New Diggings in Lafayette County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

St. Augustine Church

Photographed by Gordon Govier, September 11, 2012

1. St. Augustine Church Marker

Inscription. Striking in its classical simplicity, this little frame church 30x50 has stood on the New Diggings Hill since its construction in 1844-47 as a place of worship for the Irish mining families of the vicinity. A beautiful example of Greco-Gothic Revival architecture, it was designed and constructed by Father Samuel Mazzuchelli OP (1806-1864) who served as itinerant missionary, pastor, and builder in the tri-state area during his years of ministry (1835-1864) in the American Midwest. The exterior is plank siding, scored and painted to resemble large blocks of limestone. The interior has hand-hewn pews, a carved altar, and sanctuary carpeting that reproduces the original. The famous Meneely bell in the tower was brought from the Meneely foundry in West Troy, New York and installed in 1847. Below the church is a small school room where a Dominican sister from Sinsinawa taught 60 pupils in the late 1840's. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Father Samuel Mazzuchelli Assembly, Knights of Columbus provided for a historical restoration of the church to its original beauty in 2007.

Erected 2007

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by Father Samuel Mazzuchelli Assembly, Knights of Columbus.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical year for this entry is 1847.

Location. 42° 32.017′ N, 90° 20.034′ W. Marker is in New Diggings, Wisconsin, in Lafayette County. It is on High Street 0.1 miles east of County Road I, on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Shullsburg WI 53586, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American Midwest,

in the Corn Belt,

and in the Driftless Area — Bluff Country.

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 are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Dominican Sisters Gravesite (approx. 3.3 miles away); Benton Wisconsin Veterans Memorial (approx. 3.3 miles away); Benton Fire Bell (approx. 3½ miles away); Father Samuel Mazzuchelli

St. Augustine Church image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Gordon Govier, September 11, 2012

2. St. Augustine Church

(approx. 4.4 miles away); Wisconsin Lead Region (approx. 4.4 miles away); The Old Chicago Stageroad (approx. 4.7 miles away); The Point Of Beginning (approx. 5½ miles away); Historical Badger Park (approx. 5.6 miles away).

St. Augustine Church information image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Gordon Govier, September 11, 2012

3. St. Augustine Church information

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on September 16, 2012, by Gordon Govier of Fitchburg, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 870 times since then and 59 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 16, 2012, by Gordon Govier of Fitchburg, Wisconsin. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.