Church of the Visitation (Westphalia, Texas) explained

Church of the Visitation
Partof:Westphalia Rural Historic District
Nrhp Type:cp
Nocat:yes
Location:Roughly bounded by Co. Rt. 383, Pond Cr., Co. Rts. 377, 368, 372, 373, and the Falls Co. western boundary line, Westphalia, Texas
Coordinates:31.1227°N -97.1145°W
Built:1895
Added:May 15, 1996
Partof Refnum:96000524

The Church of the Visitation, in Westphalia, Texas, was once the largest wooden structure west of the Mississippi River. This Catholic church in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Austin, completed in 1895, has twin towers which can be seen for miles. A school was constructed in 1896 and operated as a parochial school until 1935.[1]

The church received official recognition with the erection of an official Texas Historical Marker on December 31, 1978. On May 15, 1996, the community was recognized as the Westphalia Rural Historic District. The district is now listed in the National Register of Historic Places.[2] [3]

On July 29, 2019, the building caught fire and burned to the ground.[4]

Notes and References

  1. http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hlw27 WESTPHALIA, TEXAS
  2. http://www.churchofthevisitation.org/history.php Parish History
  3. http://www.texasescapes.com/TOWNS/WestphaliaTexas/westphaliatx.htm WESTPHALIA, TEXAS
  4. Web site: Lopez . Lisette . Multiple agencies respond to historic church fire in Westphalia . kxxv.com . July 29, 2019 . The E.W. Scripps Co . 29 July 2019.