Alpena in Alpena County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
St. Bernard Catholic Church
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 23, 2018
1. St. Bernard Catholic Church Marker
Inscription.
St. Bernard Catholic Church. . In 1861 Bishop Frederic Baraga (1797-1868) trod through snow and icy waters from Sault Ste. Marie to Alpena where he founded a Catholic church. However, it was not until 1866 that Father Patrick Murray became the first resident pastor of the church dedicated to and named for St. Bernard. Father Murray was instrumental in the building of the first church structure, which was located almost directly opposite the current edifice. The foundation of this stone structure was laid in 1880. Three years later the church split into three parishes. The French parish, which kept the original structure, became St. Anne; the Polish became St. Mary; and the Irish retained the St. Bernard name and records. This structure, completed by the Irish in 1884, houses the oldest Catholic parish between Bay City and Cheboygan. ,
Michigan History Division, Department of State , Registered Local Site No. 990 , This marker is the property of the State of Michigan, 1983.
In 1861 Bishop Frederic Baraga (1797-1868) trod through snow and icy waters from Sault Ste. Marie to Alpena where he founded a Catholic church. However, it was not until 1866 that Father Patrick Murray became the first resident pastor of the church dedicated to and named for St. Bernard. Father Murray was instrumental in the building of the first church structure, which was located almost directly opposite the current edifice. The foundation of this stone structure was laid in 1880. Three years later the church split into three parishes. The French parish, which kept the original structure, became St. Anne; the Polish became St. Mary; and the Irish retained the St. Bernard name and records. This structure, completed by the Irish in 1884, houses the oldest Catholic parish between Bay City and Cheboygan.
Michigan History Division, Department of State
Registered Local Site No. 990
This marker is the property of the State of Michigan, 1983
Erected 1983 by Michigan History Division, Department of State. (Marker Number L990.)
In addition, it is included in the Michigan Historical Commission series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1861.
Location. 45° 3.906′ N, 83° 26.202′ W. Marker is in Alpena, Michigan, in Alpena County. Marker is on West Chisholm Street (U.S. 23) south of South 5th Avenue, on the left when traveling north. Marker is located directly in front of St. Bernard Church, on the left (south) side of the front entrance on West Chisholm Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 322 West Chisholm Street, Alpena MI 49707, United States of America. Touch for directions.
2. St. Bernard Catholic Church Marker (wide view; marker visible on left side of church)
medicine and provisions. He loaded up what supplies he could carry, and took off on a 250-mile trip to help them. About 90 miles from his destination, his snowshoes gave out, and he was stuck in the snow. By chance, he met a trader who worked for the federal government. He explained the situation, and the trader gave him some new snowshoes. Bishop Baraga was able to go off on his way again. The trader later speculated that Bishop Baraga would have died out there in the snow if it hadn’t been for their chance meeting. (Submitted on August 17, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 23, 2018
3. St. Bernard Catholic Church
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 23, 2018
4. St. Bernard Catholic Church (northwest corner)
Credits. This page was last revised on September 30, 2020. It was originally submitted on August 16, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 387 times since then and 59 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 17, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
