James
Saint Casimir, 1899.
Saint Casimir, also known as Our Lady of Divine Providence, is a massive gothic-inspired church on Bremen Street. Constructed in Cream City brick, it accommodated the growing Polish community in Milwaukee over one-hundred years ago. As Brady Street and Saint Hedwig Parish were getting a bit crowded, many Poles decided to pack their bags and head over to what’s now the oh-so-trendy Riverwest district of Milwaukee. And this is their legacy.
The built-to-last church, with its striking copper steeples and clock tower, was designed by our old friend, Erhard Brielmaier. The bricks today are quite dirty and could use a good cleaning. Cream City brick is rather porous and takes in a lot of pollution. Hopefully that’s in the cards for the near future. According to Megan E. Daniels, “St. Casimir’s was constructed amidst a working-class, residential neighborhood developing between 1885 and 1915.” (Images of America: Milwaukee’s Early Architecture). It’s still a very active spot, with great restaurants and cafes dotting the surrounding narrow, frenetic streets.
This was another church I’d been itching to get inside for a long time to look around. Today, I got my chance. Enjoy the photos and, more importantly, our city’s Catholic heritage!
St. Casimir School, 1894.
A view from the choir loft.
The choir loft and organ
Stunning high altar and reredos
Beautiful confessionals
Polish Pride
Side altar with the Virgin Mary
Side altar with Saint Joseph
What not to do to your church. The stage/platform look. Ugly, disjointed and rather Protestant reconfiguration of sanctuary and nave. Please, please restore to original layout.
Relics!