Other Blogs of Note

Check 'em out . . .

Roamin' Catholic Churches - photos of churches in Wisconsin, Chicago, other areas in Midwest:

http://roamincatholicchurches.blogspot.com/

Detroit Church Blog:

http://detroitchurchblog.blogspot.com/

Also, a helpful resource for architecture in Canada (1800 - 1950): 

http://www.dictionaryofarchitectsincanada.org/introduction

The Twin Church of Reed Assumption

Blessed Sacrament Church in Lawton, Oklahoma

The former Assumption church in Reed, Ohio, near Bellevue.

Recently a reader of this blog, Marilyn Landoll, sent along a fascinating story about a twin church of Assumption in Reed, that was built in Lawton, Oklahoma:

"It is my understanding that one of the original contributors to the building of the church [in Reed] was Jacob Landoll.  He later moved his family (12 children) to Lawton, Oklahoma.   Two of Jacob's sons, Phil and Albert, later traveled back to Ohio to review/copy (?) the building plans.  These two men helped to build a church in Lawton, called Blessed Sacrament.  It is amazing how similar the design and exterior of Blessed Sacrament is to Assumption ...  Family legend has it that when Phil was helping to build Blessed Sacrament, he put each brick into a bucket of water.  Those bricks that floated were rejected.  Nearly 100 years later, Blessed Sacrament is still solid!  Also, there are still Landoll's serving in the church and school at Blessed Sacrament in Lawton, OK."

According to a parish history of Reed Assumption, their church was designed by Erhard Brielmaier and Sons, architects of Milwaukee.  And on the Lawton Blessed Sacrament website, it says there may be a church in Kansas that used the same plans.

Many thanks to Marilyn for sharing this history!  

Joyful Noise: Art from Florence Cathedral

Coming to the Detroit Institute of Art in February 2015:  "Make a Joyful Noise:  Renaissance Music and Art at Florence Cathedral."  Details HERE.

Florence Cathedral.

Florence Cathedral.

St. Stephen, East Toledo

Some good photos of St. Stephen's church at the "Michigan Exposures" blog, click HERE. 

Christmas Stamp from Cleveland Museum of Art

Somehow I missed this last year -- the 2013 Madonna & Child U.S. Stamp was a detail of a painting owned by the Cleveland Museum of Art, "Virgin and Child in a Landscape" by Jan Gossaert, 1531.  Click HERE for the museum's site.

Shrine in Winter

Some beautiful photos of Bellevue's Sorrowful Mother Shrine in a gallery at the Sandusky Register website.  Click HERE.

A New Steeple

Last year about this time, the steeple and belfry of St. Mary's in Norwalk was damaged in a wind storm. The steeple was removed along with the belfry, and a temporary box was put over the bell and digital carillon to protect it until the new steeple could be raised.

Just this week the newly designed/repaired steeple was put into place.(photos below by Mike Doughty)

In other news of the parish - there is much interior damage, especially to the ceiling, that needs to be addressed. A capital campaign has been started to raise funds for the repairs. Please see the website for more details and to donate online. http://www.stmarynorwalk.org/campaign.html