1. St. Peter’s Church Historical Context
Architect Peter Summers
Peter Summers was the lead architect on the
construction of St. Peter’s Church. He was the
son of Duluth’s first Italian immigrant, Blias
Church Closure
Summers who immigrated from Northern Italy The Catholic Diocese closed the church because of the decrease of
in 1874. He oversaw the entire process from the parishioners over the past several years, and because they deemed
beginning in the summer of 1925 until 1927. it unsafe and too costly to repair. The parishioners were given little
notice of the closing. It was a decision that the pastor announced
had been planned by the Catholic Diocese for several years. With
Stone Mason Leonard Appicilli that knowledge, they continued to ask for and receive money from
the parishioners to support this church that wouldn‘t see any of the
benefits from their contributions. Those contributions were used
to sustain other parishes which the Diocese has concentrated all
St. Peter’s Church was constructed by Italian immigrant of their efforts to maintain for future expansion. Hence, no repairs
stone masons. The native bluestone was harvested from were made to this structure. The structure of the church should be
the near Twin Ponds. The stone masons used the skills preserved because of its historical significance and craftsmanship.
learned from their fathers and tools brought over from
their native Italy to construct the church. Each stone was
hand-cut to create a Gothic Romanesque church.
Site Context
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