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501 South 10th St.
St. Joseph, MO 64501
(816) 233-9788
Lake Contrary
Joseph Robidoux
Previous Mayors
Twin Spires
Jesse James
Jesse James Home
Pony Express
Patee House
Medical Rates in 1845
Mayor's Annual Message in 1897
The Earthquake of 1867
1872 Building List
Architect Angelo Powell
Brief City History
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"A thing of beauty is a joy forever, its beauty increases, it will never pass
away." - John Keats
History of the
Complex
The four buildings of the Twin Spires complex are, from north to south:
the church, the rectory, the convent, and the school. All four were
built by the Immaculate Conception parish, which was originally formed
to serve a congregation of German immigrants.
The 1920s school building is now the home of a nonprofit that works
with the mentally challenged. Built in the 1870s, the rectory and
convent are amonth the oldest buildings still standing in St. Joseph.
One of the finest examples of Gothic Revival architecture in northwest
Missouri, the Immaculate Conception Church was designed by Edmund
J. Eckel who designed many of St. Joseph's architectural jewels. It
was erected in 1908 after the previous church bulding was destroyed
by fire. Its stained glass windows were imported from Innsbruck, Austria,
and are imbedded 18 inches into the walls. They depict the life of
Mary, Mother of Jesus, from her birth to her coronation as Queen of
Heaven.
The altars were rescued from a nearby parish, called Saints Peter
and Paul, which served St. Joseph's Polish community until it closed
and merged with the Immaculate Conception parish in 1978. The combined
parish adopted the name "Queen of the Apostles" to commemorate
both parishes.
The Twin Spires
Story
When the Catholic Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph decided to close
the "Queen of the Apostles" parish, a hue and cry arose
against their plan to raze all four buildings and sell the land. Almost
overnight, a group of parishioners joined with local preservationists
to "save the spires." Within four months, Twin Spires, Inc.,
had been formed, and the Diocese deeded the buildings, along with
a grant of $75,000, to the new group. The City of St. Joseph matched
that grant, and the group used the funds to renovate the former school
building for lease by a group that works with the mentally challenged.
That financial foundation and the efforts of a dedicated group have
returned the four-building complex to its former vitality as a community
resource. The rectory has been renovated as a group home, and the
church building is in great demand as a wedding chapel, meeting place,
and concert hall, besides being open to the public as a museum of
St. Joseph's multi-faith religious history.
The Holocaust Torah
The partially burned Jewish Torah now on display at Twin Spires was
found in a warehouse by Allied forces at the end of World War II,
along with several hundred others that had been confiscated and carefully
cataloged by the Nazis. Most of the congregations from which the Torahs
were seized no longer existed, so an international agency decided
to distribute the Torahs to any group who would display them as mute
witnesses of the reality of the Holocaust. Temple Adath Joseph applied
to be one such group and has placed this Torah on permanent loan to
Twin Spires, Inc.
Vision for the Future
The work of preserving this architectural treasure has just begun.
We are
about 30% of the way to our goal of making improvements totaling more
than $1 million. Not only are the spires and the surrounding stonework
in need of repair, but the electrical system must also be upgraded
so that the wedding chapel/concert hall can be air conditioned. The
roofs on the convent and school buildings also need replacement, and
the interior of the convent must be refurbished before it can be occupied.
Already accomplished: the renovation of the school and rectory, plus
major improvements to bring the complex into compliance with the Americans
with Disabilities Act.
As the pressing needs of preserving the fabric of the buildings are
met, we hope to turn our attention to sharing the beauty of the interior.
The wooden altars are missing some pieces and generally need refurbishing.
Only a few, small panes in the stained glass windows are broken, but
they need to be examined from top to bottom by an expert in the art.
There are also plans in the works to expand the Museum's collection
and create displays which can easily be changed to reflect the seasons.
Please consider joining us in our efforts by becoming a member of
Twin Spires, Inc. Write or call for membership information to keep
you abreast of development and activities at the site. Your continued
interest and support will be appreciated.
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