This is the second of three Lithuanian parishes established by the Catholic
diocese of Detroit. Migrants from Lithuania first arrived in Detroit in
the
1870s, but the flow was small until the vehicle industry started providing
numerous jobs in the first decade of the Twentieth Century. In 1908, St.
George parish
was established to serve Lithuanian Catholics living near the Detroit-Hamtramck
border. Population grew rapidly in the Delray area, so in 1920, St. Peter’s
parish was founded by the Reverend George Juanita’s for Lithuanians.
They first held services in nearby Holy Cross Hungarian Catholic Church,
but by 1921,
had raised funds to build the small structure that you see.
I have not seen nor photographed all of the
Catholic churches built in Detroit as the city came of age as the nation’s
leading industrial metropolis, but St. Peter’s is the most modest
Catholic church I recall in the Motor City. Many parishes apparently first
put up a humble building similar
to one pictured here, but then their congregations grew and funds were available
to build the architecturally impressive churches found throughout Detroit.
Immigration
from Lithuanian was terminated by federal policy in 1924, and then in 1940,
the diocese founded St. Anthony’s parish
close by on 24th street. As a result, the number of families enrolled at
St. Peter’s never
went above 250. Immediately after World War II, some Lithuanians came to
the United States
as displaced persons, but with the descent of the Iron Curtain, this migration
stopped. Suburbanization and the absence of immigration doomed this ethnic
parish.
When the last pastor, Father Casimir Burkus, retired in 1995, the parish was
closed. The building was taken over by All Saints parish and now serves
as a
neighborhood social service center. You will find an attractive, if small,
park just across the street from St. Peter’s, providing a playground
for children.
Architect: Unknown
Architect style: Humble style frame church
Date of Construction: 1921
Use in 2005: This is the All Saints Community Center: a neighborhood social
service
center linked to the nearby All Saints Church
City of Detroit Designated Historic District: Not listed
State of Michigan Registry of Historic Sites: Not listed
National Register of Historic Places: Not listed
Photograph: Ren Farley; December 29, 2006
Description prepared: January, 2006