[3] However, in 1890, those living on the north side of the city organized an "Italian Church," and received permission to start their own parish.

[3] That year, they constructed a frame structure near the site of the present church and a priest was assigned to the parish.

[3] In April 1902 Father Giovanni Sinopoli di Giunta arrived in Iron Mountain to serve as the parish priest.

[2] Father Sinopoli was a former count from Sicily who had renounced his title in order to serve Italian immigrants in the United States.

[3] Father Sinopoli acted as engineer, architect, and building foreman, and numerous men from the parish volunteered their labor.

[3][4] The superintendent of the local Pewabic Mine donated timber and sent workers to assist in construction, paying their salaries out of his own pocket.

[2] A striking octagonal bell tower, fashioned after a campanile and topped with a pierced belfry, is also located at the rear of the structure.