Niles in Berrien County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Saint Mary’s

Photographed by M. Bowyer, July 10, 2007

1. Saint Mary's Marker

Inscription. The Roman Catholic Church in Niles traces its origin to the Indian Mission established at nearby Fort St. Joseph in the late 1600’s. Reestablished at Bertrand, three miles south of Niles, in the 1830s, the mission moved into town in 1849 and was renamed St. Francis’s. In 1866 the cornerstone of the present building was laid and on December 11, 1870, the church was dedicated to St. Mary. Designed by Rufus Rose of Niles with later modifications by Father John Cappon, the church was completed in 1890 with the construction of the gothic tower. Father Cappon, known as the “parish’s greatest benefactor,” was a Belgian-born priest who served as pastor for over thirty years. He gave generously of his large personal estate for many parish improvements.

Erected 1971. (Marker Number S0344.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the Michigan Historical Commission series list. A significant historical month for this entry is December 1839.

Location. 41° 49.507′ N, 86° 15.824′ W. Marker is in Niles, Michigan, in Berrien County. It is

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on South Lincoln Avenue (Business U.S. 12) near Clay Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 211 South Lincoln, Niles MI 49120, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southwest Michigan

and specifically in one of the Lake Michigan Shore counties. It is also in the American Midwest.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Great Lakes,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 5 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: PA-WA-TING (approx. 0.3 miles away); Parrott Civil War Cannon (approx. 0.4 miles away); Niles Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.4 miles away); John B. Reddick Building (approx. half a mile away); Ring Lardner (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Niles.

Photographed by M. Bowyer, July 10, 2007

2. Saint Mary's Marker

Saint Mary's Church image. Click for full size.

Photographed by M. Bowyer, July 10, 2007

3. Saint Mary's Church

Saint Mary's image. Click for full size.

Photographed by M. Bowyer, July 10, 2007

4. Saint Mary's

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on July 10, 2007, by M. Bowyer of Indianapolis, Indiana. This page has been viewed 2,210 times since then and 40 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 10, 2007, by M. Bowyer of Indianapolis, Indiana. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.