Poletown East in Detroit in Wayne County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

St. Hyacinth Catholic Church

Photographed By J.T. Lambrou, May 5, 2021

1. St. Hyacinth Catholic Church Marker

Inscription. The first Polish immigrants came to Detroit during the 1840s. In 1872, 70 Polish families lived in the city. By 1907 when St. Hyacinth Church was founded, Detroit Poles numbered over 60,000 and the majority lived in this vicinity, known as Poletown. The first mass was held in a frame house on Theodore Street. A combined school and church was built at the corner of Frederick and McDougall Streets in 1908. There, Felician nuns taught school in both English and Polish. On May 25, 1924, parishioners dedicated this Romanesque and Byzantine style church, designed by Detroit architects Donaldson and Meier. St. Hyacinth’s pastor, Bishop Stefan Woznicki, founded the Liga Katolicka, a national agency to support the Catholic Church in Poland, in 1945.

Erected 2006 by Michigan Historical Commission - Michigan Historical Center. (Marker Number L1592.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Churches & Religion. In addition, it is included in the Michigan Historical Commission series list. A significant historical date for this entry is May 25, 1924.

Location. 42° 22.176′ N, 83° 2.179′ W. Marker is in Detroit, Michigan, in Wayne County. It is in Poletown East. Marker can be reached from the intersection of McDougall Street and Frederick

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Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 5240 McDougall St, Detroit MI 48211, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. St. Albertus Church (approx. 0.7 miles away); Sweetest Heart of Mary Catholic Church (approx. one mile away); St. Anthony Church (approx. one mile away); Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church (approx. 1.2 miles away); St. Josaphat Roman Catholic Church Complex (approx. 1.2 miles away); Sacred Heart Parish (approx. 1.4 miles away); Detroit Association of Women's Clubs (approx. 1.4 miles away); Ford Piquette Plant (approx. 1½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Detroit.

Photographed By J.T. Lambrou, May 5, 2021

2. St. Hyacinth Catholic Church Marker

Marker in courtyard

Photographed By J.T. Lambrou, May 5, 2021

3. St. Hyacinth Catholic Church Marker

View of church from Farnsworth

St. Hyacinth Catholic Church image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J.T. Lambrou, May 5, 2021

4. St. Hyacinth Catholic Church

View from McDougal

Credits. This page was last revised on February 12, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 10, 2021, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. This page has been viewed 231 times since then and 35 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 10, 2021, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.