See the church at the top of the hill. Last Spring Lee took this picture and entered it into a local photo contest. There were over one thousand six hundred entries. Only one hundred were chosen for the show. We made it into the one hundred but did not even get an honorable mention.
The limestone church at the pinnacle of the hill was built in 1859, just before the American Civil War.
Now these pictures were taken on Sunday the 22nd.
The Immaculata Church has served since 1860 as a pilgrimage church, where on Good Friday the faithful ascend 85 steps to the church's front door from the neighborhood below while praying the Rosery. An additional 65 steps start at the base of Mt. Adams, with a pedestrian bridge over Columbia Parkway connecting the two paths. The steps were originally made of wood, but in 1911, the City of Cincinnati helped the church build concrete steps.
We are not of the Catholic Faith but come climb the steps with us.
At 12:01 A.M. each year on Good Friday, something extraordinary happens. People begin to gather at the base of the steps leading up to Holy Cross-Immaculata Church, preparing to take part in the tradition known locally as “Praying the Steps.”
The earliest mention of the pilgrimage in
Immaculata Church records is 1873.
Higher and higher you climb.
Finally you reach the top. Look how high we climbed.
These plaques show pictures of down below how it looked and of the faithful climbing the stairs.
The Mt. Adams Steps.
We have reached the pinnacle. What a beautiful skyline Cincinnati has.
The interior murals were painted by Johann Schmitt.
Well here I, Sweet William The Scot, am at the front door.
Let me hold the inner door open for you. And remember to be quiet.
Lee always tells me to remember to be quiet!
The Mt. Adams Preservation Association raised enough funds to commission the restoration of seven paintings by Johann Schmitt. The paintings were mounted over the main altar and side altars between 1863 and 1870.
$44,000 was raised to have the windows reinforced, enlarged with an 18-inch ring of additional glass, and ultimately set into the Holy Cross-Immaculata wall behind a layer of strong, protective glass.
I believe there are twelve old stain glass windows in all.
And between the windows hang the wonderful wood carved painted murals.
Over the door where we came in is the old pipe organ in the balcony.
One last look at the magnificent side alter before we leave.
We can see our car parked down below. This community and church has very few places to park for most of the streets are narrow one way and the home owners park in front of their homes.
The hike down is a lot easier than the hike up!
Truly this is a buns of steel hike.
In other years it has taken us about one hour.
This year Lee had to stop several times to rest and it was a four hour walkabout.
So as we go down the steps we are wishing all of our friends, whatever their faith a wonderful Spring.
Thanks for being a friend
Traveling down the road and back again
Your heart is true and your a friend of mine
Signing Off
Sweet William The Scot
