'It's such a strong historical aspect of Waterford': Community saddened due to planned demolition of 1880's church
WATERFORD, Wis. (CBS 58) -- A church that's been part of Waterford's landscape since 1880 is on the chopping block. St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church leaders say they can't afford to keep it and it must be demolished.
The church's steeple is what you see as you drive into Waterford, and the bells that chime multiple times every hour are what Waterford has been hearing for years. The idea of the historic building going away is upsetting many.
"It's always been a great, great thing in the community and it's just sad to see it go," said Don Harmeling, neighbor.
Don Harmeling's lived across the street from St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church for over 50 years and says it'll be tough to no longer hear the bells chime.
"It's got, you know, character and it's like let's make a parking lot I suppose, you know, I don't want to see that," said Ellen Schmidt, neighbor.
St. Thomas held its first mass in 1880 at the corner of 1st and Saint Thomas Streets. For over a century, it's seen the people of Waterford through big moments.
"My sister and I received first communion here. My sister and brother-in-law got married in the old church," said Jenn Karweik who grew up in Waterford.
Jenn Karweik shared this photo of her sister's wedding inside the old church.
"No matter if it's sunny or cloudy, when the light hit the stained glass, it was absolutely gorgeous in there," said Karweik.
A growing parish led St. Thomas to build a bigger building on the property. The stained glass was moved into the new church in 2007.
Church leaders say the old church building hasn't been used for mass in years, and financially, they can't afford to keep it and that it must be torn down.
"To me, it seems there should be something they could do to save it," said Schmidt.
"It's such a strong historical aspect of Waterford that to see it go, it would be very hard," said Karweik.
A spokesperson for the Milwaukee Archdiocese tells us the last step in the parish's decision to tear down its old church building is to submit a letter of intent to the Archbishop. As of Thursday night, Archbishop Listecki had not received that letter.