St. Patrick's Church—An Irish Blessing
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| St. Patrick Church's patron saint |
A parade of priests and parishioners chose the patron saint
of Ireland—Patrick—as the patron of their parish in Erin Prairie, Wisconsin,
almost 160 years ago. My ancestors and their descendants have been at worship
at St. Patrick’s Church there since then. They left this place with a firm
foundation of faith, which they took into the world with them. They returned to
this place, time and again, to mourn and bury their dead, to welcome new
members of the family at baptisms, to celebrate new love at marriages and honor
old love with celebratory Masses to recognize the longevity of those marriages.
The Irish heritage of Erin Prairie and St. Patrick’s has its
roots in the early 1850s’ emigration of about 20 families who left behind the
potato famine and political turmoil of mid-century Ireland. In their quest to
find a bit of the “auld sod” in America, these pioneers ventured westward until
they came upon the fertile soil, woods, and streams of the rolling prairie they
would come to call Erin, a township officially organized in western Wisconsin
in 1853.
Coloring this period are stories of Indian raids,
barn-raising bees, and prolonged Irish wakes characterized by ample supplies of
food and whiskey, keeners to chant when mourners got quiet, and pipe-smoking
prayer ceremonies. One source told about parishioners walking up to fifteen
miles carrying their shoes. Careful not to wear out or ruin their shoes in the
mud, folks didn’t step into them until they reached the church steps.
My first-known ancestor in Erin Prairie was my
great-great-grandfather, Patrick Lavelle, who received a land grant for
property in 1855, which remains in our family to this day. Patrick married his
wife, Bridget Pierce, at St. James Church in Hudson, Wisconsin—the county seat—in
January 1860.
Little is known about Erin Prairie as a parish before 1857.
In the fall of that year, Father J. J. McGee was stationed in Hudson,
Wisconsin, and said the first mass in Erin. To show their gratitude to God, the
people immediately began erecting a little log church. But since Father McGee’s
tenure in Hudson was short-lived, the church was never completed. The people of
Erin Prairie were again without divine services.
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| Reverend Napolean Mignault |
In the fall of 1858, Reverend Napoleon Mignault
was sent to Hudson, becoming the second Catholic pastor at the county seat.
From there, he attended Erin once a month, saying mass at the homes of
parishioners. With the prospect of having a priest visit them regularly, the
people of Erin Prairie rededicated themselves to build a church there. The log
church they began building in 1857 remained abandoned because it would be too
small to accommodate the large number of families settling in the
rapidly-developing county. They decided to erect a more massive structure, but
the decisions about what location would be most convenient for the greatest
number of people delayed their project.
That’s why Patrick and Bridget married in St.
James Church in Hudson. It wasn’t until a few months after their marriage in
1860, when John Meath, a local Erin farmer, donated two acres of land where a
frame church was erected on the current site of St. Patrick’s Church. During
the summer of 1862, Father Mignault left Hudson, and Erin Prairie was again
without pastoral services, except for an occasional visit made by Father Coffee
from Hastings, Minnesota. In late 1862 the Reverends Nicholas and James Stehle
were sent to Hudson to fill the religious void left by Father Mignault. Again,
Erin was attended to from Hudson, until February 1864, when the first resident
priest, the Reverend John Conroy, came to minister to the members of the Erin
congregation.
In addition to Erin, Father Conroy served five
other communities from St. Patrick’s Church—New Richmond, Cylon, Stanton,
Wilson, and Hammond. Those were days when people willingly traveled long
distances to get what they needed. The sturdy pioneers thought nothing of it,
prizing their rare and somewhat limited religious privileges.
Shortly after his arrival in Erin, Father Conroy
began erecting a new parsonage. In the spring of 1866, Phillip Brady, a local
contractor and joiner* started work on the new church, a forty-four by
eighty-foot structure that would reach a height of twenty-four feet. In
February1867, a fire destroyed the almost-completed building. Only the plastering
remained unfinished.
In May 2007, just over 140 years after that
building was annihilated, Dora Marie Rohl and Barbara Rohl, sisters from
Hudson, Wisconsin, donated $200 to the St. Patrick’s Building Fund in memory of
Philip S. Brady. Even though parishioners were never able to use that church,
the women wanted to honor Brady’s role in building it.
Although a discouraging event for all, the
residents of Erin continued their quest for a new church with steadfast faith.
They faced this calamity head-on, beginning work on the new church almost
immediately, thanks to S. A. Jewett’s generous donation of $500 worth of
lumber. At that time, Jewett had his own lumber business in the neighboring
community of Jewett Mills.
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| The altar of the 1869 St. Patrick's Church |
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| Patrick Phillips |
In May 1860, he was transferred to another parish. Reverend H. Quigley, D.D., arrived to replace him in September, remaining until July 1872.
Reverend P. J. Lavin came to St. Patrick’s in
October 1872 to replace Quigley. During his seven years in charge of the
parish, Father Lavin left a lasting impression on the people with his eloquent
sermons. After being sent to another church in January 1880, his duties were
assumed by Reverend M. Connolly. Shortly after that, the Reverend Daniel
Reddin, freshly ordained, succeeded Connolly. He would spend most of the rest
of his life as pastor at St. Patrick’s
By 1884 the Erin church had become too small for
its large congregation. Cylon, a distant portion of the congregation, wanted
more convenient services. They resolved to build a church there, which would
continue to be part of St. Patrick’s, but designated as a mission parish.
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| Father Daniel Reddin |
Father Reddin began organizing, and within six
months, a beautiful structure—thirty-six by seventy feet—known as Holy Rosary
Church, was ready to use. The Cylon church cost thirty-five hundred dollars.
Although the attending congregation numbered only twenty-five families, the
people were earnest. In less than two years after completing the building, the
entire amount of the construction cost was paid in full.
In 1898 Father Reddin built a substantial parish
house near St. Patrick’s Church. In 1903, Father Patrick Lee became Father
Reddin’s assistant. On October 31, 1904, The Reverend Patrick A. Walsh came to
St. Patrick’s, succeeding Father Lee as Father Reddin’s assistant. Shortly
after that, due to failing health, Father Reddin resigned. The bishop appointed
Father Campbell and then Father Hermann to succeed Father Reddin, but both died
before taking charge.
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| Father Patrick Walsh |
In January 1905, Bishop Schwebach appointed Father
Walsh pastor of St. Patrick’s parish. He energetically and capably continued
the work of his predecessor. Around this time, St. Patrick’s, along with other
churches in St. Croix County, transferred from the Diocese of LaCrosse to the
newly-created Diocese of Superior, where they remain today.
Father Walsh’s industry and persistence, coupled
with the cooperation of members of the parish, led to erecting a beautiful, new
church, said to be the most beautiful country church in the Diocese of
Superior.
The work started in 1913 with the support of
about 250 families from Erin and Emerald. The 1869 structure was moved across
the road and used as a parish hall until it blew down in a 1938 windstorm.
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| In 1913, the congregation built its fourth place of worship since its founding in 1857 |
The new house of worship in Erin Prairie was dedicated June 16, 1914, with solemn and impressive ceremonies. The Rt. Reverend Joseph M Koudelka, D.D., Bishop of Superior, officiated. The building cost twenty-five thousand dollars, not including the pews and interior furnishings. That amounted to an additional six-thousand dollars, mostly donated by parish societies and individuals.
The 105-foot by 44-foot Spanish-mission style church
was built with dark red colonial brick in Flemish bond with raked joints.** Its
25-foot deep sanctuary proper was 21½-feet wide. The sacristy measured
twenty-two feet by sixteen feet, three inches. The plastering had a carpet
float finish***, and the entire ceiling was beamed. Beneath the whole church
was a nine-foot-high basement with a cement floor, partitioned off into a
dining hall, a serving room, a kitchen, and pantry.
The pilasters, tower, both front and rear walls,
arches over the entrance, and tops of chimneys were capped with blue Bedford
stone, which complemented the brick to make a handsome finish. The interior
English-mission style finish included a maple floor and red oak woodwork. The
three altars and communion rail were pure white with gold trim. The high altar
weighed 2,800 pounds, and the communion rail was capped with a ten-inch marble
slab.
With the support of the parishioners, Father
Walsh purchased an additional ten acres of land. Then he graded and beautified
the church property with landscaping and an ornamental fence.
In those days, pews were assigned to each
family. It was considered improper to sit in an unassigned seat unless invited
to do so. Similar etiquette was practiced in the buggy parking lot. Each family
was assigned a post to tie their horse or team, and tempers were known to flare
if the status quo was breached.
The fall bazaar was the social event of the year
and served as an annual homecoming event for former parishioners. It included a
chicken dinner with all the trimmings, a fishpond, and “Who has the lucky
number?” wheel. The chance to win money at this game was a big attraction for
many erstwhile gamblers. Unfortunately, the parish “boom” saw its end in the
next few years.
The dismal drought of the 1930s, coupled with
the Depression, had its impact on the parish. Area banks closed, and farmers
were faced with foreclosures. People began to move to the cities.
The debt for the church had not been retired.
Few families could afford to make payments, but they managed to keep up the
interest payments despite the hard times. There was no excess for maintenance,
however, and the church fell into disrepair.
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| Fr. P.J. Walsh built St. Patrick's Grotto with love & labor |
Father Walsh had great devotion for the Blessed Mother and built an outdoor shrine to honor her on the east side of the church. This was significant, symbolizing a new beginning, likely something many in the parish needed so desperately at this time. With the help of young men in the parish, he worked long, hard hours using dolomite—a coral-like rock he had found in the Spring Valley, Wisconsin area.
Placing it on the east side of the church was significant, symbolizing a new beginning, likely something many in the parish needed so desperately at this time.
Father Walsh had great devotion for the Blessed Mother and saw this outdoor shrine as a way to honor her. With the help of young men in the parish, he worked long, hard hours using dolomite—a coral-like rock he had found in the Spring Valley, Wisconsin area.
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| Pennies from children purchased this Blessed Virgin statue |
While the Grotto was being built, children of
St. Patrick’s saved their pennies and donated them each Sunday. Pennies grew
into dollars, and soon there were enough to buy the statue of Blessed Virgin
Mary.
Vines covered the inside and outside of the Grotto,
and a pool was built to the south of it. Urns and beds of colorful plants
surrounded the Grotto and pool.
After it was finished, parishioners would stop
there before and after Mass each Sunday. They might have prayed and enjoyed the
fish in the pool, as well as the abundant flowers surrounding the Grotto. Often
parishioners would gather around it, kneeling with Father Walsh, saying the
Rosary and reciting the Litany of the Blessed Mother.
In October 1938, Father Walsh was called upon to
serve the Spooner parish, where he passed away two years later after a struggle
with throat cancer. He was brought back to St. Patrick’s and buried next to
Father Reddin in the St. Patrick’s cemetery.
When Father Walsh left St. Patrick’s, it was the first time since 1864 the parish was without a resident priest. It became a mission church under the care of Father Daniel Slattery, who was also in charge of St. Bridget’s in Stanton and Holy Rosary in Cylon. The St. Patrick’s congregation had to make do with a visiting priest on alternating weekends.
In July 1940, when Father Slattery was forced to
retire due to poor health, the Reverend James Griffin was appointed to St.
Patrick’s. He was also tapped to serve Holy Rosary in Cylon and St. Bridget’s
in Stanton.
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| Burned ruins of St. Patrick's church, 1945 |
During 1945 Father
Griffin and the parishioners were dealt another blow—the church was destroyed
by fire. A newspaper article noted: Artistic as the ruins of an old
monastery is the picture taken by Dick Howard of New Richmond of the walls,
tower, and belfry of St. Patrick's Church of Erin, all that is left standing of
the beautiful edifice after the disastrous fire of December 16. Not a stick of
charred timber is left to support the masonry. The photograph is truly a piece
of art, but, Oh, the heartache that lies behind it.
With World War II in
full force, there was a shortage of building materials. Still, a new generation
of parishioners joined forces in rebuilding the church immediately to keep the
parish together. During its construction, Father James Griffin held Masses in
the parish house.
The new building,
which stands today, was built in 1946. The architect for the church was E. J.
Donohue from 660 Gilfillan Block in St. Paul, Minnesota. When the cornerstone
was laid, the following items were sealed inside it:
- a short history of the parish
- a list of priests who served the parish
- the pope and bishop's names
- photograph of the former church
- names of parishioners
- copies of the current issues of The Leader and the News
- four medals
- ten 1946 pennies
- six 1946 dimes
- ten 1946 nickels
- one penny from the former cornerstone
- one 50-cent piece from the former cornerstone
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| This church on the hill has served St. Patrick's long-standing congregation since 1946 |
In 1953 The Reverend Philip Krembs replaced Father Griffin, who moved to Minocqua, Wisconsin. During Father Krembs’ five-year stay, the parish celebrated its centennial. The Reverend Walter Torkildson, who is remembered for his skill in money management and reducing the parish debt considerably, succeeded Father Krembs in 1958.
The “silver-tongued orator, Reverend George
Gleason, arrived in June 1961. During this period, the Holy Rosary parish in
Cylon merged with St. Patrick’s. When Father Gleason attended the University of
Minnesota in 1965, the Reverend Peter Maak attended to St. Patrick’s and served
the Carmelite Nuns in Hudson.
The Reverend John Tomre became pastor in 1965
and made Erin his home until October 1978. After that, Erin became a mission
church of the Immaculate Conception parish in New Richmond, under Reverend
Daniel Dahlberg and Assistant Reverend Brian DuBois.
Deacon Jerry Harris came to help with the parish
work and was ordained in March 1979. He remained with St. Patrick’s until June
1979. Deacon David Lusson came in July that year to help Father Dahlberg serve
the needs of both parishes. The transition was made with the cooperation and
support of both churches.
During 1981, Father Vincent Lynch assisted
Father Dahlberg at St. Patrick’s. Father Dahlberg was often a dinner guest at
my parents’ home in Erin. I had young children at the time he ministered to St.
Patrick’s. One day our visit coincided with a visit from Father Dan, as he
liked to be called. We all gathered around the table for lunch. After we
finished, Father left for an appointment, and my daughter asked, “Does Grandma
always have God come for lunch?”
Father Lynch, who was assisting Father Dan at
that time, was a particularly popular priest. The Irish would call him a
“darling man.” He was young, handsome, and charming. One day he stopped in to
have coffee with Mom at her invitation. I happened to be visiting at the time,
as well. He had barely made it through his first cup of coffee when Mom asked,
“Why would a man as good looking as you go into the priesthood and stay single
for the rest of your life?” He smiled, put down his cup of coffee, and said,
“Well, why not? After all, ugly people get married, don’t they?” Father James
Gutzler of Holy Family Hospital also assisted during this period. Sister Martha
Kormendy was CCD Coordinator for both parishes.
In June 1984, Father Charles Murphy and Father
James Tobolski were assigned to serve both Immaculate Conception in New
Richmond and St. Patrick’s. Later in 1984, Father Tobolski transferred to
Superior, Wisconsin, and was replaced by Father Martin Gibbons. Father Murphy
initiated many remodeling projects, interior painting, and landscaping around
St. Patrick’s.
Father Dennis Mullen came to St. Patrick’s in
June 1988. At that time, responsibility for serving the needs of St. Patrick’s
was transferred from Immaculate Conception in New Richmond to Immaculate
Conception in Hammond. It was Father Dennis’ goal to make parishioners feel at
home at either church. He coordinated many joint parish events, including a pig
roast and a chili feed, and invited members of both parishes to be there.
Father Mullen also improved the landscaping at the cemetery and planting blue
spruce and pines around the parking lot. He encouraged the congregation to
remove the parish house due to its run-down condition. A parking lot now stands
in its place. Father Mullen also guided the parish through its two-year RENEW
program and began the deaconship instructions for Larry Hennemann and Joe
Paron.
In June 1992, Father James Kraker came to
Immaculate Conception and St. Patrick’s. On November 21, 1992, Larry Hennemann
and Joe Paron were ordained as deacons. Deacon Larry Hennemann was transferred
to River Falls. Deacon Joe Paron aided Father Jim at Mass, as well as with
other duties, including instructions of new catechumens.
In 1998, Father Charles Murphy was appointed as
assistant to Father Kraker with the assistance of Father Leonard Fraher,
helping with masses in Erin. On June 30, 1999, Father Murphy left for an
undetermined sabbatical, and Father Kraker also went on a sabbatical leave due
to health problems. Father Murphy eventually left the priesthood and married.
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| Father James Brinkman |
On July 1, 1999, St. Patrick’s once again became
a mission of Immaculate Conception—New Richmond. Father Allan Bradley assisted
by Father Leonard Fraher and Deacon Hugh Mayer led the parishioners of the
little, but mighty church into the millennium. In 2000 A.D., St. Patrick’s
Church marked its 143rd year since its beginning.
Deacon Hugh “Doc” Mayer passed away on July 27,
2004, and was greatly missed. Deacon Michael Germain took over as Deacon
Mayer’s replacement. In September 2004, Father Bradley left due to health
reasons and was replaced by Father James Brinkman, a New Richmond native, in
November of that year. Father Brinkman served the Erin church community for the
next 11 years, retiring in June 2015.
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| Father John Anderson |
His replacement was
Father John Anderson, also a New Richmond native, who became pastor of
Immaculate Conception Church there and serves St. Patrick’s as a mission
church. Father John’s roots run deep at St. Patrick’s in Erin Prairie. He and I
share a great-grandfather—James Donahue—who married Nell Clennan in 1886 at the
church. The couple went on to raise their seven children in the parish. John
and I are second cousins as a result of that union. He continues to serve St.
Patrick’s in Erin today, along with Deacons Michael Germain and Mel Riel.
Though Irish families
are a minority now, the Irish tradition of St. Patrick’s Parish in Erin Prairie
lives on as several descendants of the original settlers still make this their
home.
There’s a beautiful Irish phrase from West Kerry mo sheasamh ort lá na choise tinne (ma yasa verlo hosha tinna) that translates to you are the place where I stand on the day when my feet are sore. St. Patrick’s was that for its earliest parishioners, who walked barefoot to church and literally had sore feet. Metaphorically, it continued to be where all its parishioners stood, and still stand, with the sore feet caused by life’s ups and downs, that needed, and still need, soothing.
*Carpenter
**Raked joints leave edges of the brick
exposed.
***A
float is a rectangular trowel-like tool used for smoothing wet plaster onto walls.
A carpet float had a piece of carpet attached to it that would create the
wall’s finished texture.
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This history of St. Patrick’s Parish is
based on input by many of the parishioners and former parishioners—Father
Philip Krembs, Agnes Ring, Catherine “Kate” Ring, Eileen Henry, Mary Ross, Edna
“Edie” Donahue and many others who furnished books, documents and pictures of
“who we used to be”-----
(The above history was gathered from
seven existing histories written by parishioners of the past.)
Researched and updated by Don Maloney
2007 A.D.
Updated by Mary Maloney Miller 2019 A.D.
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