St. Joan of Arc Chapel
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St. Joan of Arc Chapel is today located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on the campus of Marquette University. It was dedicated to Joan of Arc on May 26, 1966 after it had been moved from its previous location on Long Island, New York. It was originally built in the Rhone River Valley in France.
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History
In France
Originally named Chapelle de St. Martin de Sayssuel, the chapel was built over several generations in the French village Chasse, south of Lyon. Estimates are, that it was built around the 15th century. The building was abandoned after the French Revolution and fell into ruin. Then after World War I, the young architect Jacques Couëlle rediscovered the chapel and negotiated a transfer to the Jericho, Long Island home of Gertrude Hill Gavin, the daughter of James J. Hill.
In New York
The chapel was shipped and reconstructed in 1927 and John Russell Pope oversaw the reconstruction in New York for the new owner, Mrs. Gavin. There it was attached to a French Renaissance Chateau which burned down in 1962. The chapel was not damaged however.
After Mrs. Gavin died, her estate passed on to new owners, Mr. and Mrs. Marc B. Rojtman who decided to present the chapel to Marquette University in 1964.
At Marquette
The transfer of the chapel took more than nine months and another eight months would pass before reconstruction could begin. Lucien David and Earnest Bonnamy were responsible for the plans of this second reconstruction.
Notes
- When in New York, the famous Joan of Arc Stone was added to the church. According to legend, Joan of Arc prayed before a statue of Our Lady standing on this stone. At the end of her prayer she would kiss the stone. Ever since it has been colder than the stones surrounding it.
- The tomb of Chevalier de Sautereau, a former Chatelain of Chasse (who was "Compagnon d'Armes" of Bayard) is still located in the sanctuary floor.
Source
- History of St. Joan of Arc Chapel (http://www.marquette.edu/stjoan/history.html)
- Brief story and pictures (http://www.bluffton.edu/~sullivanm/wisconsin/milwaukee/stjoan/stjoan.html)