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P O Box 68 (Mail) 13989 195th Street Jim Falls, WI 54748 |
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Parish Office: 715-382-4422
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Contact Us: |
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View of Sanctuary from Choir Section of the Church, as seen in 1967. |
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Father Leon Tice offers Mass –1967 |
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The Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus |
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www.sacredheartjimfalls.org |
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History of Sacred Heart Church |
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The history of the present Jim Falls Church and parish would be empty indeed if we failed to realize the profound task and overwhelming hardship that must have faced the early priests and settlers. To them were assigned the first tasks, to those that followed, the secondary tasks, and so on up the line to the point that finds us reading about the past, forming and acting out the present, and in some way hoping to mould a better future. Long before the white man explored the virgin forest of Wisconsin, and long before the red man crept through those same woodlands, lived a race of people whom history has kept no records or accounts. We know nothing of them beyond the fact that at one time they existed. Historians call them “Mound Builders”, and they probably belonged to the Stone Age. Great glaciers had swept over the country leaving in its wake, deep valleys, fertile and beautiful. All this was the hunting ground of the Indians. The high hills which became covered with a rich growth of timer, swift streams, later to furnish power for mills and picturesque lakes, were the setting for the aborigines. The village of Jim Falls had its beginning as a trading post with the Indians. It was a fur trading point and eventually derived its name from James Ermatinger. Mr. Ermatinger was of Swiss descent, born in La Pointe, Bayfield County, Wisconsin (approximately a century and a half ago.) He paddled his canoe down the Chippewa River which forced its way between high banks, covered with pines, cedars and hemlocks. It dashed over rocky beds in a succession of cascades which began at Brunet Falls, Cornell. He stopped at a spot called Vermillion Falls, so named because of its red clay and there he established his post on the west side of the river, directly across from the present site of the church. The town was first named Vermillion Falls, then Ermatinger Falls, Jim’s Falls, Davis Falls and finally, the present Jim Falls. Mr. Ermatinger married the widow of Truman Warren, mother of three small children. She was the daughter of Michel Cadott and White Crain’s daughter (a prominent Indian Chief). In 1862 when the Homestead Law was passed, the influx of many of our outstanding pioneers came from far away places. French Canadians, Germans, Czechs, Norwegians, Irish as well as native Americans of English descent arrived. These men, mostly had an eye for a good stand of pine and farming was only a side line. They worked in the lumber camps in winter and on the drives on the river in spring, and only worked their farms when no other work was available. A yoke of oxen, a team of horses, one or two cows, a few pigs and chickens usually made up their livestock. Cows roamed the unfenced woods and were usually milked by women and children. Their homes and barns were of logs, roofed with basswood “scoops” or pine “shakes”.
It is a well known fact, that prior to the establishment of any churches in this area, there were first, the missionaries and the missions, and as towns and populations increased the establishment of parishes and churches took place. Our first knowledge of any Catholic activity in this area were the Masses said at the home of a resident who lived a short distance from Jim Falls, on the river. Fr. C. F. X. Goldsmith and other Holy Ghosts priests, of Chippewa Falls, conducted these Masses whenever time and weather permitted. When a new school district was created about 1885, the old school building, a very small structure, was bought by the Catholics of that locality for $75. By the simple expedient of adding a cross to the small bell tower, the school was transferred into a church. It was dedicated to St. Anne and was used, mostly during the warmer months, for many years as a mission church. In the spring of 1886, there was a donation of five acres of land, for a church, school and cemetery. It was a lovely spot, high on a bluff, rising up from the rocky Chippewa River bed and only a short distance from St. Anne’s Mission Church of Bob’s Creek. After permission was granted by the Right Rev. Bishop Glasch, the land was cleared and readied for the cornerstone ceremonies. On November 15th, blessed by a perfect “Indian Summer” day, the holy fathers arrived from Chippewa Falls by carriage. Thirty-five families came from the surrounding area. The granite cornerstone was laid by Father Goldsmith. The dedication address was given in four languages by the missionary and a large white cross was placed in the burial area. It was a landmark for many years and could be seen for many miles. This church was to have served the Catholics from Jim Falls up to Cornell. However, before work progressed any further, a few of the settlers living some distance from the river, complained that the location of the church was too far north, so, it was decided to abandon this site and services were continued in the little old church. When St. Anne’s exactly ceased to exist is unknown, but the pews in our choir loft are from the mission, and probably the church was dismantled when Sacred Heart of Jim Falls came into being.
In 1913, Right Rev. James Schwebach, Bishop of La Crosse, asked a young and able Father Peter Minwegan, O.M.I. to do some pioneer work. He chose Cornell as his starting point, established a small frame church there, and named it Holy Cross. It was also felt that another church was needed, in the Jim Falls area, to take the place of St. Anne’s Mission, which, at best was a far cry from being satisfactory due to its location. Father Minwegan’s task was a difficult one. Fourteen families attended Mass at a local residence, since the homeowner had a Mass kit. However, there were a great number of people, who, for some reason or other, had failed to practice their faith. Fr. Minwegan’s efforts among these people, were not in vain. Attendance grew and services had to be moved from the home to a larger building, a pool hall or a dance hall. The Catholic family count was now sufficient enough to warrant plans for a permanent place of worship. To substantiate the need for a recognized parish and gathering point, subject to approval by Bishop Schwebach, a church, for Jim Falls, was in the formative stage. It is generally believed, but not authenticated, that the property was donated by the Eau Claire Realty Company. The Church property is located on the corner of Mill Street and Stephen Avenue, with the front door entrance facing the Chippewa River. The Church property (not including the Rectory) extends from Stephen Avenue for one full block to Anita Avenue. The architects were Dockendorf and Parkeinson of La Crosse, who perfected the plans of Father Minwegan, their charge was $300. This was five percent of the total cost of construction, which was $6,000. Bids for contractors were taken and $18,000 was the lowest bid. It was most discouraging, but, our ingenious pastor decided that no contract would be given, and he, Father Minwegan, would play the role himself. He hired a foreman for $5 a day, and together they gathered and bargained for all the materials. His foreman hired help for $3 a day and later raised their wages to $3.50, satisfying everyone. Digging for the foundation began in the latter part of 1915. Almost two years elapsed when the edifice of red brick was completed. On October 21, 1917, the church was dedicated to the delight and joy of many people. Inasmuch as the Bishop was in attendance several people were confirmed. It was the first confirmation. As the work increased in the parish Father Minwegan decided to take up residence in Jim Falls. With the help of an experienced carpenter, they built the rectory as it stands today, for the cost of $4,500. The Oblate Fathers granted him the loan. It was built to house several priests who were serving this area; i.e., Jim Falls, Cornell, Huron, etc. It was purchased by the people of the parish for $12,000 in 1958, with payment in full, being made in 1959. The rectory has 10 rooms and three baths. It has a sturdy stucco exterior and is located on the corner of Mill Street and Anita Avenue, with the entrance on Mill Street. A plot of land approximately five miles from the church was donated as a Parish Cemetery, but it was never used and was sold. There are reported, three graves somewhere on the parish property, however after much search, no one has ever located them. Sacred Heart—Our Parish Name Since our Parish bears the name of Sacred Heart, devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is a privilege and a responsibility to each and every individual in the Parish. The Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which is always on the Friday of the week following the Second Sunday after Pentecost, was established in the year 1765 by Pope Clement XII to stress the love we should give to God through the Sacred Heart, which shed its last drop of Blood upon the Cross. Devotions and prayers emphasizing the great love of God for mankind are as old as the Church. Our Lord asked Mary Margaret Alacoque to promote the establishment of a feast of love and reparation to His Sacred Heart. Through the work of Mary Margaret Alacoque, the celebration of the feast and the practice of the FIRST FRIDAY of each month by reception of Holy Communion in honor of the Sacred Heart began. In a letter from Father Tice dated June 2, 1967, The Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, it was quoted “The parish was started on condition that the new church would be dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus; and that it would be a mission church which would last.” It was Father Peter Minwegan who described the terms upon which the parish was established. It is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and has lasted for 89 years.
* Information, in part, obtained from the “Fiftieth Anniversary of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish” booklet dedicated to the People of God, Past, Present & Future |
