchs Marker
Inscription.
Presbyterian and Catholic Churchs. . , Begun as missions in the late 1800s, Community Presbyterian Church here, and St. Peter's, a block east, moved into these permanent homes built respectively of brick (1918) and adobe (1928).
Begun as missions in the late 1800s, Community Presbyterian Church here, and St. Peter's, a block east, moved into these permanent homes built respectively of brick (1918) & adobe (1928).
Erected 2002 by Round Valley Positive Action Tourism Committee and Springerville-Eagar Chamber of Commerce. (Marker Number 23.)
Location. 34° 8.069′ N, 109° 17.093′ W. Marker is in Springerville, Arizona, in Apache County. Marker is at the intersection of Apache Street and Supai, on the right when traveling east on Apache Street. Marker is on southeast corner. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Springerville AZ 85938, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Presbyterian Church is Stop #23a and St. Peter's Catholic Church is Stop #23b on the Pistols, Plows and Pettycoats Driving Tour.
Photographed By Bill Kirchner, September 19, 2010
2. Presbyterian Church
Community Presbyterian Church of Springerville began Sunday School in Round Valley in 1894 with nineteen members from prominent pioneer families. Presbyterian Missionary James A. Menaul came twice a year to administer to the congregation. They first met in homes and then later a saloon called “Hunters Hall.” Its first regular Pastor, Reverend Robert Ballagh, arrived in 1906. In 1915 a lot was purchased by the Ladies Aid Society and the church was completed in 1918.
Photographed By Bill Kirchner, September 19, 2010
3. St. Peter's Catholic Church
Church website homepage:
Father Badilla established a mission church in Round Valley and would walk the 60 miles from St. Johns every week to conduct mass. When local prominent resident J.J. Baca acquired his first automobile he would often tactfully schedule his business trips to St. Johns to coincide with Father Badilla’s trips to Round Valley in order to give him a lift. The first Catholic Church was built on the present site of the Baptist Church. When J.J. Baca’s entertainment hall burned down in 1927 he donated the land to the church and St. Peter’s Catholic Church, made of adobe bricks and designed by Jenano Acosta, was built on the site. It had a choir loft, stained glass windows and an organ. The first services were held here in 1928. In 1949 a gas leak exploded and blew out the adobe side walls, but the front façade remained intact. The church was remodeled and upgraded in 2003.
This new church building was completed and dedicated in July 2003. See the "Also Link" for photos of the previous church buildings. Click for more information.
Credits. This page was last revised on April 6, 2022. It was originally submitted on September 29, 2010, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 1,015 times since then and 5 times this year. Last updated on October 1, 2010, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on September 29, 2010, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.