St. Martin's, Wisconsin facts for kids

St. Martin's, also known as St. Martins or Saint Martins, was once a small community in the town of Franklin, in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, USA. Even though it's not a separate town anymore, its history is still an important part of the area.

St. Martin's: A Look Back

Early Days and Growth

People started settling in St. Martin's during the 1830s and 1840s. The community grew a lot after Father Martin Kundig arrived in 1847. Father Kundig started the Holy Assumption Church. He also helped plan the layout of the settlement in 1850, which means he helped decide where streets and buildings would go.

Because some German immigrants found it hard to understand the English-speaking Irish churchgoers, people asked for another Catholic church. Some land from the Holy Assumption Church was given to build Sacred Hearts Catholic Church in 1858. This new church was for people who spoke German.

Life in the Community

In 1868, a tall, five-story windmill was moved to St. Martin's from Kenosha County. This windmill was used to grind grain for farmers until it was taken down in 1934.

A book from 1898 called Hand Book of Wisconsin said that St. Martin's had 146 people living there. It also mentioned that the community had a mill for animal feed, four general stores, a shoe shop, and a blacksmith's shop. Mail was delivered every day.

Modern Times

From 1904 to 1939, a special electric train line, run by The Milwaukee Electric Railway and Light Company, had a stop called "St. Martin's Junction." This train helped people travel between towns.

The Labor Day fair, which used to be held in Hales Corners, moved to St. Martin's in 1958. Today, this event is still known as the St. Martin's Fair.