Brussels in Door County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

The Brussels Cemetery Grotto

Photographed by Fitzie Heimdahl

1. The Brussels Cemetery Grotto Marker

Inscription. The Belgian immigrants who settled in this region, beginning in the 1850s, built many churches and roadside chapels, reflecting the value of their Catholic faith. Brussels and its surrounding communities form the largest Belgian settlement in North America. The first Mass at St. Francis Xavier was in 1878. In 1909, a new brick church was constructed. Fr. Jerome Gloudemans, a Dutch Norbertine priest, was named pastor of St. Francis Xavier in 1919, serving for 31 years. Fr. Gloudemans, as a devotion to the Blessed Mother, designed and built a rock structure resembling a freestanding cave, topped with a large crucifixion scene. The grotto was built with field stones selected for their beauty by local parishioners. The Brussels Grotto includes similar features of the natural Grotto of our Lady of Lourdes in France, including statues of the Blessed Mother and St. Bernadette Soubrious, a cave like setting and flowing water. The Grotto was dedicated on October 29, 1935. Fr. Gloudemans, wanted to be buried among his faithful and built a crypt within the Grotto. He died at the age of 80, and was called back to De Pere, WI to be

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buried with his Norbertine Brothers.

Erected 2020 by Wisconsin Historical Society. (Marker Number 592.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Religion & Religious Structures • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Wisconsin Historical Society series list. A significant historical date for this entry is October 29, 1935.

Location. 44° 44.947′ N, 87° 37.279′ W. Marker is in Brussels, Wisconsin, in Door County. It is on Cemetery Road near County Road C. Located on St. Francis & St. Mary Parish Grounds. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 9716 Cemetery Rd, Brussels WI 54204, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Wisconsin’s Door Peninsula.

It is also in the American Midwest,

on the Great Lakes,

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers

The Brussels Cemetery Grotto Marker & St. Francis Xavier Catholic Cemetery image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Devon Polzar, June 2021

2. The Brussels Cemetery Grotto Marker & St. Francis Xavier Catholic Cemetery

are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Belgian Settlement in Wisconsin (approx. 2.4 miles away); Historic Euroamerican Settlement of the Door Peninsula (approx. 2½ miles away); Transportation Archaeology on the WIS 57 Project (approx. 2½ miles away); The WIS 57 Reconstruction Project in Brown, Kewaunee, and Door Counties (approx. 2½ miles away); Namur and the Norbertine Fathers: Community, Education, and Religion among Belgian-Americans (approx. 2½ miles away); Architecture and History in the WIS 57 Project Area (approx. 2½ miles away); The Fire of 1871 and Williamsonville: A 19th Century Euroamerican Settlement in Door County (approx. 2½ miles away); After the Fire: The Vandermissen Brickworks Site (approx. 2½ miles away).

St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church (Built in 1909) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Devon Polzar, June 2021

3. St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church (Built in 1909)

The Brussels Cemetery Grotto image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Devon Polzar, June 2021

4. The Brussels Cemetery Grotto

Photographed by Fitzie Heimdahl

5. The Brussels Cemetery Grotto

Credits. This page was last revised on November 15, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 25, 2021, by Fitzie Heimdahl of Eau Claire, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 2,617 times since then and 95 times this year. Last updated on June 20, 2021, by Devon Polzar of Port Washington, Wisconsin. Photos: 1. submitted on May 25, 2021, by Fitzie Heimdahl of Eau Claire, Wisconsin. 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 20, 2021, by Devon Polzar of Port Washington, Wisconsin. 5. submitted on May 25, 2021, by Fitzie Heimdahl of Eau Claire, Wisconsin. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.