Watsonville in Santa Cruz County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

St. Patricks Church

721 Main Street

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, April 23, 2012

1. St. Patricks Church Marker

Inscription. A wooden church was first built on this site in 1864 designed by James Walter. It was moved to Ford Street in 1901, and a larger English Gothic style edifice designed by William H. Weeks was constructed in 1902. It has a seating capacity of 625 persons, and 150,000 feet of lumber were used in the construction of the interior. Four tons of copper and sheet lead comprised the roof trim, gutters and valleys. The tall spire rose 132 feet into the air and its slate sides could be seen for miles on a bright day. Crowning the spire was a gilded bronze cross.

As the finishing touches were being put on the church in January of 1902, architect Weeks commented, “A building not built for a day, a week, a year, but a building that will look little worse for years when we have ceased our earthly activities, and the youngest member of today will have reached the time allotment of three score years and ten.”

Although the church had to be rebuilt on a larger scale after the 1989 earthquake, it has beautifully retained its original look. It makes a graceful entrance to the city of Watsonville.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical month for this entry is January 1902.

Location. 36° 54.807′ N, 121° 45.619′ W. Marker

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

is in Watsonville, California, in Santa Cruz County. It is on Main Street (State Highway 152) north of West 5th Street, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 611 Main Street, Watsonville CA 95076, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Central Coast

and specifically on the Coast Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Watsonville (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Lest We Forget (about 800 feet away); The Apple Annual (about 800 feet away); Where Strawberries are Sweeter (approx. ¼ mile away); Kalich Building (approx. ¼ mile away); The Mansion House (approx. ¼ mile away); The Lettunich Building (approx. 0.3 miles away); The City Plaza (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Watsonville.

More about this marker. This marker is located at 611 Main Street while St. Patricks Church is at 721 Main Street.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, April 23, 2012

2. St. Patricks Church Marker

St. Patricks Church image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, April 23, 2012

3. St. Patricks Church

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, April 23, 2012

4. St. Patricks Church

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, April 23, 2012

5. St. Patricks Church

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on April 26, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 1,222 times since then and 32 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on April 26, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.