Chippewa Falls in Chippewa County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Notre Dame Church
Photographed By Keith L, October 28, 2010
1. Notre Dame Church Marker
Inscription.
Notre Dame Church. . Notre Dame was Chippewa County’s first church, the Mother church of all area Catholic Churches. Originally called St. Mary’s (“Our Lady of the Pines”) was a 16' x 18' foot log structure erected in 1856. A carpenter’s bench served as the first altar. The church served a small parish of Indians, half-breeds, Irish, French, Scots, Poles, and Germans. , On May 27, 1869 Father Charles F.X. Goldsmith came to Chippewa Falls. He immediately began to work for the erection of a new suitable church building. Work began on Notre Dame Church in the spring of 1870 and was completed in 1872. It was built of native stone from a nearby quarry located in present day Irvine Park. The huge stone blocks were hauled by horse cart to this site. , Across the street was the small 3 room First Ward City School. In May 1881 Father Goldsmith notified the Board of Education he wished to purchase the school for the purpose of establishing a parochial institution. On September 27, 1881 the school opened in the charge of the School Sisters of Notre Dame / Milwaukee. The growing parish erected the present school building in 1924. , Father Goldsmith died November 24, 1890. The red brick Memorial Chapel directly east of the Notre Dame Church was erected in his memory in 1894 and his remains lie buried beneath the altar. ,
Chippewa County Historical Society , Marker Sign #2.
Notre Dame was Chippewa County’s first church, the Mother church of all area Catholic Churches. Originally called St. Mary’s (“Our Lady of the Pines”) was a 16' x 18' foot log structure erected in 1856. A carpenter’s bench served as the first altar. The church served a small parish of Indians, half-breeds, Irish, French, Scots, Poles, and Germans.
On May 27, 1869 Father Charles F.X. Goldsmith came to Chippewa Falls. He immediately began to work for the erection of a new suitable church building. Work began on Notre Dame Church in the spring of 1870 and was completed in 1872. It was built of native stone from a nearby quarry located in present day Irvine Park. The huge stone blocks were hauled by horse cart to this site.
Across the street was the small 3 room First Ward City School. In May 1881 Father Goldsmith notified the Board of Education he wished to purchase the school for the purpose of establishing a parochial institution. On September 27, 1881 the school opened in the charge of the School Sisters of Notre Dame / Milwaukee. The growing parish erected the present school building in 1924.
Father Goldsmith died November 24, 1890. The red brick Memorial Chapel directly east of the Notre Dame Church was erected in his memory in 1894 and his remains lie buried beneath the altar.
Chippewa
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County Historical Society
Marker Sign #2
Erected by the Chippewa County Historical Society. (Marker Number 2.)
Location. 44° 56.137′ N, 91° 23.254′ W. Marker is in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, in Chippewa County. Marker is at the intersection of Allen Street and South High Street, on the left when traveling west on Allen Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 117 Allen Street, Chippewa Falls WI 54729, United States of America. Touch for directions.
The marker is by the pine tree at the right side of the photo.
Photographed By Keith L, October 28, 2010
3. Notre Dame Church (foreground)
The Goldsmith Memorial Chapel is next to the church.
Photographed By Keith L, October 28, 2010
4. Nearby Shrine
Photographed By Keith L, October 28, 2010
5. Tablet at Shrine
Shrine – Our Lady of the Falls. With esteem for her virtues and admiration for her achievements, the members of Notre Dame Parish gratefully and lovingly dedicate this Shrine of our Blessed Mother to the memory of Sister Mary Eligia, S.S.N.D. primary teacher of Notre Dame School 1884 · 1939.
Photographed By Keith L, October 28, 2010
6. Shrine Dedication Tablet
Dedicated Aug. 15, 1940 by Bishop Griffin D.D.
Photographed By Keith L, October 28, 2010
7. War Memorial
In Gratitude · Members Notre Dame Parish · Living - Deceased · World War One · World War Two · Korea · Viet Nam · Desert Storm · Iraqi Freedom · "For God and Country."
Credits. This page was last revised on October 13, 2020. It was originally submitted on January 30, 2011, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 1,044 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on January 30, 2011, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin.