Name/Title
Print, PhotographEntry/Object ID
P4216Description
Our Lady of the Valley and St. Ives Catholic Church, Harmony, WA, Lewis County. Excellent photo of the building. Built in 1914. This white church, framed by tall poplars, has green painted trim that accents the Roman arch design of the windows and belfry. It is situated on a wooded hillside near the gorge where the Cowlitz River enters Mayfield Lake on its south westerly course toward the Columbia River. Begining in 1910, priests from St. Francis Mission at Cowlitz Prairie occasionally visited pioneer settlers to say Mass and perform baptismal rites at private homes or at the Harmony School house. In 1914 ten Catholic families (Irish, German, and Polish) joined together to build a church at this site, which was central to their homes. Land was donated for a church and a cemetery. Enthusiastic parishioners worked hard to clear the land and help build the church under the supervision of a professional designer and builder. They received financial aid from the church extension society as well as many small donations, including some from banks in Chehalis and even from Sears Roebuck Company in Seattle. Some of the lumber came from nearby mills, but most supplies were hauled by wagon team from Chehalis, each trip taking two days.The women not only helped raise money but also helped finish and decorate the interior. After completion of the church, young men made the two-day trip to the Cowlitz Mission about once a month to bring a priest to offer Mass. Have negative.Lexicon
Nomenclature 4.0
Nomenclature Secondary Object Term
Print, PhotographicNomenclature Primary Object Term
PhotographNomenclature Sub-Class
Graphic DocumentsNomenclature Class
Documentary ObjectsNomenclature Category
Category 08: Communication ObjectsSearch Terms
Churches, Harmony, WA, Lady of the Valley, Negatives, St. Ives Catholic ChurchCreate Date
April 17, 2009Update Date
February 14, 2024