St. Michael, Pitcairn
St. Michael was established in 1895 as a mission church of St. Aloysius, Wilmerding, which was also established that year. Before 1895, local Catholics had to travel to Turtle Creek to attend Mass. In that same year, the local congregation began work on a frame church. The church was not completed until 1900 and was dedicated on October 14, 1900. While the church was under construction, Mass was celebrated in a local public school. In 1905, the parish became independent with the assignment of a resident pastor.
The church served the congregation for a number of years. The church was extensively renovated in the late 1940's. In October 1950 was seriously damaged in a fire. While the church was being repaired, the parish celebrated Mass in either a local theater or Pitcairn High School. After repairs were made to the church, it was reopened.
The parish began raising funds for a new church/school building. On October 19, 1955, ground was broken for the new building. The second floor of the building was divided into classrooms and the first floor was used as a temporary church. The church was dedicated on November 19, 1956. The old church was converted to classrooms and a school cafeteria.
The school closed in 1969. In the 1970's the church was renovated, including the replacement of glass windows with stained glass windows. In 1986, the original church building was torn down and the church was remodeled. The second floor of the church/school building was renovated. The classrooms were removed and the space made into a social hall.
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| Original St. Michael Church, 1933 | Interior of church, 1933 | Interior of church, 1933 | St. Michael Church, 2002 |
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