Catholic Architecture and History of Toledo, Ohio: Immaculate Conception, Old South End, Toledo

Monday, May 21, 2007

Immaculate Conception, Old South End, Toledo

Never underestimate how much grime builds up, on the surface of a building, over the course of a few decades. It was worse in the days of heavy industry and steam locomotives.

7 comments:

Alex Fries said...: i just sandblasted our sidewalk today...; May 21, 2007 at 9:20:00 PM EST
Jeffrey Smith said...: I'll inform the media. Film at 11.; May 21, 2007 at 10:23:00 PM EST
Anonymous said...: This is the most revealing photo. Like you, these days I am much the admirer of the old (that is, pre-WWII) interiors.

But when I was a little child (also pre-WWII), the dark exteriors of grimy Immaculate Conception, St. Francis, and most of all St. Anthony frightened me terribly -- I would not go near any of them (a difficult conflict because I liked Franklin Ice Cream).

How our tastes change.

-- Ireneus; May 22, 2007 at 4:38:00 PM EST
Jeffrey Smith said...: The worst part is that, the walls had been cleaned about twenty years before the picture was taken. It built up fast. There's going to be a public tour of the place this summer. You should have a look.
Franklin's Ice Cream? Where was that? I've only been here a year and two months. Came to visit a friend for a week and fell in love with the place.; May 22, 2007 at 5:08:00 PM EST
Anonymous said...: Ah, I did not realize you are not a native.

Franklin's Ice Cream was a chain that was popular in Toledo during the 1930's-'60's. I think the store that was kitty-corner across from Immaculate Conception was the first in the chain. The largest one was out Monroe Street at about 5001, near Talmadge, where the shopping center is now. I believe there is still one in Waterville, and perhaps one somewhere around Lorain.

None of the shops were of architectural or religious significance. But they were an important part of the zeitgeist.

-- Ireneus; May 22, 2007 at 6:51:00 PM EST
Zach said...: What's somewhat interesting is that as grime builds up on the exterior, as long as it does not do any kind of structural damage, it can actually make for a unique church. Your picture reminded me of an old church I saw in Pittsburg one time. It was jet black becaus of the grime that had built up on it because of all of the steel mills in the town and made for a very unique and beautiful church. I wouln't, howver, appriciate grime on the inside of a church so much.; May 26, 2007 at 9:12:00 PM EST
Jeffrey Smith said...: It always works its way inside though.
As a native of western Pennsylvania, I've seen a lot of churches like that in Pittsburgh. It works better with stone than with brick. Sometimes it turns the brick a dark brown, instead of black. Looks good then.
Keep blogging. You're doing a good job.; May 26, 2007 at 9:34:00 PM EST