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Renovations
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Father Goldsmith recommended the purchase of the former First Ward School and began a Catholic elementary school in 1881. The School Sisters of Notre Dame of Milwaukee began a long tradition of educating students in this area. The school was enlarged in 1885 to include two new elementary school rooms and a spacious high school room. In the spring of 1894 the difficult problem of raising the Goldsmith Memorial Chapel ($2,200) was solved. The structure was completed in autumn and November 20, 1894, witnessed the solemn ceremony of transferring the remains to their last earthly abode. It was gratifying to note the generosity with which the various societies responded to the efforts of the pastor in his endeavor to beautify this tribute of gratitude to one who had done so much for them all. The Goldsmith Chapel has four stained glass windows in all in the Chapel; each represent on of four local Catholic organizations of the time: Saint John Baptiste Society, The Catholic Knights, the Rosary Society, and the Ancient Order of Hibernians. In 1887, the interior of the Church was renovated and carved chorister stalls were placed in the sanctuary.
From 1904-1906 more extensive improvements had been made. A pipe organ ($3,500) had been placed in the church; central heating plant, supplying with warmth, the church,
the school, the rectory and the convent, had been put in at an expenditure of $15,715 and a sanitary system in the
school for about $2,000. Also a new wing ($3,000) added to the school building; new furniture and apparatus ($2,800) put into
all the class rooms; the school-grounds once a sand pile, were made to grow grass and beautiful shade trees; two lots
were added to the school property and five acres to Hope Cemetery ($1,750).
Photos Courtesy of Chippewa Valley Historical Society Top |