Fire destroys Milwaukee seminary’s historic buildings


The loss of the oldest building on the historic grounds of St. Lawrence Seminary in Mount Calvary casts a shadow over the final school year of student Tommy Le.

An early morning fire Saturday in a rural portion of Fond du Lac County known as “The Holyland” destroyed the campus’s St. Joseph Hall — built in 1872 — and called out 31 different agencies to assist in battling the five-alarm blaze.

The Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office and Mount Calvary Fire Department responded at 5:31 a.m. to a report of a structure fire on the grounds of the Capuchin seminary, 301 Church St.

Fire fighters attacked the flames from above as the fire caused massive damage to the roof until it gave way and collapsed down upon the brick structure that had stood for more than 140 years.

St. Joseph Hall was used as an administrative and classroom building. The structure was unoccupied and there were no injuries as a result of the fire, officials said.

“It’s hard knowing it’s my senior year and ending it knowing we lost the building I put all my dedication into. Now that it’s all gone, it’s hard on me,” said Le, who played in the band.
continue at Sheboygan Press

HT Catholic Culture

5 comments:

Terry Nelson said...

I was wondering when you'd post on this - I think Fr. Solanus studied there.

Dad29 said...

*Cough* St L. Seminary is about 50 miles from Milwaukee.

Badger Catholic said...

Really? Hmm

Badger Catholic said...

Yeah, I took the Catholic Culture headline but I didn't know if they meant Milwaukee as; within the Milwaukee Archdiocese.

Dad29 said...

Well, it's within the Archdiocese, yes. However, the "Milwaukee Seminary" is--sorta--in Bay View. (That's the original one.) Now its classes are spread between Hales Corners and Marquette University.