St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church
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Visitors' Center (St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church)
1880. 343 S. U.S. 24 in Forest Square Park
Built in an effort to civilize a raunchy railroad town, this clapboard Carpenter's Gothic church retains a shamrock cross on its open bell tower. Parishioner James Mahon hauled lumber donated by Thomas Starr's Poncha Springs Mill, and priest and parishioners constructed their church. A symmetrical plan, nice detail, generous landscaping, and good maintenance make this a gold star example of white frame country churches. On the eve of the church's demolition in the 1970s, a savior arose in the form of a church member and preservationist who arranged to move the church to Forest Square Park for use as a visitors' center.
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