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Forgotten History... ✖ Each week in July, we will research forgotten places or things in Clark County and share our findings with you in our “ Forgotten History” series, as explored by Valorie Brecht or Cheyenne Thomas. Echoes from the altar: Remembering St. Stephen’s of Chili ca. 1914 By Valorie Brecht the first resident pastor. Until the house, purchased earlier by the parish, was moved onto the parish grounds, Father Wohlmuth lived at the home of Albert J. Lang. Father stayed with the Langs about two and one-half months, until the rectory was ready for occupancy. “Father Wohlmuth worked hard to get the house ready to live in, and was also instrumental in making many improvements. During his pastorate the church was painted inside and out, a new garage was built, and the grounds were improved. He served the parish until 1956, and was immediately succeeded by Father DonaldBerg,whoremainedforafewmonths in that year. “Succeeding pastors were: Robert Perkins, 1956-1959; Carroll J. Wall-Jasper, 1959-1967; Richard McKoskey, 1967-1968; Eugene Berthlaume, 1968- 1969; Bernard Duffy, 1969-1971; and Robert B. Houston, present. “The Women’s Altar Society of St. Stephen’s was organized around 1920. The first members were Adrian Ver Hagen, A. LaBelle, Otto Speigelberg, Vera Putz, and Laura Andrews. Meetings were held in the homes until the church basement was completed. Mrs. Andrews is the only surviving member of this original group.” The Catholic Diocese of La Crosse does not have a record of the parish’s pastors. However, in looking through old photos available for perusal at the chapel, a few additional bits of information can be CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS Shown is a view of St. Stephen’s Catholic Church as it stood on the north end of Chili for nearly a century. The church was built in 1902, with the steeple completed a few years later. It served as the meeting place for an active congregation for many years, with numbers eventually dwindling and the church closing on May 3, 1998. The building was razed in the early 2000s. Now there is a chapel on the same site. The parsonage, shown below, was lifted up on a frame with wheels and moved in 1952. Please see St. Stephen’s, page 7 When organized religion played more of a central role in people’s lives, the church building served as a community hub, bringing people together for solemn ceremonies and joyful celebrations. The church also reflected a vibrant local social life, with the majority of people’s time spent in their own small town. Today it is not uncommon for people to travel 20 or more miles to work, shop, or worship, not to mention going online. The result is the gradual death of the small town and church sites becoming more a piece of history rather than an active social hub. St. Stephen’s Chapel on the outskirts of the sleepy town of Chili is no exception. The chapel stands quiet as it overlooks the nearby cemetery, the stillness only broken by the chirp of birds and occasional crow of a rooster from a nearby farm. The structure is small, only wide enough for a single row of pews. The four pews inside face a simple wooden altar. However, before the chapel, there was a larger church building and a thriving parish, providing spiritual and social connection for the people of Chili. Chili was once a bustling railroad town. The following information comes from an undated article on the Clark County, Wis., History Buffs website: “Chili started when the Omaha Railroad was built in 1890. Three passenger trains ran daily from Merrillan to Marshfield. Apriest from Neillsville came to Chili on the 8 o’clock train and said Mass in a hall over the general store owned by Mr. Frazier. On Saturday evenings a dance was usually held in the hall, and on Mondays Mrs. Arnold Martens, Mrs. Adrian Ver Hagen, and Mr. William Peters would clean and prepare the hall for Tuesday morning Mass. “There are records of baptisms of people from Chili by Father Charles Youngblood as early as 1900, and by Father Joseph L. Hauck in the years 1902 to 1907. “In January of 1902 the first donation for a Catholic church was given by Mr. Frazier, and the land was donated by Mr. Kirchoff. The church was built that same year, with the exception of the steeple, which was completed a few years later. The first altar was a wooden structure, built by men of the parish; the pews were made by Mr. Dreson of Marshfield; and the lumber was furnished by William Croell. In later years, Mr. Kirchoff’s son Adolph donated a new altar. “There being no Catholic cemetery at the time, Jacob Peters, father of William Peters and of Mrs. Kirchoff, was buried on his own land, and later moved to the new St. Stephen’s Cemetery. The first parishioners of St. Stephen’s were the families of William Croell, John Ebbens, Anton Ebbens, Math Jansen, Adolph Kirchoff, Ed Lamers, Arnold Martens, William Peters, and Adrian Ver Hagen. In 1902 St. Stephen’s was established as a mission of Corpus Christi Parish of Bakerville. Pastors at Bakerville who served St. Stephen’s were the following: W. Hackner, 1908-1910; A. J. Miller, 1910-1928; F. F. Hoffmann, 1928-1929; Joseph Willitzer, 1929-1936; Arthur Cramer, 1936-1949; J. J. Sheridan, 1949-1950; Chester Wrzaszczak, 1950; and Garlen J. Muller, 1950-1952. “In July of 1952 St. Stephen’s became a parish, with Father Carl A. Wohlmuth as
Forgotten History... ✖ Each week in July, we will research forgotten places or things in Clark County and share our findings with you in our “ Forgotten History” series, as explored by Valorie Brecht or Cheyenne Thomas. Echoes from the altar: Remembering St. Stephen’s of Chili ca. 1914 By Valorie Brecht the first resident pastor. Until the house, purchased earlier by the parish, was moved onto the parish grounds, Father Wohlmuth lived at the home of Albert J. Lang. Father stayed with the Langs about two and one-half months, until the rectory was ready for occupancy. “Father Wohlmuth worked hard to get the house ready to live in, and was also instrumental in making many improvements. During his pastorate the church was painted inside and out, a new garage was built, and the grounds were improved. He served the parish until 1956, and was immediately succeeded by Father DonaldBerg,whoremainedforafewmonths in that year. “Succeeding pastors were: Robert Perkins, 1956-1959; Carroll J. Wall-Jasper, 1959-1967; Richard McKoskey, 1967-1968; Eugene Berthlaume, 1968- 1969; Bernard Duffy, 1969-1971; and Robert B. Houston, present. “The Women’s Altar Society of St. Stephen’s was organized around 1920. The first members were Adrian Ver Hagen, A. LaBelle, Otto Speigelberg, Vera Putz, and Laura Andrews. Meetings were held in the homes until the church basement was completed. Mrs. Andrews is the only surviving member of this original group.” The Catholic Diocese of La Crosse does not have a record of the parish’s pastors. However, in looking through old photos available for perusal at the chapel, a few additional bits of information can be CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS Shown is a view of St. Stephen’s Catholic Church as it stood on the north end of Chili for nearly a century. The church was built in 1902, with the steeple completed a few years later. It served as the meeting place for an active congregation for many years, with numbers eventually dwindling and the church closing on May 3, 1998. The building was razed in the early 2000s. Now there is a chapel on the same site. The parsonage, shown below, was lifted up on a frame with wheels and moved in 1952. Please see St. Stephen’s, page 7 When organized religion played more of a central role in people’s lives, the church building served as a community hub, bringing people together for solemn ceremonies and joyful celebrations. The church also reflected a vibrant local social life, with the majority of people’s time spent in their own small town. Today it is not uncommon for people to travel 20 or more miles to work, shop, or worship, not to mention going online. The result is the gradual death of the small town and church sites becoming more a piece of history rather than an active social hub. St. Stephen’s Chapel on the outskirts of the sleepy town of Chili is no exception. The chapel stands quiet as it overlooks the nearby cemetery, the stillness only broken by the chirp of birds and occasional crow of a rooster from a nearby farm. The structure is small, only wide enough for a single row of pews. The four pews inside face a simple wooden altar. However, before the chapel, there was a larger church building and a thriving parish, providing spiritual and social connection for the people of Chili. Chili was once a bustling railroad town. The following information comes from an undated article on the Clark County, Wis., History Buffs website: “Chili started when the Omaha Railroad was built in 1890. Three passenger trains ran daily from Merrillan to Marshfield. Apriest from Neillsville came to Chili on the 8 o’clock train and said Mass in a hall over the general store owned by Mr. Frazier. On Saturday evenings a dance was usually held in the hall, and on Mondays Mrs. Arnold Martens, Mrs. Adrian Ver Hagen, and Mr. William Peters would clean and prepare the hall for Tuesday morning Mass. “There are records of baptisms of people from Chili by Father Charles Youngblood as early as 1900, and by Father Joseph L. Hauck in the years 1902 to 1907. “In January of 1902 the first donation for a Catholic church was given by Mr. Frazier, and the land was donated by Mr. Kirchoff. The church was built that same year, with the exception of the steeple, which was completed a few years later. The first altar was a wooden structure, built by men of the parish; the pews were made by Mr. Dreson of Marshfield; and the lumber was furnished by William Croell. In later years, Mr. Kirchoff’s son Adolph donated a new altar. “There being no Catholic cemetery at the time, Jacob Peters, father of William Peters and of Mrs. Kirchoff, was buried on his own land, and later moved to the new St. Stephen’s Cemetery. The first parishioners of St. Stephen’s were the families of William Croell, John Ebbens, Anton Ebbens, Math Jansen, Adolph Kirchoff, Ed Lamers, Arnold Martens, William Peters, and Adrian Ver Hagen. In 1902 St. Stephen’s was established as a mission of Corpus Christi Parish of Bakerville. Pastors at Bakerville who served St. Stephen’s were the following: W. Hackner, 1908-1910; A. J. Miller, 1910-1928; F. F. Hoffmann, 1928-1929; Joseph Willitzer, 1929-1936; Arthur Cramer, 1936-1949; J. J. Sheridan, 1949-1950; Chester Wrzaszczak, 1950; and Garlen J. Muller, 1950-1952. “In July of 1952 St. Stephen’s became a parish, with Father Carl A. Wohlmuth as
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