Slovenian immigrants left architectural mark on downtown Joliet

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Sister Araceli Perez walks past portraits Josephine Sisters founders Jose MariVilasec(top left) M. CesareRuiz (top right) VilasecJosephine Center Friday May

Sister Araceli Perez walks past portraits of the Josephine Sisters founders, Jose Maria Vilaseca (top left) and M. Cesarea Ruiz (top right), in the Vilaseca Josephine Center Friday, May 4, 2012, at 351 N. Chicago St. in Joliet. The center, which houses a daycare and convent, moved in the former K.S.K.J. building in 1981. | Matthew Grotto~Sun-Times Media

A view VilasecJosephine Center Friday May 4 2012 351 N. Chicago St. Joliet. The center which houses daycare convent moved

A view of the Vilaseca Josephine Center Friday, May 4, 2012, at 351 N. Chicago St. in Joliet. The center, which houses a daycare and convent, moved in the former K.S.K.J. building in 1981. | Matthew Grotto~Sun-Times Media

A view K.S.K.J. Building cornerstone outside VilasecJosephine Center Friday May 4 2012 351 N. Chicago St. Joliet. The center which

A view of the K.S.K.J. Building cornerstone outside the Vilaseca Josephine Center Friday, May 4, 2012, at 351 N. Chicago St. in Joliet. The center, which houses a daycare and convent, moved in the former K.S.K.J. building in 1981. | Matthew Grotto~Sun-Times Media

Sister Araceli Perez pauses chapel VilasecJosephine Center Friday May 4 2012 351 N. Chicago St. Joliet. The center which houses

Sister Araceli Perez pauses in the chapel in the Vilaseca Josephine Center Friday, May 4, 2012, at 351 N. Chicago St. in Joliet. The center, which houses a daycare and convent, moved in the former K.S.K.J. building in 1981. | Matthew Grotto~Sun-Times Media

Sister Araceli Perez walks chapel VilasecJosephine Center Friday May 4 2012 351 N. Chicago St. Joliet. The center which houses

Sister Araceli Perez walks in the chapel in the Vilaseca Josephine Center Friday, May 4, 2012, at 351 N. Chicago St. in Joliet. The center, which houses a daycare and convent, moved in the former K.S.K.J. building in 1981. | Matthew Grotto~Sun-Times Media

A view preschool areVilasecJosephine Center Friday May 4 2012 351 N. Chicago St. Joliet. The center which houses daycare convent

A view of the preschool area in the Vilaseca Josephine Center Friday, May 4, 2012, at 351 N. Chicago St. in Joliet. The center, which houses a daycare and convent, moved in the former K.S.K.J. building in 1981. | Matthew Grotto~Sun-Times Media

A view dining room living room for convent VilasecJosephine Center Friday May 4 2012 351 N. Chicago St. Joliet. The

A view of the dining room and living room for the convent in the Vilaseca Josephine Center Friday, May 4, 2012, at 351 N. Chicago St. in Joliet. The center, which houses a daycare and convent, moved in the former K.S.K.J. building in 1981. | Matthew Grotto~Sun-Times Media

JOLIET — There is an older, stone-fronted office building in Joliet’s Slovenian Row that typically goes unnoticed. Yet at the time of its construction this seemingly nondescript structure at 351 N. Chicago St. was called “one of the most outstanding modern buildings in the city …