About St. Mary's Ridge in Cashton, Wisconsin

History of the St. Mary's

The church seen today in Cashton, Wisconsin, is the fourth one built on this location. The first settlers arrived in 1856 from Cologne, Germany. Here they found their “Promised Land,” and had to work hard in order to survive in this new location. The first years were filled with many hardships and sacrifices. The most difficult, beyond food and goods of first necessity, was the lack of a priest, and therefore the Sacraments. The first two years, the pioneers had to go to La Crosse to fulfill their Easter duties. Nevertheless, during the year of 1858, the first church was built. It was a log structure, but served well for the settlers to gather and worship God. This was a great improvement from the simple cross that existed in the cemetery field!

Bishop John Martin Henni of Milwaukee held the first confirmations in 1861. It was not until 1866 however, that St. Mary’s community received its first resident pastor, Father S. Florentine, who was also the pastor of St. Joseph’s Ridge, living one month there and one month at St. Mary’s.

In the year of 1869, Father Michael Heiss was the pastor, and at this time the construction of a new church began. It was a necessity to build a larger church because of the arrival of new Catholic families in the area. From the ten families coming in 1858, just a short eleven years later, the number had reached 100 families in 1869. The logs of the original church were reused to build a convent.

A great blessing from God came during the year of 1873, for the enrichment and growth of the Catholic faith in the area with the arrival of the “Sisters of Perpetual Adoration,” led by Sisters Seraphim and Adolphine.

Beginning with the year of 1879 a new and inspirational time for St. Mary’s took place, with the arrival of one of the most remarkable pastors, Father Willibald Hackner. Father Hackner came from Germany as well, and after a time in La Crosse he came to St. Mary’s Ridge. His description of American life in the letters he sent home was so enthusiastic, that his family came to America, and among them Egid, his younger brother, Egid was an artist and opened an altar factory in La Crosse. Naturally, Egid dedicated his first work for his brother, Father Hackner. This is why the Church of St. Mary’s Ridge has the exquisite Neo-Gothic altar, which lends its splendor and beauty to enhance the sacredness of the Latin Mass.

In 1882, Father Hackner received a new assignment and had to leave St. Mary’s. In his place many pastors were given charge of St. Mary’s, including Fathers Wicker, Grosse, Geyer, Laurer, Baschke, Hauch, and Mayer. An interesting connection should be noted; Father John Hauck was pastor of St. Mary’s in Wausau before being appointed at the Ridge. Through Divine Providence, Father John Hauck was a precursor of the Institute of Christ the King, who today, has charge of the two parishes.

Father Hackner returned in 1895 to St. Mary’s Ridge. At this time, there were 120 families, and 106 children at the school. Father Hackner, during his second residency actually built the church, which was dedicated on November 24, 1897. It became necessary for Father Hackner to leave St. Mary’s Ridge in 1903 due to health reasons.

From 1904 to 1920, another pastor who left a decisive mark in the history of St. Mary’s was Father John Kaiser. Many improvements were made during this time. Fr. Kaiser supervised the frescoing of the church, and he acquired the two paintings we see in the sanctuary representing the bloody and unbloody sacrifice of the Mass. An organ was added, the school was rebuilt, and the convent, which had burnt down, again was rebuilt.

This convent is actually the rectory of the Immaculate Conception, where the Institute of Christ the King serves you. For the Jubilee Celebration, the author of the booklet wrote about the convent; “May God bless and protect it, that much good may be accomplished there.” The records give testimony of 140 families and 120 children at school.

From 1920 to our present time, many pastors succeeded in the charge of “The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Mary’s Ridge.” The names recorded are Fr. John Thill, (March 1920–November 1927), Rev. P. J. Zaun, MSC (1927), Rev. Augustin Frisch, (March 1928–1929), Fr. J. H. Flad, (1934–1936). F. U. Baer, (1936–1938), F. La Verne Timmerman, (1938–1949), Fr. S. Frye (1949–1953), Fr. Zulik, (1953–1955), Fr. Bauman (1955-?). The New Rectory was built in 1958, and two years later it was the turn of the Convent which was remodeled inside and out. Fr. Bernard Henry in the late 70s provide a new cross for the church steeple. He was followed by Father Arnold Reuter (1976-1980) and Father Wayne Kidd.

Today the Parish of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the School are under the care of Father Burns, Pastor, and Father Bauer, associate Pastor. The Latin Mass is said every Sundays at 3:00 PM and every Mondays at 8:00 AM. Numerous families who desire to live in a rural area near by a Latin Mass aposolate moved or are moving to this beautiful place in Western Wisconsin.

Further History

For more history about St. Mary's Ridge, which hosts the Institute of Christ the King for the Traditional Latin Mass, see St. Mary's Ridge Quad Parish Web site.

Thanks

Thanks to Father Burns and Father Bauer, and also to Ormand Mack, director of Saint Mary's Ridge Development Committee, for his faithful help, and to the parish secretaries and to all the other friends of the Institute.