Historic St. Ann's (Greenwood, Taylor County, Wisconsin) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Saint Ann's Catholic Church and Cemetery
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 Location in Wisconsin
Location in the United States
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| Location | W3963 Brehm Ave., Greenwood, Taylor County, Wisconsin |
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| Area | 3 acres (1.2 ha) |
| Built | 1888 |
| Architectural style | Late Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 95001455 |
| Added to NRHP | December 14, 1995 |
Saint Ann's Catholic Church and Cemetery is a very old and important Roman Catholic church and cemetery. It is located in a rural area of Greenwood, Taylor County, Wisconsin, in the United States. You can find it at W3963 Brehm Avenue, between Rib Lake and Medford. This special place was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1995. This means it's officially recognized as a historic site worth protecting.
Contents
History of Saint Ann's
Building the Church
The people who built Saint Ann's Church were mostly German and German-Bohemian immigrants. They came to this area from parts of Germany and Bohemia (now the Czech Republic) between 1881 and 1883. At first, priests would travel by horse or train to hold church services in people's homes.
In 1884, the Wisconsin Central Railroad gave one acre of land for the church. Four years later, in 1888, construction began. Bishop Kilian Caspar Flasch of the Diocese of La Crosse approved the building plans. The church and its cemetery were built together.
A Community Center
Near the church, to the west, was the Highland School. In 1892, the Thums General Store and Post Office opened across the road. These buildings helped create a small, self-contained community. It was a place where people could gather and get what they needed.
The very first church service, called a Mass, was held at Saint Ann's on September 25, 1888. Reverend J. W. Ritz led this service. Later, in 1902, a rectory (a home for the priest) was built in Rib Lake. Reverend Joseph Heeger, the first priest there, also served the Saint Ann's community. Until 1915, all church services were held in German.
Changes Over Time
In 1905, the management of Saint Ann's Church moved to the new Diocese of Superior. A few years later, in 1908, a statue of Mary was given to the church by the Saint Ann's Altar Society.
The cemetery is right behind the church. It has graves dating back to 1887. Some of the church's founders are buried there. You can see two graves marked with fancy iron crosses. These crosses are in a style that the older community members remembered from their home country.
The church got wired for electricity in 1933. The light fixtures even came from the Medford State Bank! However, electric power didn't actually become available until 1946. In the 1940s, a new oil-burning furnace was put in to heat the church.
Saving Saint Ann's
In 1963, the diocese decided to close Saint Ann's Church. This happened because there weren't enough priests. After it closed, the church still had insurance, but regular care and maintenance slowed down. By 1983, the church members had to choose what to do. Two of the options meant tearing the church down.
Instead, they chose to save it! They formed a non-profit organization. This group would be in charge of taking care of the building and the grounds. Local people and former church members bought the church and cemetery from the Diocese of Superior. They officially formed "Historic St. Ann's Inc." on August 12, 1988.
Over the years, members have worked hard to improve the building, grounds, and cemetery. They hold annual "work bees" where everyone helps out. A newsletter from 2013 shared all the many projects they had completed in the past 25 years. Thanks to their efforts, Saint Ann's Church and Cemetery is still standing and cared for today.
See also
