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- St. Mary of Pine Bluff History
- The first European people to
settle in Pine Bluff, a community which lies at the bottom of
a circular valley once surrounded by pine trees, were the English,
then the Irish and Germans.
- While the English moved westward
toward more desirable, open prairie, the Irish and Germans staked
land claims, cleared fields, planted crops, and built a community
of families in God's grace and providence.
- The first Mass in Pine Bluff
was in the home of John Kalscheur by Fr. Adelbert Inama, traveling
from Roxbury, in 1852.
- Christian Billstein and his
wife, Gertrude Scholl, deeded five acres of land for church purposes
to The Most Reverend John Henni, Bishop of Milwaukee. The deed
was recorded on March 17, 1854.
- Unlike other communities where
different national groups built separate churches, this faith
community elected to build one.
- Dedication of the new Church
to Our Lady Help of Christians and the first Mass was celebrated
on the Feast of the Assumption, August 15, 1854.
- Fr. Lorenz Conrad was installed
as the first pastor for Pine Bluff, as well as Springfield and
Cross Plains.
- As the parish continued to grow,
the first rectory was built in 1868, and a residence for the
Sisters in 1874.
- Fr. Ignatius A. Klein became
pastor in 1887, building the present church. He also organized
the parish at Mount Horeb and built it's first church.
- The first school house was built
on the north edge of the property; doubling its size in 1887.
A second school was built in 1915 and was used for 46 years.
The current school building was constructed in 1961 and dedicated
by the Most Reverend William O'Connor, Bishop of Madison. Classes
were held at the school for grades 1-8 until 1968 when the attendance
was limited to grades 3-6 and then closed in 1969.
- The present rectory was built
in 1904.
- The first parish picnic was
held in 1907; a tradition that was interruped at the beginning
of World War II but was reestablished and continues as an annual
event. It is held on the second Sunday in August.
- A Centennial observance was
held on August 15, 1954 with Mass being celebrated by the Most
Reverend William O'Connor, Bishop of Madison. It was also at
this time that the first parish history was recorded.
- The parish council was established
in 1968 and held its first meeting on May 5th of that year.
- St. Mary of Pine Bluff also
had a mission church in the Town of Vermont: St. James. A lightning
strike caused fire to burn the church in 1969. It was never rebuilt.
- Father Thomas Coyle was ordained
and celebrated his first mass in May of 1970. He was the first,
and so far the only, priest from the parish.
- There are nine from St. Mary
of Pine Bluff who became Sisters. They include:
1926 Rosela Kalscheur became Sister M. Laurentina, O.S.F.
1934 Bernadette Kalscheur became Sister M. Herman, O.S.F.
1938 Genevieve Krantz became Sister M. Jonathan, O.S.F.
1939 Eileen Kalscheur became Sister M. Laurentina, O.S.F.
1941 Sylvia Anne Haack became Sister M. Anne Christine, O.S.F.
1942 Mary Elizabeth Krantz became Sister M. Florine, O.S.F.
1943 Bernadette Kelter became Sister M. Rozella, O.S.F.
1947 Therese Farrell became Sister M. Felicitas, O.P.
1948 Catherine Kelter became Sister M. Wilhelmina, O.S.F.
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- Our traditional St. Pathrick's
dinner was first held in 1974 and continues as a celebration
of our parish family. Traditionally it is held on the Sunday
closest to March 17th, St. Patrick's Day.
- A memorial statue of Our Lady
of the Assumption was erected at the time of the 125th Anniversary
of St. Mary of Pine Bluff. This was celebrated on August 15,
1979.
- The 1990 addition was dedicated
by The Most Reverend Cletus O'Donnell, Bishop of Madison.
- A pastoral directory
was published recognizing the 140th Anniversary of St. Mary of
Pine Bluff in 1994.
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