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OCONTO COUNTY
Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Little Suamico, Wisconsin
built 1902
The original 1888 church building is seen at the right side and behind. It was used as a church hall.
2011
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LITTLE SUAMICO, BUILT IN
1902, WAS THE SECOND SANCTUARY BUILT BY PIONEER
. GREEN BAY PRESS-GAZETTE • January 28, 1971  Catholic Settlers wait 35 years for church The privations of those first settlers of Little Suamico seeking to establish homes in an outpost of civilization were many, and not least was their isolation from the church. It wasn't Just that they lacked a sanctuary in which to worship, but even the matters of getting to a pastor for such religious rites as marriage or the baptism of children born in the wilderness settlement presented major problems. Although the majority of the first permanent residents were of the German Lutheran faith, Catholics also began arriving as early as 1853 and by the time of the Civil War a dozen families of that faith were known to be living in the area. Among them were Nelson Plouff, Lauer, Charles Detlege, Jules DeMaiffe Sr, Charles Jacques, Alois B. Zoeller, Leon, John Bergeman, Morttz Host, William Blazer, Carl Blaser and Felix Richard families or individuals. The nearest Catholic church at that time was in Duck Creek, 16 miles to the south. To reach there meant traveling either by boat or on foot along the Indian trail through the woods. A story is told of two of the Lauer girls, then 15 and 16 years old, who made the journey through the woods in 1853 to perform their Easter duty at the Duck Creek church, leaving on Saturday and returning the next day. And, in 1867, the parents and godparents of Mary Detlege and Theresa Leon carried the infants to the Duck Creek church to be baptized. In 1870, when Little Suamico became a station of the Duck Creek Catholic church, there were about 25 Catholic families living in the township. The practice of celebrating mass in the homes was begun, usually the family hosting the "congregation" was determined by the nationality of the priest who came down to officiate. Two of the homes known to have been used were those of Nelson Plouff and the Renville family. In 1873, when Mr. and Mrs, Charles Detlege built a log house on what is now highway 41, their home became the gathering place for mass, catechism instructions and baptismal rites, principally because they had the largest living room in the area. As the number of Catholic families grew, they began to talk of building a church. In 1885 a petition was circulated and sent to the Bishop of Green Bay asking for permission to build a sanctuary. The location cited in the petition was the lots on which the present Bramschreiber homes now stand. Many of those who signed were non-Catholics. A building fund of $1,000 was raised but, for reasons no longer known, the program failed to go through at that time. In the summer of 1888 efforts to get a Little Suamico Catholic church were begun again. A great picnic was held, with the Grosse band providing music for the occasion, and everyone from miles around came to help their Catholic friends In their endeavor. This time the efforts were successful and, either in the winter of 1888 or at least by spring of the following year, the first Catholic church in Little Suamico was completed. It was built on a half acre of land donated by Charles Detlege - a small building measuring only 28x50 feet, with a two-foot foundation of mortar and field stone. A main altar and two side altars were installed, and the parishioners sat on two rows of five benches to the row on either side of a narrow aisle. At the back of the church was a box stove fed with four-foot rails or logs stuffed into It by the nearest worshipper. The congregation named the church "St. Leo." Mass was celebrated two or three times a month, always on a weekday, the priests arriving by train from Duck Creek for the services. Low masses were celebrated until an organ was installed, donated by Mary Detlege and Mrs. Frank Allen Sr. In 1895 the name of the church and the congregation was changed from St. Leo to St. Pius. By 1902, the little structure was beginning to show signs of wear so the decision was made to build a new and larger church. It was also decided that a more central location should be chosen and land in the village (where St. Pius church now stands) was purchased from Gustaff and Lena Papenfus. The first building committee was composed of the Rev. Walter Polachek, John Virtues, A. B. Zoeller, Lester Whitcomb, John B. Wensingand a Detiege. Once again a drive for funds was begun and, since there were so few Catholic families, solicitations were made to Catholics and non-Catholics alike, Including the business places, as far away as Green Bay and Oconto. Each parish family was assessed $25 and house collecting. Then, as now, use was made of social affairs to swell the purse, including fairs, box parties, dances, wheel contests and chicken dinners. After nine months of canvassing,about $2,600 was raised and Charles Forestal and his sons of Oconto were contracted to begin construction. The cornerstone was laid with a single item - a gold piece - placed in it, and quarry stone was brought from Duck Creek for the foundation. Since the budget didn't allow for stained glass windows, plain glass panes were installed and paper designed as "stained glass" was placed over them. Lighting was provided by kerosene chandeliers purchased for the sum of $38, and the old box stove was transferred to the new building. On August 10, 1903, the new church was dedicated and 200 people came to share in the celebration and to enjoy the chicken dinner served by the women of the parish. Through the years that have passed since then, St. Pius Catholic church has undergone numerous changes and improvements. The first was the replacing of the box stove with a furnace a year or so after the dedication. The paper-covered window panes were replaced with genuine stained glass through a donation from Mrs. Frank Grosse. The kerosene lighting, however, remained part of the building until 1932. A parish hall became part of the church holdings in 1949 when the Methodist hall in Brookside was moved to the south of the church. While it might be appropriate to mention the names of those instrumental in bringing St. Pius church to where it is today, the risk is that some to whom credit is due might be inadvertently omitted. Suffice it to say that numerous descendants of the early builders still worship at St. Pius today. While this brief sketch of the Catholic history covers 118 years - from 1853 to the present - it should be noted that the observations of that faith, in Little Suamico, including baptism and catechizing, goes back to 1669 when Indians living there were converted by the Jesuit missionaries arriving from Canada. In light of this, Catholicism has been practiced on the shores of the Little Suamico River for over 300 years. (Note: Information for this article was taken, in large, from the Golden Jubilee booklet of St. Pius congregation.) Catholics began arriving as early as 1853 and were served, whenever possible, by the church in Duck Creek, 16 miles to the south. Members traveled either by board or on foot along the Indian trials through the woods. By the time of the Civil War, there were about a dozen Catholic families in the area, among them were Nelson Piouff, Lauer, Charles Detiege, Julian De Maiffe, Alois B. Zoeller, Leon, John Bergman, Moritz Rost, William Blazer and Felix Richard. As the number of families grew, they began to talk about building a church. In 1885 a petition was sent to the Bishop of Green Bay (many of the signers were non-Catholics), and a building fund of $1,000 was raised, but the program failed to go through. In 1888 plans to establish a Catholic church in Little Suamico were begun again. A great picnic was held with the Grosse band providing the music and people gathered from miles around to help their Catholic friends in their endeavor. In the winter of 1888 or at least by the following spring, the first Catholic church in the village was completed and named St. Leo’s. In 1895 the name was changed to St. Pius’s. This building served as a place of worship for 15 years. On August 10, 1903 a larger church was built in a more central location and remains as a place of worship today. Actually, it should be noted that the observations of the Catholic faith in this area goes back to 1669 with Indians living here were converted by the Jesuit missionaries arriving from Canada. Catholicism has been practiced on the shores of the Little Suamico river for over 300 years a congregation). (notes: The new church was built in 2007 when three smaller churches - St. Joseph Parish, St. Louis Parish and St. John Cantius Parish merged to form the new parish.) |