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| Front entrance |
We never expected to see such a beautiful cathedral in Mescalero, N. M. The Historical League tour took us to the St. Joseph Apache Mission built by Father Albert Braun, O.F.M., who first came to Mescalero as a young Franciscan friar in 1916. Father Braun worked on building the cathedral between 1916-1940. Yes . . . it took that long to build.
Father Braun, a chaplin in WWI, raised funds and asked for donated labor over 25 years to create this fabulous stone cathedral. The parishioners have spent the last 14 years restoring it. Built the way European castles are created with the lime putty mortar between the rocks, it requires repairs every 100 years.
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Lindy Isacksen and Linda Fritsch listen
to tour guide |
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| Crumbling mortar needing repair |
