"The stately St. Joseph's Church was erected in several stages, beginning with the purchase of land on Albion Street in 1852 and concluding with the dedication of the church in 1890. According to a souvenir booklet published in 1890, Father Thomas H. Shahan of Malden purchased land on Albion Street in 1851 and built a church 100' from the railroad tracks, facing Albion Street. As the Catholic population grew, especially with the development of the rattan industry, South Reading was a mission of several parishes, including those located in Malden, Woburn, and Stoneham. It was in 1868, as a parish of Stoneham, that a lot of 30,000' of land on Albion Street was purchased, and a chapel, transept and the first nave section built at the corner of Albion and Murray Streets in 1870. In 1873, the church became a parochial dignity and 19,000' of land at the junction of Albion and Gould Streets was purchased from the Beebe family. Another lot was purchased on Murray Street in 1876 and the old church, which was built in 1851, was moved, becoming the Lyceum Hall, later used for many years as the church hall. The new church was moved further down Albion Street and turned to face the railroad. A rectory (at the left in the picture) was built at the corner of Murray and Albion Streets sometime around 1885. Between 1888 and when the church was dedicated on November 9, 1890, a basement was added to the new church, the nave was completed, lengthening the church by 75', the cruciform was built and crowned with a spire, and the cornerstone was laid in September 1889. Additional land was purchased in 1891 and 1892. The church was destroyed by fire on March 24, 1977. The present St, Joseph's Church was dedicated on June 27, 1890." Image from the Wakefield Municipal Gas and Light Department annual calendar, 2011 Photo courtesy of Frederik D. Bodin, Bodin Historic Photo.
