Jun
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Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Fruitland, Stevens County, Washington
June 17, 2007 | 3 Comments
Our Lady of Lourdes [1938] – Spokane Diocese (West End, Stevens County)
West End, WA – Mailing address: P.O. Box 214, Wellpinit, WA 99138;
Phone: (509) 722-3067.
Our Lady of Lourdes Church in West End is a stone church, the only one in the diocese. It was built by Jesuit Father Pat Savage in 1938, a work that took three years. A parish history relates that Father Savage hauled rock from around the area in a 10-ton truck with hard rubber tires. Parishioners, area residents and a Swiss stonemason by the name of Placidus Petshew, assisted Father Savage. They used a tripod and winch to put the stones in place: large ones on the bottom, smaller ones on top.
The church exterior is very definitely red. The mortar between the stones is painted red and the metal roof is red. The church originally had a red clay tile roof but it was not moisture-proof and had to be replaced.
Over the church entry are the Latin words “Aula Dei et Porta Coeli” – “House of God and Gate to Heaven.”
The church may be unique in its rock construction, but parishioners and pastor say it used to be very hard to heat. The job is easier now with a modern furnace. In the heat of summer, though, the church interior is cool.
There are two half-circle windows at either end of the church. At one time they held stained glass windows that came from a theater in Spokane. In one of those occurrences that people no longer remember clearly, the windows were taken out and replaced with white and gold plexiglass. Worked into the windows’ design are three crosses, with the center one larger than the other two.
The sanctuary’s crucifix hangs on a backdrop of green fabric which is bordered by hangings of gold fabric. At either side are traditional statues of Mary and the Sacred Heart on some very beautiful stands painted gold. A statue of Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, somewhat smaller than the other two, stands next to the Sacred Heart. The altar, which is covered with an Indian-patterned blanket, rests on a huge gnarled cherry tree stump. The pews are solid beam knotty pine. Nothing hangs on the walls except for the stations of the cross.
The hall is on the north side of the church. Our Lady of Lourdes also has a cemetery located out back. It too is used and has many wreaths and memorials.
Grand Coulee Dam is a hydroelectric gravity dam on the Columbia River in the U.S. state of Washington. It is the largest electric power producing facility and the largest concrete structure in the United States. The reservoir formed by the dam is called Franklin Delano Roosevelt Lake, named after the United States president who presided over the completion of the dam.
The mighty Columbia River has drawn people to its waters for over 9,000 years. Historically the rich fishery of the river was used for survival and prosperity. Today Lake Roosevelt’s visitors continue to enjoy the river’s recreational offerings of fishing, camping, hunting and boating.
A coulee (or coulée) is a deep steep-sided ravine formed by erosion, commonly found in the northwestern United States and southwestern Canada. The word coulee comes from the French Canadian coulée, from French word couler meaning “to flow”. The Grand Coulee is an ancient river bed in the U.S. state of Washington. It stretches for about sixty miles southwest of the Grand Coulee Dam ending at Soap Lake.
The Inchelium-Gifford Ferry is operated on Lake Roosevelt by the Colville Confederated Tribes on behalf of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The run connects Inchelium with State Route 25 in Stevens County and has been in operation since 1898.
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