Saint Anthony's Catholic Church

In November 1909, the Rev. J. Goebels called a meeting to organize St. Anthony's parish for the recently settled German Catholic farm families in the community of Land Siding, later known as Violet. Louis Petrus donated five acres for a church site, and five additional acres were purchased. The parishioners began construction of this building in 1910, with John W. Hoelscher (1866-1941), one of the earliest settlers here, as foreman of the project. Originally measuring 26 feet by 40 feet, the frame structure served as a schoolhouse and church. The congregation enlarged and extensively remodeled the building in 1919. Three towers were added at that time. A bell, purchased earlier from Spohn Sanitarium in Corpus Christi, was installed in one. The rectory, which served as a schoolhouse and living quarters for visiting priests, was attached to the church building in 1920. Members then fenced and landscaped the area. In 1952 the parish built a larger church, and this structure was moved to serve the parish mission of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in nearby Clarkwood community. In 1975, after that congregation erected a new church facility, the old St. Anthony's building was relocated 200 feet east of its original site and restored as a museum by the Violet Historical Society. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1978

Saint Anthony's Catholic Church is a historical marker in Violet, Nueces County, dedicated in 1978. It is one of 105 historical markers documented in Nueces County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 147 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 27.7827, -97.5946 near Violet. The nearest cataloged historic site is Little Cemetery (Hispanic) (cemetery), about under a tenth of a mile away. Others within a short drive include St. Anthony, Robstown, and Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5355006332. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.