The land for the church and cemetery consisting
of 5 acres was donated by Elijah K. Smith, an ear-
ly land dealer, in 1897.
The Church was built by the LaCrosse Diocese
of the Roman Catholic Church in 1898.
The first priest was Father James Schweback.
The last service was held in the church in 1918.
The building was sold and torn down in 1932.
In 1956 Frank Britten who lives 2 miles from the
church site became interested in restoring the
cemetery from the brush and weeds which had
claimed it. Markers were straightened and wooden
crosses marking grave sites were restored as was a
large wooden cross which was found in a decaying
condition. Since that time Frank has kept the
cemetery mowed and trimmed. Frank Britten

Iin.
Frank Britten at John Thomas Stone Marker

Mud Lake Indian Cemetery - 1897

NORTHLAND
FELLOWSHIP
As a result of a radio broadcast by Pastor Dale
Pederson over WWIB, telling of his work in
establishing  independent, nondenominational
churches, he received telephone calls from both
Ladysmith and Bruce from individuals who had
never met, both expressing interest in seeing this
type church in our community.
In early September of 1977, in response to these
telephone calls, Pastor Dale Pederson met with a
group of people interested in beginning such a
church. For the next few months irregular
meetings were held.
In November of 1977, lots which were located
midway between Bruce and Ladysmith were pur-
chased where the present building is now located.
Under the ministry of missionary Pastor Stan
Kliewer regular church    services began   on
December 4, 1977 at the Ladysmith Elementary
School. We met there until the summer of 1978.
At that time the Methodist Church very graciously
allowed us to share their facilities until our church

was ready to be used.
Ground breaking services were held on Sunday,
September 17, 1978. Actual construction began
with the digging of the basement on Thursday, Oc-
tober 12. Much hard work in very cold weather
followed. On Sunday, February 18 we moved into
the "new log church," though far from completion.
Pastor Stan Kliewer left us the end of April
1979 to begin a new church in Michigan. The last
Sunday of July 1979 Pastor Tom Clifford with his
family came to be our Pastor. The church was
dedicated on October 7, 1979.
The following poem was written by Mary Vali-
quette of Bruce, as the church was in progress:
THE LOG CHURCH
A cozy, little church was built
Was built on Highway 8,
The work on it was started
In Nineteen seventy eight.
The congregation very small,
With love and faith and care
And willingness to do the work
Is seldom seen elsewhere.
But men and women came each day
From morn to setting sun,
They even brought their lunches
And said the work was fun.
Every day they kept a wishing
To hold a service there,
What if the pews were not in place
They would sit on chairs.
And so they had their service
And what did they all care,
If the carpet had not yet been laid
And each one sat upon a chair.
So now some Sunday morning
When you go for a short ride,
Just stop at this small cozy church
And please do come inside.
You'll meet some happy people,
You'll hear a joyful song,
You'll hear a splendid sermon
That will help the whole week long.
God Bless the friendly little church of logs
And all who step inside,
And may good health and happiness
With each and all abide.
The charter members were: Lila Arnold, Louise
Butler, Charles Campbell, Marian Campbell,
Barbara Campbell, David Campbell, George
Dimzoff, Doris Dimzoff, Eleanor Granger,
Maurice Gustafson, Arlene Gustafson, Rev.
Stanley Kliever, Karen Kliever, Myrtle Lysdahl,
Richard Parker, Harriet Parker, Rick Parker,
Melodee Parker, Gary Parker, Francis Parker,
Ellen Parker, Levi Parker, Evelyn Parker, James
A. Parker, Martha Parker, Dr. Robert Simons,
Audrey Simons, Melvin Smith, Charlotte
Smith, Melonee Smith, Jon Smith, David
Smith, Duane Smith, Harvey Tallman, Irma
Tallman, Lawrence Wilder, Lavon Wilder.

Northland Fellowship Church

THE POLISH
NATIONAL
CHURCH
The church was established in 1939 in the town
of South Forks four miles north of the village of
Hawkins and a half mile east of county highway
M. Land was donated by Mrs. Mary Baron for the
building of the church.
The building is of wooden construction. It can
accommodate about 30 people. At present about
10 families make up the congregation. It doesn't
have a resident pastor, but a priest from Lublin,
Wisconsin holds services several times a year.
Philip Swentonoski
POLISH NATIONAL
CHURCH OF
HAWKINS
The Polish National Church (St. Marys) was
built in 1941. Mrs. Mary Boran donated an acre of
land on which to erect the building and Mr. Peter-
son and his men of Kennan constructed it. Before
the church was built the first Mass was said in
Joseph Maslowski's yard and the second one was
held in the little old schoolhouse which was being
used as a town hall. It stood by Bernice Kramer's
Store. Jake Blaskowski bought it later and it is still
being used as a grainary.
The first three priests to serve the church were
Father Palesiewski, Father Krysynski and Father
Piesienski. Later there were several other but the
last four were    Father Miesiewicz, Father
Falkowski, Father Krawicz and the present one,
Father Brzostowski.
The first organist was Father Palesiewski's wife,
the second, a man from Conrath and the third and
present organist is Sally Hucker of Thorpe,
Wisconsin.
John Pempek, Sr. built the two small altars
while living in Poiand. He brought them to this
country and following his death Mrs. Pempek gave
them to the church. The Bishop at that time was
Grokowski.
The first parishioners who donated toward the
church were Mr. and Mrs. Maslowski; Walter
Brzezenski and son, Walter; Mr. and Mrs. Raczek,
Mr. and Mrs. Gryga, Mrs. Mary Boran and Mike
Miezwa; Mr. and Mrs. John Mashuda, Mr. and
Mrs. John Kubicz, Mr. and Mrs. Wojtyna, Mr.
and Mrs. Gordalewski.
There were many others who came to Mass just
to hear the Polish hymns. Now both the Mass and
the hymns are given in Polish and English. Serv-
ices are now held once a month except during the
winter when there is none between the Christmas
and   the  Easter services. By     Christina
Tomaszewski
ST. MARY'S PARISH,
LADYSMITH,
WISCONSIN
(OUR LADY OF
SORROWS PARISH)
The beginning of the twentieth century was a
time of growth for the residents of Rusk County
and the town of Ladysmith. During this period of
rapid growth in the county, Ladysmith, Kennan
and Catawba were missions of the parish at Tony
which had been organized just before the turn of
the century. The    resident priest came   to
Ladysmith from Tony once a month to offer the
Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and to administer the
sacraments. Services were held in various locales,
including the Worden Opera House. Some of these
priests were Reverend Albert Wuchter, George
Pesch, Joseph Colling and Joseph Schell.