For about a century and a third, this church was one of the main centers of life in Bloomfield. Now that all the Catholic churches in Bloomfield are closed, incredible as it may seem in our most Italian neighborhood, an Italian Catholic who lives in Bloomfield cannot walk to Mass without making a serious expedition of it.
The church was built in 1886; the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks foundation attributes it to Adolf or Adolphus Druiding, who also designed Ss. Peter and Paul in Larimer/East Liberty. However, an expert in the works of E. G. W. Dietrich (see the comment below) was kind enough to correct that attribution. The church was designed by the partnership of Bartberger & Dietrich, as we learn both from an article at the laying of the cornerstone and an illustration of the church in the Builder and Wood-Worker for June, 1889, where it is attributed to Bartberger alone. Charles M. Bartberger and E. G. W. Dietrich were partners for about three years, from 1883 to 1886, before Dietrich moved to New York, which he seems to have done while this church was under construction. Father Pitt has updated his attribution based on this evidence, with many thanks to our correspondent.
The rectory next to the church has been damaged by the installation of windows in the wrong size and style, but otherwise is in good shape.
2 responses to “St. Joseph’s Church, Bloomfield”
My research shows the architects of St. Joseph’s church were the firm of Bartberger and Dietrich. Charles M. Bartberger and E. G. W. Dietrich were in partnership from 1883-1886 when Dietrich moved from Pittsburgh to NYC to start his own practice. Refer to the article on the church’s cornerstone being laid in the Pittsburgh Daily Post, May 17, 1886 pg. 1 and the Architect Builder and Woodworker June 1889 pg. 84 and plate 43. What is the source for Adolphus Druiding as the architect?
Father Pitt has sent you an email headed “Your comments at Father Pitt”; look for it in the spam folder if you don’t find it. Meanwhile, your evidence seems decisive, so the article has been updated, as you can see above. Thank you very much for the new information.