Saint Anthony's Cathedral

Duane's take

Here's my telling of what the official marker has to say about Saint Anthony's Cathedral in Jefferson County. Now settle in, because this story starts long before there was any building to speak of. We're talking the 1850s, when traveling priests were making their rounds through this part of Texas, holding Catholic services wherever they could find a roof, or when there wasn't one, under the open sky.

Homes, clearings, and eventually the town Temperance Hall served as makeshift sanctuaries. That went on for a good while. Then, in 1881, something more permanent finally took shape.

Under the leadership of the Reverend V. Quinon, the congregation put up its first real church building, a small wooden structure on the corner of Bowie and Orleans streets, dedicated as St. Louis Church.

Now that building had some wandering left in it. In 1894 it was moved to this very location. And wouldn't you know it, within a year of that move, a school had already started up right here, led by Mother Pauline and Sister Augustine of the Dominican Order.

Classes were held in the church rectory until 1896, when a separate schoolhouse was constructed nearby. Things were growing. And then came the Beaumont oil boom of the early 1900s, and with it a surge of people, and with those people, bigger plans.

Construction began in 1903 on something altogether grander: an Italian Renaissance revival structure, with a copper dome and an ornate marble altar. It took four years to complete, and when it was done, it was named in honor of Saint Anthony of Padua. That building is the one standing before you.

The story kept building from there. Additional buildings, including the convent and rectory, went up during the 35-year pastorate of Monsignor E. A.

Kelly, who led this parish from 1919 to 1954. And then in 1966, Pope Paul VI created the Beaumont Diocese, and Saint Anthony's was designated a cathedral. From a traveling priest holding Mass in someone's front room in the 1850s, to a cathedral with a copper dome.

That's not a short road. But then again, the best ones never are.

What the marker says

Traveling priests visited this area as early as the 1850s, conducting Catholic services outdoors, in homes, and later in the town Temperance Hall. The first church building was constructed in 1881 under the leadership of the Rev. V. Quinon. Located on the corner of Bowie and Orleans streets, the small wooden structure was dedicated as St. Louis Church. The building was moved to this location in 1894. One year later a school was started here by Mother Pauline and sister Augustine of the Dominican Order. Classes were held in the church rectory until 1896, when a separate schoolhouse was constructed nearby. As the population increased during the Beaumont oil boom of the early 1900s, parishioners began planning for construction of a new church building. Started in 1903, this Italian Renaissance revival structure was completed four years later and named in honor of Saint Anthony of Padua. It features a copper dome and an ornate marble altar. Additional buildings, including the convent and rectory, were constructed during the 35-year pastorate of Monsignor E. A. Kelly, 1919-54). Pope Paul VI created the Beaumont Diocese in 1966, and Saint Anthony's was designated a cathedral. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1980