St. Mary’s Catholic Church

St. Mary’s Catholic Church. . , Medora de Vallombrosa, wife of the Marquis de Mores, financed the construction of this brick church late in the summer of 1884. This gift to her namesake community was paid for from an annual income of $90,000, earned from a stock portfolio she received from her father before her marriage. Before the church was built, Medora had welcomed the visiting priest to hold mass once a month in her home, the Chateau de Mores., Peter Book, who operated a brick factory south of Medora, was the contractor for the church. The quality and color of the abundant clay in the badlands was excellent for brickmaking., The cornerstone, laid on September 20, 1884, was inscribed with “Marquise de Mores, September 15, 1884,” on one side and “Athenais” on the other., While Medora’s mother and daughter were both named Athenais, it was generally assumed by locals that Athenais refers to her infant daughter., St. Mary’s Church is the oldest Catholic Church still in use in the Bismarck Diocese. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places., The interior has been updated over the years, but the first four pews and the altar are from the 1884 building. ,