Socorro County Historical Society
Socorro, New Mexico, USA
1800s Photos
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1900s Photos
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Present-day Photos
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2010-2015 Repair & Restoration Photos
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The earliest known image of San Miguel church is a sketch drawn in 1862 by Albert Peticolas. In the early 1880s, photography came to Socorro with photographers Edwin Bass and Joseph Smith.
February 26, 1862
Sketch by A.B. Peticolas
Early 1880s
Appearance of the church with original "French style" bell towers, which were replaced by today's "Territorial
style" towers in mid-1880s
February 26, 1862
Photos of the San Miguel Fiesta, probably late 1880s.
1880s
1966 El Defensor Chieftain article about an 1880s funeral
for the San Miguel priest
Early 1880s
San Miguel fiesta procession
and Sisters of Loretta School
1928
1966 El Defensor Chieftain article about the 1928 razing of Mt. Carmel School and old cemetery
1964
1966 El Defensor Chieftain article about the discovery of
Piro Indian bones found just
north of the church
2010 Photos - just before 2010 repair and restoration (Photos: Paul Harden)
Christmas Photos (Photos: Paul Harden)
2010 Christmas Eve
Church closed as restoration begins
2015 Christmas Eve
Church open and rededicated
following restoration
2015 snow storm, day after Christmas
Monday after the snow - cloudy day
Tuesday with clear skies and some sun
In 2010, structural engineers determined that the old load bearing adobe walls were failing. Many of New Mexico's churches, including San Marcial, were restored in the 1960-70s by using cement for the inside and outside stucco for strength. This proved to cause additional problems by allowing moisture inside the adobe walls to accumulate, slowly disolving the old adobe bricks. The weight of the roof on the weakening walls was another concern that forced the decision to close the church for safety. In August 2010, stucco was removed in places around the church to allow the weakening adobe to "breathe" to hopefully dry out years of accumulated moisture; all inside pews, furniture and fixtures were also removed. Church services were moved to the Parish Hall behind San Miguel Church. The attempt to dry out the adobe proved only partially successful, which was followed in 2012-2015 by more extensive and expensive repairs.
After several years of fund raising efforts, a grant from the Hilton Foundation, and support from the parishoners and townspeople, the extensive repairs were completed in early 2015, just in time for the 1615-2015 400th anniversary of the Socorro mission. The church was rededicated and once again opened as the parish hall for the San Miguel congregation. San Miguel, one of the oldest mission churches in the country, once again stands proud, thanks to the efforts of many people and Father Andy Pavlik.
Sawing holes in the stucco to allow the adobe to "breathe"
The holes also allow the old historic adobe and foundationto be seen
Parishoners and volunteers arrive to dismantle the church, placing pews and fixtures into storage
Repair Photos (Photos: Paul Harden)
San Miguel Church
History
Articles
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