I grabbed these shots last week when I was passing through Lake Linden. The organist was practicing so I went in to take a few pictures. I had never been in the church before and was surprised to see how beautiful it is. They have a fantastic pipe organ up in the balcony that sounds terrific.

Boy what a familar sight I went to school across the street at the Catholic school it had a small movie theater.On Wensdays we would walk across the street to church I use to like the stain glass windows. I belive the stone the church was made out off came from Jacobsville does any body know if that is true?

This is the church that my mother attended in the 1920s and 30s. I go to mass there when I'm visiting in the summer. A gorgeous church.

Linda, What fond memorys! The Little Gem, across the street from the High School and the Church. An incentive to get our home work done every Sunday.

This church is truly a treasure. I visited it a couple of years ago when the historical society had it open, and docents to tell you about it. Why don't they do that any more? The windows are breathtaking.

What a beautiful sight. It brings back memories of stories my father Ernie [ticky] Castonguay told me about when he was a kid growing up in Lake Linden.He and a friend of his painted the roof at one time.To do it he said they tied ropes around their middles and threw sand bags over the top on one side as they painted the other side so they would'nt fall off. Many other stories too.

What memories. We went to church at St Josephs and to the school across the street. On Sunday afternoon we went to the show at the Little Gem.
Linda Bond, we lived two houses from you on Torch St.I know you don't remember because you are much younger than us.

I belong to St. Joseph Church, thank you for posting the pictures and reminding us of something we just take for granted week in and week out, the beauty of our church!!

I have to tell you all that this page and the pics really bring me to tears alot. I was born in Laurium and went to the old Sacred Heart as a toddler. I was baptized there and my parents where wed there...my grandmother use to live on Hecla st in laurium and my aunt use to live on bootjack road just past the Maple leaf. I havent visited the U.P. in 10 years and havent lived there in more than 25. It truly is Gods country and how fitting to have a picture of Gods house. St Joseph's and the old Sacred Heart are my favorite churches I have ever been to. They just don't build them like that anymore. I am saddened each day I come here cause I live in Atlanta Ga and can't visit the U.P. more...keep up the great work Pasty Central...hope the see the copper country this summer....

What great shots! My great-grandparents donated a stained-glass window (still there) in this church and my folks still have a house up the hill, on G & Maple.

My dad has told me that the back of the church actually used to be the front -- that when the lake was the center of activity, the front of the church faced that way.

I am the organist at Saint Joseph Church in Lake Linden. What a pleasure to see photos of the building on pasty.com! We are very blessed to have a Casavant pipe organ at the church. There has been extensive work restoring and completing this instrument over the last 7 years. It is a very potent French Choir Organ and has been featured often at the Pine Mountain Music Festival, as well as in accompaniment for visitors such as Christ Church Cathedral Choir, Oxford, Keweenaw Symphony with local choral groups, and others. We use the instrument extensivly at our own services. One of our "missions" is training people to be organists in their own churches and for the community.

will be in town on the 25th of march. Can anybody tell me the mass schedule ???

a downstater

Hi Tom,

The mass schedule for St. Joseph Church is as follows:

Sunday: 8:00 a.m.
10:00 a.m.

We have no Saturday evening mass because our Pastor, Fr. Eric Olson, is also Pastor at St. Cecilia Church in Hubbell, so the Saturday mass is said there in Hubbell at 4:00 p.m.

There is also a daily mass at 9:00 a.m, every day except Monday (and weekends).

During Lent we also have:
Sunday - 4:00 p.m. - Vespers
Monday - 7:00 p.m. - Mass
Friday - 7:00 p.m. - Stations of the Cross

Hope you enjoy your visit!

These pics remind me of our former St. Johns church in Marquette. This is truly beautiful and I hope the people appreciate how wonderful it is.

Jacobsville sandstone indeed it is!
I can only add that a business partner and I once were asked to place a bid for re-roofing this architectural classic back in the late 1970's and sensibly declined.
Take one look at those twin parapets and then ask us why?

This is one of the old,gorgeous,obviously no expense mattered, kinda churches. It is indeed one of the most beautiful. The stained glass windows literally take your breath away.

HEY...there's an idea Pasty! Do a stained glass window "special"...course we'd have to wait for the sun to come along and stay! But, seriously... do the windows of various churches in the area. St. Joseph's is indeed a glorious starting place!

ok, whoever heard my request for this shot - many thanks. I have great memories of doing music at midnight mass with my schoolmates (Bach Chorales with horns and winds) and inevitably walking outside at 1:30 to gently falling snow. My experiences there shaped my Christian journey. Great memories of a beautiful church.

big "HI" to David Short, Dave say hi to your mom and dad for me, I'm still at Notre Dame but got my "piled higher and deeper" degree.

Dear Linda, David and Lesley-
This is Kathleen O'Brien-Jim and Beth's younger sister. I live in Maryland now and can't get up to the Keweenaw as much as I'd like. I miss it terribly. People here think I just tell "stories" about its raw beauty and all that snow. They can't believe it. They seem to get frightened by all that wide open solitude. Hope you are all well and your families. Give my best to everyone and maybe we'll catch up some summer. Love to all.

Hi Kathy - this is Mickey. I haven't seen you since you moved away! Seems like a hundred years doesn't it? I work at St. Joseph Church now and am truly blessed to be here! All the best to you too!

They don't build churches like they used to!

Hey Mickey! This is great! I think of you and your family very often. Hope all are well and healthy! Now I am older than I want to be and fast becoming "a woman of a certain age". But life has a lot of dazzle left in it obviously. I will drop by when I am in town. Now that my sons have seen the Keweenaw they can't wait to spend summers there. Much love and affection to all, (and tell David to send a line, too!) Kathleen

We went to this church a few years ago on a vacation trip and were struck by the similarity to our own church - Most Holy Trinity in Fowler, MI. The interior looks like it was designed by the same person - especially the altar. MHT is over 100 years old. Does anyone have this history behind St. Joseph?

Dear Kathy, MI
I am, Fr. Eric Olson, the pastor of St. Joseph Church in Lake Linden. I thought that I would try to answer your historical question. St. Joseph Parish was founded in 1871 by the French-Canadians. The present church building is the second building occupied by the parish. The first church was added to a couple times but was still too small for the growing congregation. It was even too small after the smaller group of German and Irish Catholics started another parish in town (Holy Rosary, which was closed in 1966) The present building was begun in 1902 and only the lower level was completed. It served as the parish church for ten years. In 1912 the upper portion of the church was completed. It was a totally different church than originally intended. The orientation of the church was changed from Front Street to Calumet Street. Local legend says that Fr. Napoleon Raymond, the pastor of St. Joseph Parish for 57 years (1905-1963), designed the church, but the firm of A. F. Wasielewski of Minneapolis, Minnesota was the architect, contractor and builder. The Altar was designed by Daprato of Chicago.

Dear Susie and Dan,
Thought you would be interested in reading all the comments on the church where you will be married in August, 2001.
I wish you both continued happiness in all your adventures.

May I ask you to take some pictures of St. Albert the Great church in Houghton at Mich. Tech? We were married there 30 yrs ago. I grew up in Laurium. I enjoy all of the pictures of our beautiful copper country! Thanks again!!

These pictures are defintly of esquiside quality! Never in my life have I seen such marvolous photos! I being a fine (not to over flatter my self) judge of photos think that whomever took them are wonderfully skilled and should begin a carear or "hobby" I would much love to have you as my photographer and hang up the beutifull photos that you have there!

Would you post a picture of how St. Joseph's has been newly painted with the white, blue, and clouds,and gold trim, or send me a picture to my email greenwoodb@hotmail.com ????
Thank You Barbara Greenwood

Check out this link from Dec. 8, 2002, it's a before and after picture of St. Joseph's Church. An email is on it's way to you with the link too!

Thank You so much for the link and pictures. WOW. It is beautiful.
I wanted to see it because my church is going through a total renovation, inside, and it will look almost the same way. (It is St. Mary's Catholic Church, Muskegon, Michigan). Thank You.