Cambridge Township near Onsted in Lenawee County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
St. Joseph's Church / St. Joseph's Shrine
St. Joseph's Church
St. Joseph's Church originated as a missionary church during the 1850s. Priests from Adrian, Clinton, Manchester, Tecumseh and Monroe served the parish until the first resident priest arrived in 1954. The original church, which is still part of the present structure, was constructed in 1854 by Irish pioneers. In 1863 the first Mass was held in the church. The tower and stained-glass windows were added in 1911. In 1928, Father Joseph Pfeffer from St. Mary's in Manchester served here and oversaw the enlargement and remodeling of the church to its present form. The transept was built and nave enlarged, transforming the church to a cruciform plan. The red tile roof, the tower and the use of mosaic, tile and wrought iron in the interior give the church its Spanish Mission flavor.
St. Joseph's Shrine
As part of the 1928 expansion of St. Joseph's Church, a shrine--inspired by the grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes in France--was designed. In 1932 work began on the fourteen outdoor stations of the cross, which depict scenes of the Via Dolorosa (the sorrowful way), that Jesus walked to Calvary. The footpath begins at a replica of Pontius Pilates's palace then winds past balconied houses, through the judgment gate and ends at Christ's tomb. The crucifixion scene is sculpted from Carrara marble. Two Mexican artisans, Dionicio Rodriguez and Ralph Corona, under the supervision of Leo Ouelette, sculpted the steps, archways and railings from wet cement to resemble stone and timber.
Erected 1991 by Bureau of History, Michigan Department of State. (Marker Number S611.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Churches & Religion • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Michigan Historical Commission series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1954.
Location. 42° 3.406′ N, 84° 9.908′ W. Marker is near Onsted, Michigan, in Lenawee County. It is in Cambridge Township. Marker is on Michigan Route 12, 3 miles east of Highway 50, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 8743 US-12, Brooklyn MI 49230, 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. Joseph Shrine (within shouting distance of this marker); Irish Pioneers & Father Gabriel Richards (within shouting distance of this marker); An Gorta Mor (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); a different marker also named An Gorta Mor (about 500 feet away); Roadside Attractions at Brighton Hill and Kelly's Knoll (approx. half a mile away); History of the Mystery Hill (approx. 1.3 miles away); Geronimo (approx. 1.6 miles away); George Armstrong Custer (approx. 1.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Onsted.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Dionicio Rodriguez also worked on the Crystal Shrine Grotto in Memphis, Tennessee; Ralph Corona also worked on bridges on the W. H. L. McCourtie Estate in nearby Somerset Center, Michigan.
Also see . . . Michigan SP Saint Joseph Church and Shrine. The National Register of Historic Places Registration Form includes descriptions of the Stone Wall and gate posts, Church and Rectory/Office, Cemetery, Crucifixion Group and Risen Christ sculptures, Via Dolorosa Shrine, and Graves and Sculptures on the lawn south and west of the church. A lengthy section on Significance indicates, among other things, that the church was expanded because reconstruction and paving of the highway in front of the church increased the number of summer residents and tourists attending Mass. The new altar and stations of the cross came from European Statuary and Art Company (Milwaukee, Wisc.) and four murals in the church were painted by Albert Wrobbel, who also painted murals at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church (Dearborn, Mich.). (Submitted on July 28, 2023, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.)
Credits. This page was last revised on July 28, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 3, 2015, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. This page has been viewed 591 times since then and 35 times this year. Last updated on January 21, 2021, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on July 3, 2015, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. 7. submitted on June 20, 2023, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio.