Up until and including 1875, the Catholic pioneers of Dane and vicinity had been members of St. Martin's congregation at Springfield, 12 miles away. Due to the distance, bad roads, and bad weather, it was often very difficult and sometimes, impossible for them to attend Sunday Mass and other services. Their children had been attending St. Martin's Parochial School and were forced to board out and stay with nearby families, which made it very inconvenient and difficult for both children and parents. Therefore in 1875, these people decided to organize a new parish of their own, in their community of Dane. They made an application to the Archbishop John Henni through their Priest, Jos. Dreis and were granted permission to organize a new parish.
A meeting was held with the Reverend Jos. Dreis, and it was unanimously agreed to elect George Albrecht and Andrew Derra as Trustees. They were given permission to arrange for the buying of a suitable location, and excavation and building of a new church, 36 x 80 feet. They bought a parcel of land from John Otto on an elevated location with a 300 ft. west frontage and depth of about 53 rods comprising of about 6 acres. The east 4 acres were reserved for a burial ground for them and their posterity, the remaining 2 acres at the front were reserved for building site for a Church, School, Parsonage, and a playground for the children.
The excavating was begun at once and after its completion, the cornerstone was laid on Sept. 2nd, on the northwest corner by the Bishop. Then the mason work of the basement was begun by Peter Hein and completed by Nov. 1. Theo Dresen began with the carpenter work and completed it during the winter, and after all the finishing touches were done, the Bishop dedicated the church and said the first Mass there about June 1, 1876, and we became a Mission Congregation to St. Martin's of Springfield, with the Reverend Jos. Dreis as our pastor. Those who followed in his steps are: H. Korfhagen, Geo. Trimberger, Carl Garthaus, M. M. Gerend, H. Reis, M. Graettinger, J. N. Schiltz, N. L. Freiman, G. A. Haeusler, Jas. Bittle, Chas. Eschueller, H. Waldhuch, and H. Langenfeld, and A. J. Reinel, our [then] current pastor.
In the fall of 1884, a new 2-story, 32 x 36 Parsonage was begun and completed the following spring. The Reverend H. B. Ries moved in about June 1. At the same time, we became an Independent Congregation with St. Patrick's of Lodi as a Mission. Our Congregation had 52 families and was placed under the protection of St. Michael as our Patron Saint. As I have previously stated, we had 52 member families, and as time has passed on, the congregation continued t grow, until today [1951] we have about 130 families. We don't claim to have the biggest parish, but we do have the right to feel a certain amount of pride in what our ancestors had begun. This parish has been very fortunate in having a successful and glorious list of Priests.
I think at this time, it would be appropriate to mention the names of our Pioneer Families: Geo. Albrecht, Andrew Derra, Peter Miller, Nick Lauer, John Kramp, Michael Clemens, John and Joseph Clemens, Michael Klass, Nick Endres, John Kurt, Adam Kurt, Peter Kurt, John Keichinger, Nick Miller, Peter Hein, John Hein, Math. Hein, John Lambert, Mich. Lambert, John Waschbusch, John Miller, Math. Wastinan, Math. Marls, Jos. Zeimet, Mich. Zeimet, Mich. Roland, Peter Koltes Sr., Peter Koltes, Nick Koltes, Nick Kramp, Leonard Little, John Hockstein, Jacob Clomes, Jos. Clomes, John Biwersie, Jos. Stitgen, John Hauser, Leonard Englehart, Luis Brings, Mich. Karls, Peter Kunz, Math. Lenz, John Lenz, Peter B. Miller, Mich. O'Dwyer, John Madigan, Tim Madigan, John Holoway, Anthony Carrol, Richard Terril, Dennis McCarthy, John Mohr. The majority of the above mentioned families have been laid to rest in our cemetery, and of them we say, "Let them rest in peace. Amen."
At the entrance to the cemetery, there is a life size crucifixion group with the body of Christ on the cross, with the statues of Mother Mary, St. John, Mary Magdalene at the foot of the cross. It certainly is a wonderful piece of work, which was imported from Italy and set up in it present place in 1940, as a donation from Jos. Koltes and Ambrose Koltes of Madison, and Barbara Schneider of Sauk City at an expense of $3,000.00. Thanks to you, Barbara, Joseph, and Ambrose, as we do appreciate our gift and good will.
As our membership steadily grew, our Church became too small, so an addition was added on the east end in 1888. At the same time, the whole church was somewhat rebuilt and modernized. in 1907, we became independent of our mission, and have tried to live up the accommodation of our congregation.
OUR SCHOOL: After the Church had been completed, the east half of the basement was arranged for a school, which was constructed by male teachers. They were John Mohr, Jos. Zeimet, Mich. Zeimet, and Jacob Schrodt from 1876 to 1889. Then the Sisters of St. Fancis were engaged and have conducted the school for the last 61 years. In the spring of 1905, a new 2-story brick school was built with living quarters in the rear for the Sisters. We have had since then a graded school, which is supervised by the Pastor and conducted by 3 teaching Sisters. At the present time, there is an enrollment of 80 pupils and prospects for more.
After the St. Michael Church had been completed, the east half of the basement was arranged for a school, which was constructed by male teachers. They were John Mohr, Jos. Zeimet, Mich. Zeimet, and Jacob Schrodt from 1876 to 1889. Then the Sisters of St. Fancis were engaged and have conducted the school for the last 61 years. In the spring of 1905, a new 2-story brick school was built with living quarters in the rear for the Sisters. We have had since then a graded school, which is supervised by the Pastor and conducted by 3 teaching Sisters. At the present time, there is an enrollment of 80 pupils and prospects for more.
The first Catholic Church in Lodi was built in 1857 under the direction of Rev. James Doyle and was officially named St. Kieran’s, but was popularly referred to as “The Church on the Sand." It was located about fives miles from the current St. Patrick’s Church, near the north town line on County Highway J. The wooden frame building measuring 20 x 40 feet could accommodate 100 worshipers. St. Kiernan catered mainly to Irish folk and was a mission of St. Mary in Portage. Services were discontinued in 1894 and the building was sold to Thomas Whalen. In 1885 Rev. Henry Ries, paster of St. Martin in Martinsville (Springfield Corners), organized another Catholic congregation in Lodi - St. Patrick. A church was built in that year on Fair Street on the lot that the rectory now stands. As St. Patrick parish took hold in Lodi, many Irish members of St. Kiernan joined the new church. Local German, Austrian and Bavarian Catholics who had been traveling to Dane or Roxbury to attend Mass also came on board. From these varied nationalities came the 25 founding families. In 1886, St. Patrick became a mission of St. Michael in Dane. By 1894, St. Kiernan dissolved. In 1898 the parish bought the three lots to the south of the church and in 1903 four additional lots. The church was moved to the east end of the present parking lot and the rectory built in 1907 by Guy Fellows with the interior designed and built by C.C. Menes. Finally, in 1907, St. Patrick received it first resident pastor, Rev. John Schlitz; eventually St. Patrick became the ministering church for missions at Merrimac and Poynette. The School Sisters of St. Francis, Schoenstatt Sisters and Dominican Sisters of Racine all served the parish, although a grade school was never built. In 1942, Redemptorist Fathers from Oconomowoc traveled to St. Patrick's every Sunday so two Masses could be held to serve the growing congregation. By 1945 three Masses were said on Sunday because of labor expansion at Badger Ordnance and to serve the German prisoners of war at a nearby prison camp. In 1964, the present St. Patrick Church was dedicated.