St. Joseph Catholic Church

Historical marker location:

Louisville, Kentucky

( 1406 E. Washington St., Louisville)

Parish established in 1866 by Bishop Martin J. Spalding to serve the German and Irish Catholics in Butchertown. Reverend Leopold Walterspiel appointed to organize congregation under the patronage of St. Joseph. The present church was dedicated in Sept. 1886. The twin steeples, said to be tallest in Louisville, were added in 1905-06. Lourdes grotto was added in 1922.

Reverse

The original church and school were dedicated on Jan. 6, 1866. Parish was operated by Franciscan friars from 1875-2002. Ursuline Sisters staffed the school from 1867-1975. Due to declining enrollment, the school closed in 2003. Since 2002, the parish has been administered by priests from the Archdiocese of Louisville.

Catholic Church Germans Louisville