Near Canute in Washita County, Oklahoma — The American South (West South Central)

St. Francis Church

Photographed by Mark Hilton, June 26, 2018

1. St. Francis Church Marker

Inscription. St. Francis of Assisi Church, two miles south and two miles east of present day Canute, was an important outpost of the Roman Catholic Church in western Oklahoma. Founded by Father Steber in 1899, it served as "the mother parish of the west", from which missionary priests ministered to churches in Magnum, Sayre, Cheyenne, Anthon, Thomas, Elk City, Clinton, Cordell, Hobart, and Canute.

Another church, Holy Family, was established in 1926 to serve the parishioners of Canute. The church building still stands on the corner of Old Route 66 and 9th Street.

The heritage of plains Christianity is embodied in the grotto and the bronze crucifixion group built in 1928 by the parishioners of Holy Family Church of Canute. The grotto serves as a monument to the settlers of western Oklahoma who struggled with tornadoes, drought, and blue northers to establish a prosperous community while maintaining their beliefs.

The stone for the tomb was hauled from the Red River and the native red granite is from Granite, a town 40 miles to the southwest.

Erected 1994 by Oklahoma Historical Society, Oklahoma Department of Transportation. (Marker Number 216.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the Oklahoma Historical Society series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1899.

Location. 35° 25.308′ N, 99° 16.288′ W. Marker is near Canute, Oklahoma, in Washita County. It is on Old U.S. 66 0.3 miles east of County Road N2080, in the median. Located near the Holy Family Cemetery. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Canute OK 73626, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Kiowa Tribe

and in Southwest Oklahoma.

It is also in the American South,

specifically

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on the prairies,

and on the Southern Plains.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Comanchería,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 10 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: David Lee Walters (here, next to this marker); Great Western Cattle Trail (here, next to this marker); Canute (here, next to this marker); Canute Centennial (here, next to this marker); Ten-K Building (approx. 7.6 miles away); Commotion (approx. 9.3 miles away); 1950's Model Train Replica of Elk City's Downtown District (approx. 9.3 miles away); The Anadarko Basin (approx. 9.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Canute.

St. Francis Church Marker with the Holy Family Cemetery and Grotto in background. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, June 26, 2018

2. St. Francis Church Marker with the Holy Family Cemetery and Grotto in background.

St. Francis Church Marker is second from left. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, June 26, 2018

3. St. Francis Church Marker is second from left.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 15, 2018. It was originally submitted on July 15, 2018, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 732 times since then and 82 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 15, 2018, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.