HISTORICAL INFORMATION

Saint Joseph's Catholic Church was built between the years of 1869-1892 and is reputed to be the largest church in New Orleans. Information provided through the local archives indicates the designer was Carl Kaiser, a Viennese architect. The architectural style is Romanesque.Information recently received, however, indicated that the building was actually the work of John Keely, a New York architect who designed many churches. Similarities can be seen in St. Margaret's Church in Dorchester, MA and St. Michael's Church in Lowell MA. Both brick Romanesque churches have the similar overall looks as St. Joseph's.The trifoil with the dart design seen on the facade of St. Joseph's in New Orleans is also seen on Keely's Holy Innocents Church in New York City. More information on JohnKeely is available at www.keelysociety.com. Keely visited New Orleans just after the Civil War and it is during this visit that he was said to have overseen the construction of St. Joseph's,