Notre Dame Catholic Church
Why it's listed
Notre Dame Catholic Church crowns a rise at Main and Marcy Streets in Southbridge, Massachusetts, overlooking the central business district. Designed by Joseph Venne of Montreal and built by contractor H. U. Bail, it is faced in rock-faced white marble from Lee, trimmed with blue and yellow terracotta tiles marked "ND" and roofed in red terracotta. Bronze doors depict the Fifteen Mysteries of the Rosary, and the interior holds murals, sculpture and stained glass by artists from Rome, Boston and Ohio. The church was the second home of a French Canadian parish formed in 1869. Two pastors, Msgr. George Elzear Brochu and Msgr. Louis-Onesime Triganne, raised funds from working-class parishioners to build a monument to their cultural heritage. Construction cost over $250,000, and the church was dedicated debt-free in 1916 and consecrated in 1950. A rectory followed in 1927. It is recognized for its French Renaissance design and its place in the town's Franco-American history.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church is significant for its link to the growth of Southbridge's French Canadian community and for its unusual French Renaissance design. It is described as a monument to the town's Franco-American population. It is cited as meeting criteria A and C at the local level.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 89000563, listed June 22, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Main St. at Marcy St., Southbridge |
|---|---|
| County | Worcester County |
| Listed | June 22, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89000563 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Joseph Venne of Montreal (architect); H. U. Bail of Southbridge (contractor) |
| Architectural style | French Renaissance influences |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition described as excellent; in use as a Catholic church, with significant interior renovations after Vatican II. |
| Acreage | 4 |
| Coordinates | 42.07799, -72.03649 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 89000563.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q3580676
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.