St. James Catholic Church

In 1869 St. James Catholic Church erected a frame church on a lot fronting Franklin Avenue near the railroad tracks. On Christmas Eve 1888 the church was destroyed by fire. Soon after, a larger brick church and school was built to replace the burned one. It was dedicated just one year later, in December 1889, The large Catholic membership kept increasing so the Diocese purchased additional lots on Mulberry Street between Franklin Avenue and Rebecca Avenue. There a magnificent stone Gothic-style cathedral was built in 1929 and dedicated in 1930. In 1961 the old brick church, which had served as part of the St. James School, was torn down and a 10 classroom educational wing was built. St. James still occupies this site today although it is now part of St. Mary Magdalene Parish. The St. James School has been restructured and renamed, Sister Thea Bowman Catholic school.

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