Source: Real estate record and builders' guide: v. 109, no. 12: March 25, 1922
Cornerstone laid in September 1889. The current structure replaced an older structure dating to about 1874 that was located to the east on Hooper Street. The old church was built with the intention of later being converted to a school, and therefore had beam pockets built into the walls for the installation of two new floors at a future date. (That church/school was later replaced with a new school.)
St. Virgilius parish was founded in 1922. Now merged with St. Camilius parish in Rockaway.
801 Cornerstone laid July 1874; church was not completed until ca. 1905. Architect is unknown - attributed to Keely or Houghton.
WOODHAVEN - 87th st, s e c 88 av. 1-sty bk church, 64x168, shingle rf, elec, hot water heat; $100,000; (0) R. C. Church of St. Thomas Apostle, 87th st & 88 av, Woodhaven; (a) Gustave E. Steinback, 157 W 74th. Manhattan (887). 1
Laying of the cornerstone attended by 10,000 people, let by Bishop Loughlin. Construction was "begun on the second day of June under the superintendence of Mr. P. C. Keeley [sic], architect, who numbers this as his three hundred and eighty fifth church edifice he has been engaged in building on this continent. Its dimensions are 68 feet in width by 156 feet in depth, and judging by the massive appearance of the walls, constructed by the builder, Mr. Jas. Radwell [sic, probably Rodwell, a prominent local builder], will be as substantial an edifice as any in the States.
