Abandoned St Aloysius Church West Allis WI DecadesofDecayUSA (full vid)

[@CO77938]

Lived on 92nd Street. They used to have the festival there every summer. Great times.

[@DecadesofDecayUSA]

Yeah growing up my mother used to serve beer and one of those tents :) it was always a great time

[@pegitamg9716]

I lived in West Allies until 1988. St. Alas was the "church school" kids who lived west of 92nd street went. It's east side rival was Holy Assumption. Huge rivalry in sports and band groups!

[@DecadesofDecayUSA]

@@pegitamg9716 thabks for playing along and sharing that info!

[@mrdavebach]

I remember going to baseball card shows in the 80's in the attached school to the south.

[@DecadesofDecayUSA]

i went to a few of those in my youth too!

[@jrm2383]

Used to play the catholic grade school basketball leagues in the 1970s. This school was part of it. Most of those schools are closed now.

[@DecadesofDecayUSA]

I can only imagine the few that are open are in various states of disrepair.. hope this helped with a shot of nostalgia

[@tomfritzsch1928]

Late 60’s early 70’s the gymnastic group I belonged to ,the Swiss Turners, used to hold their classes, exhibitions, and meets in the gym there. Great memories from long ago!

[@DecadesofDecayUSA]

Thank You for sharing you memories! Having lived here my entire life, I remember the Swiss turners..

[@cmccafferty8280]

You can feel the sacredness of that church. I almost expected to see a little old lady saying the rosary in one of the pews. You might want to check out the Courtney Woolen Mill in Appleton, Wisconsin. They had machines to process wool. They sold quilt batting. The place was opened in the late 1800s. When you go into the mill and the retail store, it’s like stepping back in time 150 years. It’s been in operation that long. They closed the shop on July 1, 2024 after 144 years in business. Google Courtney Woolen Mills for pics. The Post Crescent ran one last article on it.

[@DecadesofDecayUSA]

Thank you for playing along! We will def. Try to check out you recommendation! I've always felt so small in these places!

[@cmccafferty8280]

@@DecadesofDecayUSA Are you aware of Hearthstone House in Appleton? First house Thomas Edison wired for electricity in the US. Tours through it.

[@DecadesofDecayUSA]

​@@cmccafferty8280 now this would be really cool to see! Thank you for the info! We will add it to.our list

[@cmccafferty8280]

@@DecadesofDecayUSA There is the Doty cabin in Doty Park, Neenah wi. That is the original cabin of James Doty, Wisconsin’s Second Territorial Governor. They do tours. In Oshkosh, there is Asylum Park. Named after the Winnebago Mental Health Institute that is still running. We used to call them Insane Asylums. There is a cemetery with numbered graves of deceased patients, although I haven’t seen it. At the end of the road, there is a lighthouse. It was built by the CCC during the Depression years but was never used.

[@DecadesofDecayUSA]

Ty for all this info, we will add them to our lists!!

[@janbraun362]

My family belonged to that church when I was a child. There would be 3 Sunday masses and they would all be packed, both sides, and the balconies. The balcony across from the choir balcony was for the nuns from the Convent on the premises. I have been in those confessionals as a child. I remember sitting in line for one of the confessionals, as we had multiple priests in those days. I could hear old Monsignor Winninghof yelling at someone in the confessional on the other side. Hence nobody would be in his line, so he would come out and wave us over to his side. I would be thinking to myself, "NOoooooo, I don't wanna go in your confessional". A blast from the past.

[@DecadesofDecayUSA]

Yes the priests there could be intimidating! Thank you for sharing! And thank you a ton for playing along

[@dspiffy]

Such a gorgeous building. Sad it will be torn down

[@DecadesofDecayUSA]

It really is too bad... but at least it served the community for as long as it did. But it will be missed

[@dspiffy]

@@DecadesofDecayUSA I would buy it and live there if it was practical. So many cool midcentury buildings in southern WI

[@dspiffy]

I also have many happy memories daydreaming in churches in Madison, Milwaukee, Appleton, St Paul, and other cities. I usually focused on the instruments (especially pipe organs), stained glass, light fixtures, and ceiling fans.

[@DecadesofDecayUSA]

Yes, the organs also were a good daydreaming spot! Thank you a ton for playing along!

[@gobbletegook]

Wow. Moved away to the northern suburbs years ago...went to a few weddings or funerals there too. Even after that, I went past it a lot-no clue when it closed until this. By the way. We used to go to the stores across the street...one of which was a Red Owl food store.

[@DecadesofDecayUSA]

I used to frequent the Red Owl with my.mother!

[@MarkLatus]

A beautiful mid-century modern church designed by an amazing architect of those times: William P Wenzler. Check out Zion UCC church S. 76th St. in Milwaukee and/or Central UMC on 25th and Wisconsin, also Milwaukee. Said to be modeled after the chapel of St. Colletta's chapel in Jefferson, WI. Mark L.

[@DecadesofDecayUSA]

Thank you a ton for playing along! We will check those 2 out.. We know of, and do love St. Coletta.... ty again

[@acef3207]

1:08 I also spent most of my time day dreaming, I was not listening to the priest talk when I was 10 years old lol 2:24 the school never let us go up on the balcony idk why. I sat there when the church got un-churched. 4:00 stop, the 6 ft social distancing communion tape strips on the floor. 4:42 the stained glass in this building was always so beautiful. 4:50 that is the choir area, however the MQS school service on tuesday mornings wouldn't let the student choir go up there so we had to sit below :/

[@DecadesofDecayUSA]

Thank you so much for your insight! It is always great to read personal experiences... Thank you so much for playing along, it means the world to us! (team daydream!)

[@paulettek3682]

The Catholic church my husband attended and we got married in is now a mosque. The VFW we had our reception at was demolished for airport expansion. The Catholic church I attended is closed, don't know if it was sold. I also don't know if the church and school I attended as a child is still there. St Matthews in Milwaukee on 26th and Scott.

[@DecadesofDecayUSA]

Thank you for playing along! I'm sorry to hear so many of your historic places of worship are now gone :/ even more so from an airport expansion!

[@cindysiewert2842]

Yes i was going there till 1974

[@HeroStudios101]

The only time i remember using the choir loft was when the cardinal and the pope came to visit and held mass, its a shame it all closed down, such good times in the church and school.

[@DecadesofDecayUSA]

I agree! I was never let up there or anywhere. This explore was something extra special to me!

[@marigold7596]

I hope a lot of it is salvaged ... beautiful pews, the blue glass, its all still in good shape.

[@DecadesofDecayUSA]

@@marigold7596 I know a good portion was saved, but I am unsure of the rest

[@williamh5761]

Such a huge shame. I was also baptized and also an alter boy and had CCD at this church. Hate knowing it's no more.

[@DecadesofDecayUSA]

Yeah it is a bit rough, but it was nice to have access to the entire site 1 last time! Thank you for playing along!

[@jaymusic9039]

Hope the abuse wasn't too bad

[@DecadesofDecayUSA]

@@jaymusic9039 kinda douchey comment, no?

[@Og-Judy]

When the boomer generation grew up.......Family sizes started to dwindle and MANY Catholic parishes lost members to attrition and an aging population across the entire Milwaukee Archdiocese. St. Als isnt the only victim to the dwindling needs of the Catholic population of grade school children. When many of these churches were built, they arose to serve specific enclaves of turn of the 20th Century immigrant groups and also for growing needs of workers in now shuttered industrial areas. Remember, back in the day, people were lucky to own ONE automobile. People walked to the closest nearby establishments. Including schools and churches. People shoped at a corner market for groceries. People got around by street car and public bus system. As the years moved on and generations changed lifestyles as modern living conveniences took over. The large families of yesteryear are no longer with us. Many are career minded and chose not to have kids. Many have only 2 or 3 compared with 5 or 6 or more of the baby boom. Some have left the faith or have interfaith marriage. With the creation of the interstate highway system in the 1950s, people could move away from the urban areas and commute to work. The Electronic age and the computer chip forever changed the way people lived even 50 years ago. 100 + year old buildings became notorious budget holes for dwindling parish members to try and maintain. Combining several nearby parishes has been happening for some time now. This is not just in the Milwaukee metro either. The struggle is real. Its unfortunate that St. Aloysisus church and school buildings lost the battle. Thank you for documenting this.

[@DecadesofDecayUSA]

@@Og-Judy What an extremely well-thought-out and written peace, thank you very much for playing along and contributing :) I knew all of these factors had a large part to play, but it was never really spelled out for me like this! Thank you very much again, we are glad of that some of our small videos could help you take a small Is nostalgic walk down memory lane1

[@pinkpercolator]

That was a very nice church

[@DecadesofDecayUSA]

Yes it was and is... sad to see it go.

[@pinkpercolator]

Used to sometimes go to guitar mass at 7pm on Sundays. Church used to be fairly full for that mass.

[@DecadesofDecayUSA]

@@pinkpercolator We used to go to Midnight Christmas mass when I was young here....

[@kurthuck2630]

I had no idea that church was abandoned! That’s down the road from me. Will it be torn down? I need to drive buy.

[@DecadesofDecayUSA]

@@kurthuck2630 There are plans to tear it down, I believe it was supposed to have started this last June... But no movement yet

[@rcs4737]

Somehow,when I saw the outside through the windows, I knew it was stallis.

[@DecadesofDecayUSA]

@@rcs4737 it is certainly recognizable!

[@barton1931]

Is the organ still in the building?

[@DecadesofDecayUSA]

I'm unsure if the organ is still there, this video is from November of 22

[@mrdavebach]

I'm pretty sure they had a Sunday evening service too in the 80's. Because if I'm not mistaken our family would end up here for mass then if we didn't have an opportunity to go prior to that on the weekends. Otherwise I'm thinking of Saturday evening service but I'm pretty sure it was Sunday or we would have gone to our own church Saturday evenings.

[@DecadesofDecayUSA]

I cant way what day, but they did have some evening masses. My mom would take me occasionally .. ty for playing along!! means a ton to us

[@jaymusic9039]

Bad things happened in that basement.

[@DecadesofDecayUSA]

Personal experience, or just guessing?

[@jaymusic9039]

@@DecadesofDecayUSA personal

[@marigold7596]

​@@jaymusic9039 I am so sorry to hear that 😢

[@jrseitz21]

Bad things happen in your basement

[@joannnelson9014]

Thank you. One's heart is touched who went to school there. My class was the last class who went there from First Grade to Eighth graduated in 1972. I believe we had 82 in my class. Daily mass, 4 classes per grade. Our nuns were in full habits First and Second Grade Vatican 2 happened and there was a big change. Thank you for sharing. Baptisms Weddings and Funerals part of my family life. Thank you for sharing.

[@DecadesofDecayUSA]

@@joannnelson9014 we are so glad this video gave you a great shot of nostalgia! Thank You for sharing your story :)

[@sohara76]

Were this a video game the boss would have spawned right behind the big alter in the main room. Look for health packs along the edges.

[@DecadesofDecayUSA]

Bwhahahaha I accept that! Rolling past the pews

[@jackrahan]

6:38 that’s interesting, i never even knew there were confessional booths in there. when we did confession they would just station about 8 priests throughout the church & you would just sit across from them in a chair, face to face! 13:37 WHAT!!!!! had absolutely zero idea there was a basement in there 14:33 omg that cross sitting against the wall on the left, im 99% sure that is the cross my class used in our live-action stations of the cross. i was a guard that executed Jesus(my friend Michael) lmao

[@DecadesofDecayUSA]

That is like speed dating for confessions! That's a bit strange, but efficient!

[@DecadesofDecayUSA]

On the day of the explore, when we found and went through the basement, I was sad it wasn't very big... Upon editing that video, I saw a door in the back corner of the basement we didn't open or look into. I'm disappointed we missed that opportunity to explore further!

[@acef3207]

We went to school at the same time, I was a few years younger, but omg the massive heavy cross. It was an iconic performance piece.

[@jaymusic9039]

Bad things happened in that basement

[@snextime]

I was in there for a funeral once, they must of closed up soon afterwards.

[@DecadesofDecayUSA]

I think it closed in early 2021 or later in 2020

[@smitastic7030]

It closed in 2021, right?

[@DecadesofDecayUSA]

yes i think so , or late 2020

[@PatrickHanley6386]

Looks like a typical post V2 church, many of which were designed by non-Catholic architects. Nice church, but nothing comparable to the ornate churches built by the many European artisan immigrants who came to this country in the early 1900s.

[@DecadesofDecayUSA]

You are most likely correct, but my family didn't have anything to do with the creation those other churches, and I wasn't baptized in those other places. But yes, just a typical place of worship.. thanks for playing along, means a ton to us!

[@PatrickHanley6386]

@@DecadesofDecayUSAI too have suffered the loss of my childhood church. It’s painful. I wish I had a video like this to show my grandchildren.

[@DecadesofDecayUSA]

sorry to hear it is gone :/ ty for your kind words though!​@@PatrickHanley6386

[@joannnelson9014]

who are you? I am Joann (Koble) Nelson

[@DecadesofDecayUSA]

@@joannnelson9014 I didn't go to the school, but my family was entangled with the church for many generations and we will miss it also!

[@trumpdesantis243]

I'm surprised that beautiful building didn't have a pipe organ

[@DecadesofDecayUSA]

Now that you mention it, it does seem to be missing that.. maybe just smaller more movable organs.?