dallashistory

The demolition of St Cecilia's church was completed last month. The building had a roof fire in August of '07 caused by a lightening strike and was damaged beyond economical repair.
Cliff Dweller magazine ran an article on the removal along with some photos. The first link is to the online article, and the second to some unpublished photos.
The print version stated that it will be replaced with a building that seats 1000, which will be 2.5 times as many as the old. I'm guessing here, but I suspect that they will use the acreage that the Dunne house used to sit on for the new structure as I don't see how they could put a much larger building on that corner lot.
It's a sad loss. I've been in that church and it was truly unique. I just hope they replace it with something that actually looks like a church.

links

http://www.advocatemag.com/oak-cliff/ma ... Ashes.html

http://www.advocatemag.com/oak-cliff/mu ... audioCol=0

Paul

Thanks Paul
St Cecilia's was my parish church for several years. The loss of that old building is so sad.

Ronnie,
We went there when I was a kid, until 1960 or '61. I went to school there until the 4th grade, when they built St Elizabeths and we transfered there.
I probably haven't been in the building since then, but can still remember the mural behind the altar, and the support columns that blocked the view from the end of the pews.
Paul

I attended St Cecilia's during 2nd grade (1960-61). I thought the church was grand---though smaller in reality than in my boyhood memory. I loved the mural of the saints behind the altar.
Msgr. Robinson was pastor then. I believe his assistants were Fr. Vogel and Fr. Scanlan. Vogel (now retired), for sure!
Parish carnivals in the gym/auditorium were memorable!
We lived just across the street on Rosemont. I just walked out the back gate of our yard to go to school. Other Rosemont neighbors that attended there were the Kowalskis and the Browns.
In my memory, I recall St. Cecilia's as the archetypal American Catholic parish before the Vatican II changes came along.

By the way, my parents were wedded there along with many aunts, uncles, and cousins.