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St. Mary's Catholic Church |
The High Hill area
was first settled in the mid 1800s by German and Austrian immigrants seeking
religious freedom and opportunity in the New World. The town was once a thriving community as a
stagecoach stop, but the coming of the railroad in 1874 put an end to
that.
The Nativity of
the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church, also known as St. Mary’s,
was built in 1906 and painted six years later.
It is also known as the “Queen of the Painted Churches”.
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Painted Wooden Columns |
The decorative
painting of High Hill was done by Ferdinand Stockert and Hermann Kern who
first painted the images on canvas and then glued them to the wood walls.
The church
is noted for its elaborate wooden
columns painted to resemble marble, stained glass
windows, and religious
statuary.
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Decorative Ceiling |
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Original Stained Glass Windows from 1899 |
Three
bells from the second church were placed in the belfry of the current
church and remain operational today.
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Gary with the Bell Ropes in the Church Foyer |
Note: When you travel between the High Hill and Dubina
churches you will use a back road that will cross the Piano
Bridge over the East Navidad River.
It received its name from the musical notes it once sounded when crossed
by wagon or auto.
Built in 1885, it still allows for auto traffic, but be
careful as it is only one lane. Watch
for cars entering from the other side.
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