St. Joseph Catholic Church (Tontitown, Arkansas)

St. Joseph Catholic Church is a parish of the Catholic Church located in Tontitown, Arkansas, in the Diocese of Little Rock. The parish and the town were established by a group of Italian Americans led by Father Pietro Bandini, who settled in the area as miners and tenant farmers in the late 19th century. According to local tradition, a picture of Saint Joseph hanging in the schoolhouse was untouched by an arson fire, and the parish was therefore dedicated to him.[2]

St. Joseph Catholic Church
St. Joseph Catholic Church (Tontitown, Arkansas) is located in Arkansas
St. Joseph Catholic Church (Tontitown, Arkansas)
Location in Arkansas
St. Joseph Catholic Church (Tontitown, Arkansas) is located in the United States
St. Joseph Catholic Church (Tontitown, Arkansas)
Location in United States
Location110 E. Henri de Tonti Blvd., Tontitown, Arkansas
Coordinates36°10′43″N 94°14′6″W / 36.17861°N 94.23500°W / 36.17861; -94.23500
Area5.1 acres (2.1 ha)
Built1939
Architectural styleGothic Revival
NRHP reference No.06000080[1]
Significant dates
Added to NRHPMarch 2, 2006
Removed from NRHPJanuary 2, 2024

The historic parish church is located at 110 E. Henri de Tonti Boulevard. It is a large Late Gothic structure, built in 1939–44 from rusticated concrete blocks that were fashioned on site. Its architecture is characterized by buttresses, lancet-arched windows, and a square tower with open belfry projecting at one corner. The main entrance, on the south gable end, has a projecting arched surround finished in stucco. The church has been a major cultural civic center for the local Italian community,[3] and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2006.[1] It was delisted in 2024.

The high school Ozark Catholic Academy is on the church property.[4]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. ^ Young, Susan, "Tontitown (Washington County)", Encyclopedia of Arkansas, retrieved November 17, 2017
  3. ^ "NRHP nomination for St. Joseph Catholic Church". Arkansas Preservation. Retrieved 2015-04-14.
  4. ^ "Who We Are". Ozark Catholic Academy. Retrieved 2022-09-20.
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