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History of St Hedwig's Parish. TheDiamontAnniversary1891-1966St.Hedwig'sCongregation, Thorp,WI,p.18-31. CAP at Orchard Lake.

Territorial DevelopmentSt.Hedwig'sCongregationestablishedin1891liesinthenorthwestsectionofClarkCountyintheTownshipsofThorp,Withee,WordenandReseburg.Beforethecomingofthefirstwhitesettlers,littleisknownoftheIndianhistoryofthisarea.Appar-entlythisterritorywasoccupiedbytheChippewa,Menomonie,Winnebago,andDakotaIndiansaroundthemiddleofthe17thcentury.AlltribalIndianclaimstoClarkCountylandswerecededin1837.However,individualIndianfamilies,werestillseenandlivedinsomepartsaslateastheearly1900's.Thesettlementanddevelopmentofthisareawasduetoitsvaststretchesoftimber,immediatelytributarytothegreatwaterways.Thetwolargest,theBlackRiverflowsnorthandsouth,whiletheEauClairebranches inthewestandflows intotheChippewaRiver.Originallyaboutone-fourthofClarkCountywascoveredwithwhitepineandthree-fourthswascoveredwithhardwoodandhemlock.ThistimberwassentdowntheBlackRivertoLaCrosseanddowntheEauClairebywayoftheChippewaRivertoWinonaandotherpoints.ThebesthardwoodwasinthetownshipswhicharelocatedthroughthemiddleandeasternpartsoftheCounty.SomewasfoundinthenorthernportionsofthetownsofWordenandReseburg.LargeforestsofhardwoodwerealsofoundintheTownsofThorpandWithee.Thesenortherntownshipsalsohadalargequantityofhemlock.TheoakbeltextendedfromthewestsideoftheBlackRiver,norththroughTaylorCounty.TheearlysettlerswhocameintothisareamovedupfromLaCrosseanduptheBlackRiverestablishingset-tlementsastheymovednorthward.From1853,whenthisareafirstbecameClarkCounty,andforthenextthirtyyears,thegreatnaturalwealthoftheCountywaspouredoutintothebosomofthestreams.ThusClarkCountyrapidlybecamealoggingCenter.TheEauClaireLumberCompanyhadsecuredextensiveholdingsoftractlandintheTownshipofThorpandWitheeinthe1860'sandintheTownshipsofWordenandReseburginthe1870's.TwomileseastofthepresentcountrychurchofSt.Hedwigs,theSterlingLumberMillestablishedin1888wasoneofthelargestlumbercompaniesandemployedover200people.Themillsbecamemorecommonwiththeincreaseofrail¬roadtransportationfacilitiesabout1880,namely,theWisconsinCentralR.R.nowknownastheSooLine.Whenthepinehadbeguntodis-appear,thehardwoodsituationbegantooccupyanincreasinglyimportantplaceintheindustriallifeofthisarea,andanumberofhead,stave,andboxfactorieswerebuilt.MoreandmorepeoplebegantosettleintheareaastheRailroadwasadirectlinkwithlargerurbanareas.Someofthe

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hardwoodwasusedinmakingcharcoalandcoketobeshippednorthforuseintheironfurnaces.OnesuchcharcoalpitoperatedinThorp.ThecityofThorpbeganabout1872whenJ.S.Boardmanbuiltalogshantyonthesoutheastquarterofsection30.E.A.andJ.S.Boardmanlivedtogetherinthisshelter,whileJ.S.Boardmanbuiltaloghouseonthesiteofthepresentpublicschool.In1873morelogcabinsbegantospringupasmoresettlersmadetheirhomesinwhatisnowknownasthecityofThorp.In1873thestorkbroughtitsfirstwhitebabytothelittletowninthewilder-ness.Mr.&Mrs.E.A.Boardmanbecametheparentsofalittlegirl.In1874thefirstschoolwasbuiltforthechildrenandMrs.AlmedaEdmundsofBlackRiverwastheteacher.ThissameyearthefirstpostofficewasopenedonthefarmofB.J.Brown,whowasalsothepostmaster.OnJanuary21,1876,thecountyboardorganizedthetownshipofThorp.ThefirsttownelectionwasheldonApril4,1876,and29voteswerecast.Itmustbenotedhere,thatthecommunitywasnotknownasThorpatthistimebutas"Northfork"becauseoftheriver.Slowlythecommunitybegantoexpand,storeswereerected,thefirstillicitsaloonwasestablishedaboutthistime,andaboxcarservedasthefirstdepot.By1881anewdepotwasbuilt.In1881alsothecommunityreceiveditspresentnameas"Thorp."AsCircuitpreachersmadetheirroundsthroughtheareasandbroughtreligiontothepeople,theFirstBaptistChurchwaserectedin1882.VisitingpriestsfromothercommunitiesmadetheirroundstotakecareoftheCatholicpopulationinThorpandin1885asmallwoodenchurch,namedSt.BernardswaserectedtocarefortheCatholicpopulation.Eventually,townshipaftertownshipwasdenuded,leavinginthetrackoftheloggersrottingstumps,deadtimber,brush,rubbish,andstandingtreesthatwereunsuitable forthe loggingpurposes.Theloggerswouldcomeinfallandleaveinthespring,takingtheirwageswiththem.Therewasacertaintythatthetimewasnotfardistantwhenallthebestlandwouldbepreempted,andthiscausedanumberofhomeseekerstoconsidertheprospectofestablishingfarmsamidtheforestsofClarkCounty.Individualssecuredsmalltractsof landinthetownofThorpinthelate1860'sandinthetownofWitheeinthe1870'sand1880's.OnesuchlandgrantintheTownofWitheenearthelocationofSt.Hedwig'sChurchwasgrantedtoJosephDelandin1873andtoaCharlesD.Gilmorein1872.Themenwhohadestablishedtheir littlehomes inthewildernessplanned,firsttowork inthewoodsinthewintermonths,anddevotethesummertogradualclearingandthedevelopmentoffarms.However,withthegradualclosingoftheloggingoperationsinthelate1890's,manyfoundthemselveswithoutmoney,andresourceswith^theirprospectivefarmlandstillunlearned.Hardtimesdevelopedandmanyforeclosuresonthelandweremade,somuchsothatmanyleft,whileothersstruggledonhopingforbetterdays.Manyofthepioneersthatremained,turnedtheirat-tentionmoreandmoretoagricultureanddairying.Thesoilwherethetimberhadbeencutoffwasadmirablyadaptedforthispurpose.W.R.McCucheon,thetownclerkoftheTownofWitheefurnishesuswiththefollowingcensusstatisticsasappearsintheThorpCourierEditionofJuly17,1885:"Wholenumberofmales,279;females170;totalpopulation,449;numberofmalesfitformilitaryduty,198."

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POLISH SETTLERSAbout1885landspeculatorsbegantoappearonthescene,purchasingacreuponacrefromthelumbercompaniesandinturnsellingitatafairpricetoPolishimmigrants,whowereleavingtheirnativecountrybecauseoftheunbearableconditionsabroad.ThesepeoplefirstmigratedintothebigcitiesofAmericalookingforbetterlivesandconditions.Theywerecontactedbythelandownerswhoencouragedthemtobuyfortyacresoflandandpromisedthemalucrativelife.ManyofthePolesandLithuanianssettledincitieslikeBuffalo, Philadelphia, Chicago andMilwaukee.Manytimes theypurchasedparcels of landthroughnewspaperadds.Neverhavingseentheland,theyarrivedintheTownofWitheeareaandfounddenudedlandfarfrombeingreadyforfarming.Itwasonlythroughhardlaborandsweatthattheywereabletopreparearableland.ThePolesbytraditionwerealwaysdevotedandloyalCatholics.Wherevertheysettled,theyim-mediatelybuiltachurchforworship.Usually,aPolishpriestfromnativePolandwouldarriveandactastheirshepherd.ThefirstPolishsettlementasrecordedbyFredL.Holmesinhis"OldWorldWisconsin,"wasestablishedinTexas,whilethefirstinnorthernWisconsinwasPolonia,WisconsininPortageCountyin1857.TheoldestPolishChurchinWisconsinstillstandsinthatcommunity.ThePolesastheymigratedtonorthernWisconsinbecamefarmers.Theyprosperedasmenofthesoil,whereothershadfailed.SixfamilieswerethefirsttosettleinPolonia.RecordsareveryscarceforestablishingthefirstPoletosettleintheTownshipofWitheewhereSt.Hedwig'sChurchislocated.Whatevidencethewriterhaswasgatheredfrominterviewswitholdsettlersoftheareawhostillarealiveorpassedintoeternityduring1967.ItseemsthatValentineMaleckiwasthefirstknownPoletoarriveintheThorpareaintheyear1888.Hisfirsttripwasonlytopurchasesomelandinthearea.HereturnedtoNorthernMichiganwhereheworkedasalogger,butwhenhisfamilyjoinedhimintheyear1888,hefinallysettledinThorp.Hisdaughter,Mrs.ElsieRoytekwhojustpassedaway,recallstheearlydays.PaulandJohnZwolinskiaboutthistimehadalreadybuilttheirlogshanty,sotheMakeckifamilylivedwiththemuntiltheirowncabinwascomplete.EitheroneortheothercouldberecognizedasthefirstPol¬ishsettlersintheThorp,Witheearea.WithintheradiusofthebigsawmilllocatedatwhatwasthenknownasSterling,theloggingoper-ationsweredrawingtoanendabouttheyear1890.Polishlandagents,Mr.FelixL.PiotrowiczandMr.E.I.SlupskiofMilwaukeebeganpurchasingthelandfromthemill.Theydivideditinto40acrefarmsandsoldthemtothePoleswithpromisestoestablishaPolishsettlementintheThorparea,knownasPosen.OriginallyPosenwastobeestablishedonthesitewheretheLombardCheeseFactorystands.AdvertisinginPolishnewspapersthroughoutthePolishsettlementspaidoff.Fam-iliesofPolesandLithuaniansbeganmigratingintotheTownshipsofThorpandWithee.BernardDeniszkiewicz,FeliksMikolainis,andMartinGrobackiarrivedin1889tojoinMaleckiandotherPolesinthearea.FeliksMikolainiswasthefirstLithuanianNationaltosettleintheTownshipofWithee.TheThorpCourierintheMarch20,1890issuereportsthefollowingfamiliesarriving:"AntonDz-iurzynski,AlexanderKoubsha,ValentineKulig,FlorianAnyzewski,andThomasStrugula."AntonBalcerwasalsosettledinthisterritoryatthetime.By1891thelocalpaperreportedthereweremanyPolishandLithuanianfamiliessettledinthewoods,northeastofthecityofThorp.

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ST. HEDWIG'S CHURCHByJune1891,itwasdecidedtochangethelocationofthenewPolishChurchfromSterlingtoapointtwomileseastoftheThorpVillage.ThisisthesiteonwhichSt.Hedwig'sChurchstandstoday.InthemonthofJunethepeoplebeganbuildingtheirfirstlittlewoodenchurchinorderthattheymightworshipGodastheyweretrainedintheirnativecountry.Thetimberwasdonatedbythemillandallthemenwhowantedthechurch,workedveryhardtocompleteit.BySeptemberof1891,theChurchwascompletetothejoyofoftheCatholics.OnSunday,September27,1891thePolishandLithuanianCatholicChurchwasdedicatedbyFatherConstantineFrydrychowicz,whowaspastorofSt.BartholomewChurch,MillCreek,PortageCounty,Wisconsin.Servicesbeganat9:30a.m.withthewholecongregationgatheredintheirbestclothestowitnessthisgreatevent.FatherFrydrychowiczdedicatedthechurchandpreachedthesermonbothinPolishandGermanbecauseguestsofbothnationalitieswerepresent.MissGorman,amusicteacherfromNeillsvilleplayedtheorgananddirectedthechoir.OtherswhoassistedinthiseventwereMr.&Mrs.Wiltgen,Mr.&Mrs.L.H.McGuireandMr.R.A.Winter.Afterthededicationandblessingofthechurch,FatherFrydrychowiczwasappointedbytheMostRev.Schwebach,BishopofLaCrosseDiocese,astheadministratoroftheparish.Thedreamoftheimmigrantswasareality.MoreandmorePolishandLithuaniansettlerskeptarrivingintothearea,whileMr.PiotrowiczandMr.SłupeckicontinuedmakingvisitstothevillagefromMilwaukee.Thepeopleworkedhardtobuildacommunityofsubstantialloghouses.Onemustacknowledgeherethatthepioneerpriestsofthosedaysweregreatmissionaries,whotravelledgreatdistancestoservepeopleinareaswheretherewerenopriests.Ittookmuchcourageandzealforthefaithtoaccomplishsuchthings.ThePoleswereneverneglectedbytheirnativepriests,whomigratedintoAmericatogetherwiththepeopleinordertoservethembyofferingthemtheteachingofChrist.Itwasthroughtheireffortsthatsomanybeautifulchurcheswerebuilt.Itmusthavebeendifficulttotraveloverwildareasbyhorse,horseandbuggy,orrideinthecabooseofthefreighttraininordertobringtheCatholicFaithtothepeople.AboutOctober1891,dissensionbrokeoutinPosenbetweenthepastorandsomeofthepeopleoftheparish.Thefirstdisagreementwasoverthevoteonwhattonamethenewchurch.Somepeoplewantedthenametobe"AllSaints"whileotherswishedtonameit"St.Hedwigs."ThemajorityvotedtonameitSt.HedwigsinhonorofthePolishQueenandsaint.PiotrowiczwashappythatthechurchwasnamedafterthesaintlyQueen.AseriousdisagreementarosealsoatthistimebetweenFatherFrydrychowiczandthelandagents,PiotrowiczandSłupecki.Onemustunderstandthetimesandconditionsofthatperiod.NationalismwasprevalentintheUnitedStates.TherewerebattlesanddivisionbetweenPolishOrganizationsinAmericaanddivisionamongtheclergyandPolishnewspapers.AtthistimebecauseofthemanypolesinWisconsin,someofthePolishClergydemandedfromRomeaPolishBishop.Astheclergyargued,thePolishpeoplealsobegantotakesides.CommunicationwasonlythroughPolishnews-papers;editorswouldnotgivethefacts,spreadingerrorandrumors,whichbroughtondissension.MostBishopsintheUnitedStateswereofGermanandIrishextractionanddidnotunderstandthebattlebecauseoflanguagedifficultiesandfrequentlyhadfactsmisrepresentedtothem.OnecanreadilyseewhytherewasalsodissensionanddisagreementinPosen.

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ItwouldseemthatFatherFrydrychowiczwasnotwelllikedbecausefromthewritingsoflaypeo-plehewasblamedforthedissensionthataroseinSt.Hedwigs.Maythereaderjudgeforhimself.Thewritercanunderstandhoweasilyasituationcandevelopwhenthepriesttravelsandvisitsamissiononoccasionsandlistenstotheproblemsofhispeoplewithouttimeforinvestigationandverification,andtriesmanytimestodefendhispeople,onlytofindthathebuildsupmoreenemies.ThefollowingarticleappearedintheOctober29,1891(Vol.VIII,No.51)editionoftheThorpCourier:"FelixL.PiotrowiczofthelandfirmofSłupecki&Co.ofMilwaukee,whohasbeenlocatingsettlersonN-WL.Co'slandinthisvicinitythepastyear,wasarrestedhereonFridaylastattheinstanceofaPolandernamedStanislausNadolny,towhomMr.PiotrowiczhassoldsomelandinJulylast,claimingthathehadboughtthelandwiththeunderstandingthatallthetimberleftonthelandshouldbelongtohim,butthatnowN-WL.Co.stepsupandclaimsallthemerchantabletimber.Mr.PiotrowiczappearedbeforeJusticeMarshthesamedayofhisarrestandhisexamina-tionwassetforNovember2,hisbailbeingplacedat$500.00.HisbailwasimmediatelysecuredbytheregisterofdeedsWilliamZassenhaussigningthebondandMr.Piotrowiczreturnedherethesameday.TheCourierhasnoparticularinterestinthismatterastothemannerinwhichMessrs.PiotrowiczandSłupeckihavebeendoingbusiness,butitseemsthatRev.C.Frydrychowicz,theCatholicpriestlocatedatEdsonwhoalsohaschargeofSt.Hedwig'scongregationhere,hasbeeninstrumentalinmakingthisarrestandalsocausingtheinsertionofslanderousliesin"Wiarus"aPolishPaperpublishedatWinona,Minn,whichstatesthatMessrs.PiotrowiczandSłupeckihavebeenfleecingallnewcomershereoftheirhardearneddollarsandsendingthemadriftpenniless.Furtheritstatesthereareatthistime250Polishfamiliesinadestituteandstarvingconditioninthisvicinity,manyofthembeggingforbreadtosustainlife.Thisisoneofthemoststupendousstoriesheardof,asthereisnotawordoftruthintheboldassertion.Thepriestfurtherstatesthatthelandsoldthesepeopleisofpoorqualityandunfitforcultivation,alsoclaiminggrossmisrep-resentationonthepartofMessrs.PiotrowiczandSłupeckiinsellingthislandtothesettlers,whenthefactsarethatthelandisnearlyalluptotheaverageinthiscounty,andisgood,tillablesoil,isnearlyallsoldoncontracts,allofwhichreadalike,andtheabovenamedsettlerwhohadthewarrantissuedforMr.Piotrowicz,hadhiscontract3weeksbeforeheaffixedhissignatureandreturnedit.Messrs.PiotrowiczandSłupeckidenyanywrongdoingontheirpartandlefthereonSundayeveningforWinonatofullyinvestigatetheaffairandsecuresatisfaction."IntheNovember5th,1891editionoftheThorpCourier,adispatchfromNeillsvillestatesthatPiotrowiczandSłupeckiwereexoneratedandchargesbyMr.Nadolniweredropped.ThetrialofSłupecki&Co.vs.thePolishPaper,"Wiarus"ofWinonaatwhichtimeaMr.Derclowskiwasincharge,endedinadeadlockasthejurycouldnotcometoanyconclusion.TheLandagentscontinuedtosettlemanyPolesinthearea,butintheyear1895,June5,theydissolvedtheirpartnership.PiotrowiczoperatedindependentlyasdidMr.Słu¬peckiwithlittletroublebetweenthemandFatherFrydrychowicz,asthepastorofSt.HedwigswastransferredtoNorthCreekthatsameyear.Toclosetheissueandunbiaslyallowthereadertopassjudgmentontheaffair,thatleftsomuchdissensionandbitternessbetweenthepeopleandthepriestwhichlastedformany,manyyearstocome,thefollowingisquotedintheOctober8,1896issueoftheThorpCourier,referringtotheMilwaukeeSentinelandMilwaukeeJournalarticles.

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"Słupeckivictimstosue:ThevictimsofEdwardI.Słupecki,majorofthe4thregiment,Wis-consinNationalGuard,whodisappearedshortlyaftertheannualencampmentatCampDouglas,haveengagedanattorney…Słupecki,itisclaimed,advertisedhimselfasamoneyloaner,andadvancedvarioussumsonthehomesofhisclients,andsecuredmortgag-esthereon.Heinformedthemthattheycouldrepaythesumsloanedthemininstallmentsandhavetheamountsoftheirpaymentsdeductedfromtheprincipal,thusstoppingtheinterest.Mr.Slupecki'sclientswerenotfamiliarwithbusinessprinciples,andmanyofthemcouldneitherreadnorwrite.Itisthetheoryofattorneyshavingthematterinchargethatheappropriatedtheprincipalpartoftheinstall¬mentspaid,merelypayingtheinterestdueonthemoneywhichhehadhimselfborrowedoffotherloanagents...ThecomplainantsintheactionstobebroughtareMichaelSchultz,whoborrowed$850.00throughSłupeckionhishomesteadandhassincepaid$650.00forwhichhereceivednocredit;FrankJagodziński,whoborrowed$1,000andhasreducedit$400withoutreceivingcredit;JohnDolny,whoborrowed$750andhaspaid$175withoutcredit;andPaulinePrytyeski,whoborrowed$550andhaspaid$350withoutcredit...Thereareanumberothercaseswhichhavenotyetfoundtheirwayintothehandsoflawyers.TheprincipalpartofthemoneyloanedbySłupeckiwasobtainedbyhimfromMilbrethandCo...MilwaukeeSentinel."

ThorpCourierEdition,Vol.XIII,Oct.29,1896,statesthefollowing:"EdwardISłupecki,theSouthSiderealestatedealerwhosesuddendisappearanceabout2monthsagocausedmuchcomment,hassafelyarrivedinJohannesburg,Transvaal,SouthAfrica...Hisaffairsaretobestraightenedup,itisclaimedassoonaspossible,anditisbelievedthattherewillbeleftamarginforthewifeafterallthepropertyhasbeensoldanddebtspaid.Thedebtsincludeabout$2,000whichhereceivedonmortgages...MilwaukeeJournal."

Asfarasthiswriterknows,Mr.Piotrowiczwasnotinvolved,forhecontinuedtosettlePolesinthearea.Itwasaperiodofturbulenceandenvythatcreatedmuchofthedifficultybetweenthepriestandpeople.OnemustunderstandthecharacterofthePolestobetterunderstandthebehaviorofthepeopleofPosen.Duringthoseearlydaysofdissensionthelandagentswhohadsympa-theticfriendsinPosen,encouragedadelegationwithpetitionsandcomplaintstogototheMostRev.BishopSchwebachoftheDioceseofLaCrosse.Asoftenisthecase,theBishopinvestigatedthecomplaintsanddefendedhispriest.WhenFatherFrydrychowiczreceivedhisletterfromtheBishopofthechargeswiththesignaturesofthepetitioners,hewasverydisturbedinheartandsoul.Hecouldn'tbelievethathisdefenseofthepeoplewhocouldreadandwritebutlittle,wouldbringsomuchunhappinesstohim.Hefeltveryhurtandoftenwouldrepeathisheartbreaksinhissermons.ThissoantagonizedmanyofthepeoplewhowereagainstFather,thattheywalkedoutofthechurch.Onecaneasilyunderstandthesituationfromthestandpointofthepriest,whotriesinbehalfofpeople,onlytofindasChristdid,thathisownwouldnotreceivehim.ThefirstBaptismrecordedintheBaptismalBookbyFatherFrydrychowicztookplaceonthe27thofSeptember1891.Twoinfantswerebaptized,namelyPeterSzczok,sonofJohnSzczokandMarianPolanaszek,andJohnHoffman,sonofJohnHoffmanandEvaWycznska.Peterwasbornthe17thofJune,1891andhissponsorswereFelixPiotrowiczandFrancesBalcerJohnwasbornJuly12,1891andhissponsorswereStanislausNadolnyandRosalieJaskowiak.FatherConstantineFrydrychowiczbaptizedbothinfants.ThesecondbaptismtookplaceontheOctobervisitofthepriest,namely,

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Oct.25,1891.HebaptizedEdwardSzubert,thesonofStephenSzubertandAntoninaGlamkowski,thesponsorsbeingLouisGlamkowskiandAgnesKotecki.ThefirstmarriagerecordedinthebooksofSt.HedwigswasbetweenGeorgeKozlowski,sonofThomasKozlowskiandAgnesGuzik,daughterof JacobandReginaGuzik; thewitnessesbeingFrancisBanasandAnnaKalinowski.TheweddingtookplaceonNov.25th,1891.ThefirstrecordedfuneraltookplaceunderthepastorshipofFatherJachminiak.ForthefirstwoodenchurchofSt.Hedwig’sfurnishingsweredonatedasfollows:Messrs.Piotro-wiczandSlupeckigavethenewparishonewhitechasuble,oneMassChalice,andaholywatersprinkler.FatherFrydrychowiczpurchasedwhite,purple,green,andblackchasubles.Mr.Smogurdonated$20.00fortheblackchasuble,theRosarySocietypaidforthepurple;JohnKaczynskiforthewhite,andtheparishboughtthegreen.Wheninthesummerof1893,FatherFrydrychowiczdeclinedwiththepermissionoftheMostRev.BishoptoattendSt.Hedwigs,hewastransferredinSeptemberofthatyeartoaPolishParishinNorthCreek.FatherFrancisJachminiakreplacedhiminSt.Bartholomew'sChurch,MillCreekandHisExcellencyappointedFatherJachminiakasadministratorofSt.Hedwig'sChurchinPosen.FatherFranciswouldholdservicesinhisMissiontwiceamonth,comingeitherbytrainorbyhorseandbuggy.ItwouldseemthatFatherJachminiakcouldhandlethesituationwellinPosentemporarilyastheauthoroftheHistoryofSt.Hedwigsrelates:"Nowamomentofpeaceandjoyprevailedintheparish.Unityandorderwererestored."(translatedfromPolishbyRev.E.A.Masalewicz.Withunityreigningintheparish,thepeoplecouldnowadvanceforwardintheirgrowthoffaith,traditions,andchurchinstitutions.Yetfortunewouldnothaveitso.Aswewillseetrivialthingscansometimesgrowintolargeantagonisms,thatchangethecourseofevents.UnfortunatelyFatherJachminiakwasavictimofthetimesinPosen.Father'sfirstactionwastocallameetingoftheParishandlayplansfortheoperationofthein-stitution.Hisintentionsweresincere.Hewasayoungandzealouspriest,justordained.AparishSecretaryandTreasurerwerelegallyelected.Itwasagreedthattosupporttheyoungparisheachfamilywouldpay$6.00ayearfortheoperationandmainte¬nanceofthechurch.Polishfamiliescontinuedtosettleinthearea,togetherwiththoseofLithuanianextraction.Mr.RosholfromEauClaireadvertisedlandintheTownshipofWithee,andmanymorePolesheededhiscallandsettledinthenorthwestarea.Astheinfluxofemigrantsgrew,andaseconomicallythetimeswerebadduetotheconditionofthefarmlands,anyjobwasworththeeffort.Bywayofpassing,Mr.JohnSlota,ayoungPolishgentlemanwasaddedtotheforceofclerksattheGarrison'sMercantileCompany'sStoreinThorp.Duetolanguagedifficulties,thePolesdecidedtoboycottthestoresinThorp.Inordertoavoidfrictionwiththeruralemigrants,Mr.SlotawasnamedtothispositioninSeptemberof1892.InDecemberof1892,Mr.PeterPrzybylskiwasappointeddutyclerkinWiley'sStoreinthevillage.Abouttheyear1895,FatherJachminiakwasangeredbyagroupofdissenters(krzykacze,asde-scribedbythewriteroftheoriginalparishhistory),ofwhomtherewerefewinnumber.Itdoesn'ttakemanytocreatetrouble.Theunderly¬ingantagonismscreatedintheearlydaysoftheparishcametolifeagain.Thistime,thecausefordissentwas"whoisgoingtoruletheparish."Acertain

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vagabondarrivedinthearea,posingasanorganistandseekingaposition.Sincetheparishcouldnotaffordanorganistandserviceswereonlyheldtwiceamonth,Fatherandthemajorityoftheparishdecidedagainsthiringanorganist.TheminoritygroupwouldnotacceptthedecisionandreasonsgivenbythePastor,calledaspecialmeetingonthestepsofthechurch.TheychosetheirownPresidentandcalledhimthe"chairman"andunanimouslyagreedtohirethe"socalled"or-ganist.ThelegitimatetrusteeselectedbytheParishatthefirstannualmeetingwerenotpresent.TheelectedtrusteeswereBenedictZawacki,treasurer,andMr.ValentinePrzybylski,thesecretary.TheillegitimatechairmanorderedMr.ZawackiandMr.Przybylskitoberemovedfromtheiroffic-esandreplacedwiththeirownappointees.AstheauthoroftheoriginalhistoryofSt.Hedwig’sstates:"Heretheweaknessofhumannaturedevelopsintononsense"(translatedfromPolishbyE.A.M.).NowcamethedemandfortheParishBooks.Therequestwasrefusedbythelegitimatetrusteeswhousingtheircommonsense,sentthebookstoFatherJachminiakinMillCreekanddescribedthesituationtohim.Thatsamenightataverylatehour,FatherJachminiakarrivedatPosentomoderatethesituation.InthemorningwhentheparishionersgatheredfortheSacrificeoftheMassattheusualhour,theorganisttookhisplaceattheorgan,withouttheknowledgeofthepriest.AsFatherJachminiakenteredthesanctuaryfromthesacristy,theorganistbegantoplaythePastorfeelingtherevoltagainstauthorityandthewishesofthemajorityofthepeople,didnotbeginHolyMass,butre-turnedtotheSacristy.Heremovedhisvestments,enteredthesanctuaryagainandaddressedthepeople.Pleadingwiththemforunity,withnoresponse,hefinallyannouncedtothecongregation:"Mychildren,therewillbenoMasstoday;ithurtsmedeeplythatamongyouexiststhisdarkness"andleftthechurch,returningimmediatelytoMillCreek.Onewouldthinkthatthepleawouldbringasemblanceofthoughtandunity.Thiswasnotthecase.Itgrewintosomethingmuchgreater,bringingoutintotheopenthebit-ternessandantag-onismthatexistedintheparish.Soonthedissenters,socalledrulers,demandedtheParishBooksfromFatherJachminiak,whorefusedunderanyconditionstogiveupthepropertyoftheparish.Itisunfortunatewhatstub-bornesscando.Theprocessofpubliclawwascalledintotheaffairbytheillegaltrustees.JusticeBurkeofThorppresidedatthehearing.ThewholecasecenteredaroundChurchCanonLaw,authorityoftheBishop,andthepastor.ThecourtdeclaredthatsinceitwasnottheofficialannualmeetingcalledbythePresidentoftheParish,namelyFatherFrancisJachminiak,andsincethepastor,himselfwasnotpresent,theillegaltrust-eeshadnorighttodemandtheparishbooksastheyhadnoauthority.Thecasewasclosed.AsthewriteroftheoriginalhistoryofSt.Hedwigsconcluded:"Justicetriumphedovernonsense."Thegroupofdissentersweresoangeredatthelossoftheircase,thattheyleftSt.Hedwig'sParishandbuilttheirownIndependentChurch,twomileseastofthemotherchurch,whatisnowthepropertyofMr.Hoffman,thetownchairman.

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THE POLISH INDEPENDENT CHURCHWhatbeganwithalittlemisunderstandingturnedintoaschismwhichstillexiststothepresentdayinthearea.Manyreasonsmayhavetheirvalidityfortheriseandgrowthoftheschism.Intheopinionofthewriter,theprimarycausecouldhavebeentheturbulentperiodofnationalism,ignorance,thenewlifeinthiscountry,theantagonismtowardstheclergyduetothefeudalsysteminPolandaswellasthelanguagedifficulties.ThedissentersfirstmetattheValentineMaleckilogcabinasrecalledbythedaughterElsie.Mrs.Maleckiwasveryhurtwiththewholeidea,buttheplightofwomeninthosedayswassubmissioncompletelytothewillofthehusband.Thedaugh-terrelatesthefrequentprayersofthemothertoreturntoSt.Hedwig'sChurch,prayersthatwereansweredinlateryears,asthemotherandchildrenreturnedtothetruechurch.Thesmallgroupofabout25familiesfinallybuiltasmallwoodenchurch.TheypetitionedtheMostRev.SchwebachtomakethisaCatholicParishandsendthemapriest.EveninthosedaysitwasnotlogicalfortheBishoptoaccedetotheirwisheswithSt.Hedwig'sChurch,amissionatthetime,onlytwomilesaway.AngeredattheunwillingnessoftheBishoptoworkintheirfavor,theyfinallybuiltasmallwoodenchurch,twomileseastofthepresentSt.Hedwig'scountrychurch,onthelandthatnowbelongstotheHoffmanfamily.Fortwoyearstheytrieddesperatelytolocateapriestbutfailed.Inthemeantime,aMr.GlishandMr.FeliksMikolainiscarriedonthe"worshipservice."FinallyonMay30,1897theybecameknownasan"IndependentChurch."ThefirstPresidentofthegroupwasPhilipJasinski,secretary,JohnKurtinaitis;treasurer,FeliksMikolainis.Thelittlepar-ishwasfirstnamed"AllSaintsRomanCatholicChurch"butlaterbecame"AllSaintsIndependentChurch."LandforthechurchwasdonatedbyAntonMalinowskitotheamountoftwoacres.ThefollowingwerethefirstparishionersofthePolishIndependentChurch:JohnGlish,PhilipJasinski,AntonRaczykowski,JosephBogumil,AntonMalinowski,ValentineMalecki,MikeMarcinkowski,JohnGrajkowski,JosephPrymas,JohnGurbacki,LeonPraw"ineski,PaulPolanaszek,FrankNowo-bielski,FrankZwolinski,ClementHolaburda,JosephGaska,L.Glamkowski,FelixMikolainis,JosephRyterski,Marcely Karpinski, John Zuzelski,AntonPendriegalski, FrankPastemacki, PeterGlysz,JulianFijalkowski, JacobBiskupski, JulianLuzinski, (informationreceivedfromMr.Hucker fromtheoriginalbooksoftheIndependentchurch).FortunatelywiththegraceofGodandthemanyprayersoffamilies,manyofthesereturnedtotheoriginalandmotherchurch,St.Hedwigsby1909.ThefirstBishopofthischurchwasAntonKozlowski,ofChicago,thefirstpriesttovisitthechurchwasVincentZaleskiofthePolishNationalChurch.TheThorpCourierearlyeditionsrecordweddingsandfuneralsthattookplacefromthischurch.TheIndependentsalsohadtheirowncemeterywhichstillexistswestoftheTedPapierniakfarm.Onemaystillreadthetombstonesthatstandthere.Mr.Huckerwhohasafarmnearby,caresforthiscemetery.Mr.ValentineMateckiisburiedonthiscemetery.TheIndependentchurchrandancesandothereventstoraisemoneyforitssupport.DuringtheweekofNov.25,1897theThorpCourierreports:"about$35beingrealizedbythelargeattendance"at a dance.AtthistimealsoitisworthmentioningasquotedintheApril26,1900editionoftheThorpCourier,"acelebrationinhonorofanancientpersonagenamedPusias,whopreachedtotheLithuaniansover2000yearsagowasheldatthehomeofFelixMikolanisintheTownofWitheeonSundaylast.Speeches,declamations,dancing,singingandasocialdinnerwastheorderandenjoyedby

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allpresent."Thepapercontinued:"Theattendancewasabout30persons."OnecangatherfromthisnewsitemthattheLithuaniancommunitywasstrongandenjoyedtheirtraditionalandnativecustomsinthenewland.Asmanypeoplewhotemporarily leftSt.Hedwigs,begantoreturntotheirmotherchurch,thefundsandsupportoftheIndependentChurchdecreasedanditwasdifficulttomaintainit.By1925thechurchandrectoryweremovedtotheLeneskifarmatSterlingCorners,whereitwasusedforagranary.In1940thebuildingsburnedtotheground.AboutthistimeSt.Mary'sPolishNationalChurchinLublinbeganitsoperationasthehandfulofmembersfromthisareabecamemembersoftheLublinchurch.SmallreligiousarticlesweretakenbyRev.KlostoWashington,Pennsylvania,whiletheorgan,pewsandbooksweremovedtoSt.Mary'sPolishNationalChurchinLublin,Wisconsin.Oneelderlyperson,whotodayisdeceased,toldtheauthorthatmanyofthefamiliesthatjoinedtheIndependentChurchreturnedquicklytoSt.Hedwig'sChurchin1897becausetheywereshockedandhorrifiedatasermonpreachedbyavisitingpriestfromChicagoattheNationalChurch.ThepreachercondenmedtheCatholicChurchbyscreaming:"PreczzRzymem-AwaywiththeCatholicChurchofRome."ManyofthepeoplecouldnothavetheirheartandsoulinachurchthatwascondemningtheCatholicChurchtheylovedsomuch.Onlyonethingremainedforthem,namelytoreconcilewiththetruechurch.Meantimeasthesplitdevelopedin1895,FatherJachminiakcontinuedtoattendtheneedsofSt.Hedwig'sParishandofferingthesacrificeoftheMassandotherservicestwicemonthly.Duringhisadministrationthefirstrecordedburialinthebookstookplaceattheparishchurchandcemetery.OnMarch1,1894HolyMasswasofferedforthereposeofSte-phenRutkowskiandburialtookplaceatSt.Hedwig'sCemetery.OnJuly25thofthesameyear,AnnaMoronczykdiedattheageof38andwasburiedJuly28thinthenewcemetery.OnDecember1st,38yearoldMichaelDeniszkiewicz,killedbyafallingtreewasburiedbyFatherJachminiak.InMarchof1896,FatherJachminiak,whoforalmostthreeyearsservedSt.Hedwig'sParish,wasrelievedofhisdutiessadanddisappointed.HewassucceededbyFatherConstantineFrydrychowiczaspastorofSt.Hedwigs.TheparishlostitsstatusasamissionandnowofficiallybecameaParishwith a resident Pastor.FatherFrydrychowiczremainedatSt.Hedwigsforonlyoneyear.Theresentmenttowardshimstillremainedinthemindsandheartsofmany.Asthefirstresidentpastor.FatherlivedintheBarretHome,whereatpresentMr.JohnWnekresides.LaterhelivedinahomeacrossfromthewoodenchurchwhereatpresentstandstheJosephPanekbarn.MissLenaKramerkepthouseforthepastor.Thissameyear,June17,1897,theSacramentofConfirmationwasadministeredforthefirsttimebytheMostRev.BishopJamesSchwebachoftheDioceseofLaCrosse.ThatdaywasageneralholidayforthePolish-AmericanswhoentertainedtheirBishopinaroyalfashion.Uponhisarrival,theBishopwasmetatthedepotbyRev.ConstantineFrydrychowiczaccompaniedbyabout50membersofhiscongregationmountedandwellbedeckedwithflagsandbannersappropriatetotheoccasionandescortedtheBishoptotheresidenceofFatherFrydrychowiczeastofthevillage.Asoneoldtimerputit:"thecelebrationwasverybeautifulespeciallytoseethejointeffortsofthewholeparish.FatherConstantineinspiteofhisweaknesses,wasahospitablehost,friendlyandpleasant.Buttherewerethoseinminoritywhoonlylookedfortroubleandbroughtmoredissen-

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sionintotheparish."OnSeptember2nd,1897FatherFrydrychowiczrelinquishedhispastorshipatSt.Hedwig’sandwastransferredtoawesternareaofWisconsinintheDioceseofLaCrosse.Intheopinionofthishistorian,itwouldseemthattheappointmentofFatherFrydrychowiczin1896aspastorofSt.Hedwig'sbroughtonlymoregrieftothepriest.Thehiddenresentmentbysomeagaincameintotheopen.Itwouldseemthatasmallgroupofparishionerswouldnotgivehim any peace.OnDec.2,1897afterFatherFrydrychowiczhadalreadybeentransferred,Vol.XV,No.2,Dec.2,1897editionoftheThorpCourierrecordsthisstory:

"FatherFrydrychowiczandMissLenaKramerwerearrestednearNewRichmondlastweekbySheriffJ.W.PageandConstableJas.Connors.TheywerechargedwithsettingoutpoisonforanimalswhileresidentsofthetownofWitheelastsummer.W.H.FrawleyofEauClaireistheirattorneyanddistrictattorneyGeo.B.ParhillappearsfortheState.Thecasewassetfortrialyesterday."

TheDec.9theditioncontinues:"MissLenaKramer,arrestedtwoweeksagoonthechargeofcomplicityinthecattlepoisoningaffair,wasdischargedfromcustodywithouttheformalityofahearing,itbeingapparentthatshehadnoknowledgeofwhothepartieswerethatcommittedthecrime."

Thepapercontinuedthestoryoftheaffairasfollows:"Rev.Constantine,arrestedonchargeofsettingoutpoisonlastAugustandcausingthedeathoftwocowsbelongingtoaneighbornamed(withheldbyauthor)wastriedbeforeJusticeJosephBurkeandajurylastweek,thetrialbeginningonTuesdaymorningandendinglateonFridaynight.Theverdictofthejurywasnotguilty…About25witnessesappearedandwereexamined,Mr.JosephBogumilactingasinterpreterforanumberwhocouldnottalktheEnglishlanguage.ThejuryconsistedofJamesBoylan,Jas.Heagle,HenryLeibols,JohnMcGrogan,HermanBanderobandE.L.Snyder.Theverdictwasrenderedinlessthananhouraftertheattorneysfinishedtheircases."

Itmusthavebeenveryembarrassingtothepriestwhorenderedthesacramentstothedying,forgavetheirsins,baptizedtheirchildren,andofferedtheprayersoftheparish,tobeaccusedinsuchanunchristlikemanner.Yetthosewerethetimesandmentalityofthepeopleindissensionand antagonism towards the priesthood.Yearslaterasoneoftheparishionersrecalled:"Itwasveryunjustandhumiliating.YearslaterIrememberitwasdiscoveredthatthepoisonwaterholeswerecausedbyunexplodeddynamitewhichdidhavesomeeffectonthewaterandland.Meninmakingthelandarableforfarminguseddynamitetoexplodeanduprootthestumpsoftreesthatwerecutdownforlumber.Whatignoranceoffactscoulddotoinnocentpeople!WiththearrivalofFatherJamesKorczyk,thesuccessorofFatherFrydrychowiczasthesecondpas-torappointedtoSt.Hedwig'sParishbytheMostRev.JamesSchwebach,peacefinallydescendedupontheparish.Whetherthemistakesofthepastandthehumiliationoftheformerpastor,thepersonalityof thenewpriest,ormoreunderstandingandcommunicationbetweenpriestand

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peoplebroughtmoreChristianCharity,onlyGodwillsomedaypassjudgment.NewfamiliescontinuedtoarriveintotheTownshipofWitheeandtheparishgrewinmembers.Farmlandcontinuedtoimprove.Asthefamilyfarmsof40acresgrew,theparishreceivedmoresupporteconomically,improvementoftheparishmateriallywasmadepossibleandgradualprog-ressopenedanewera.Astheearlyparishhistorianstatesinhischronicles:"FatherKorczykdidmuchgoodfortheparish."Underhisleadershipandthesupportofloyalpeopleoftheparish,aboutJune16,1898anew,neatandlargeresidencewaserected,directlysouthofthechurch,twomileseastoftheVillageofThorp.Thecostofthewholeprojectwas$500.00.Muchofthelaborwasdonatedbyahandfulofparishioners.InDecemberof1897abellhadbeenpurchasedandwasplacedinthebelfryintimetoringoutthecalltothepeopleofSt.HedwigstomidnightMassonChristmasEve.Thebellweighedsevenhundredpounds.Thecostwas$100.00withtheparishionersdonating$1.00eachforthebell.Itmusthavemadetheearlypioneersproudoftheiraccomplishment.Whenthereisloveandunitybetweenpeopleandpriest,howeasilycanaparishgrowandimproveintheworkofGod.Howeasilythecommongoodofallcanbeserved.Anewbeautifulfencewasbuiltaroundthecemetery.Threenewaltarswereinstalledinthechurch,andthreebeautifullargestatueswerealsopurchased.FatherKorczykeventhoughhebroughtunityandloveintotheparishturnedinhisresignationaspastoronFeb.9,1900.Beinganeducatorandahighlycapableindividualinthatfield,hisloveremainedinthefieldofeducation.Intheopinionoftheauthor,FatherKorczykmusthavebeenatremendouspersonasmanandpriest.ThefollowingisquotedfromtheFeb.9,1900editionoftheThorpCourier:"TheCourierissorrytoannouncetheresignationoftheRev.JamesKorczyk,whohadchargeoftheCongregationsofSt.Hedwig'sPolishCatholicandSt.Bernard'sChurchinthisvillageforthepasttwoyears.Rev.Korczykhaslaboredherewithexcellentsuccess,madeahostoffriends,andhisdeparturetoassumeachargeelsewhereisuniversallyregretted."WhenFatherKorczykwasappointedPastorofSt.Hedwig'sChurchin1897hewasalsoplacedinchargeofSt.Bernard'sChurchintheVillageofThorpwhichatthetimewasstillamission.TheMostRev.JamesSchwebach,BishopofLaCrosseappointedRev.JosephBeilaasthethirdpastorofSt.HedwigstosucceedFatherKorczyk.FatherKorczykwastemporarilyassignedtoMenomonie,Wis.andlaterasPastorinPhillips,Wisconsin.WhilepastorintheTownshipofWithee,healsocaredfortheparishinWeyerhauser,Wisconsinfrom1897to1899.ThechurchwasbuiltbyFatherConstantineFrydrychowiczin1897.FatherBielaonhisarrivalinFebruarywasmetbymanymembersoftheCongregation,wishinghimwelcometoPosen.SucceedingFatherKorczykwasnoteasy,butFatherBielafollowedcloselyinhisfootsteps.HecontinuedthegoodworkbothspirituallyandmateriallyasadevotedandloyalPastorofSt.Hedwigs.Asoneoldparishionerexpressedhimself,"FatherBielawaswellloved."Hecontinued,"hewasareasonableandconsideratepriest,thrifty,andagreatpreacher.Ifnecessary,hecriticizeduswithsincerityforthegoodoftheparish,butalwayswithcharityandequality.Heneverdemandedanyfavors."Theparishcontinuedtogrowbothinnumbersandspirituality.Dis-sentersof1895continuedtoreturntotheirmotherchurch.Afterfifteenmonthsofservice,FatherJosephBielainJuneof1901voluntarilyresignedhispastor-

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shipofSt.HedwigsandSt.Bernards.HewasassignedbytheMostRev.BishopJamesSchwebachtothePolishParishinPoniatowski,Wisconsin.FatherIgnatiusOrlikofBuffalo,NewYorkwasnamedPastorofSt.Hedwigs'sParishandFatherE.BeyerofMilwaukee,WisconsinbecamePastorofSt.Bernard'sCongregationintheVillageofThorp.FatherOrlikonassumingcontroloftheParishimmediatelycalledameetingoftheParishtodiscusstheaffairsandthefuture,sincethePolishpopulationwasgrowingfastandtheParishChurchwasbecomingtoosmall.ThefirstrecordedParishmeetingtookplaceonJune30,1901.ThePastor'ssalaryatthetimewas$700.00.NothingimportantdevelopedinJunebutonAugust25,1901aspecialmeetingwascalledforthepurposeofdiscussingthebuildingofanewchurch.Theparishwaswillingtospendabout$10,000.00forthenewchurch.Itwasdecidedthateachfamilyandeachsinglepersonwouldbeassessed$25.00forthispurpose.Themembersoftheparishwereinagreement.FatherOrlickcontinuedtheimprovementoftheparish.AbouttheFalloftheyear,therectorywasrepairedandanewanddeeperwellwasinstalled.Thediscussiononthenewchurchcontinuedforawhile.Thequestionarosewhetherthenewchurchshouldbebuiltonthepresentsiteofthewoodenchurchorshouldbemovedtothevillage.Theproblemwashotlydebated.OnNovember22nd,1902theSacramentofConfirmationwasadministeredbytheMostRev.JamesSchwebach,BishopofLaCrosseforthesecondtimeinthehistoryoftheparish.TheBishopcamequietlywithoutthefanfareandcelebrationofhisfirstvisitunderFatherFrydrychowicz.Theclassthistimewasratherlarge.DuringFatherOrlik'stime,theSt.Joseph'sAssociationmetannually.AtameetingheldinOctober1903,fivemembersjoined,raisingthemembershipto55.OnSeptember7,1903,theSchoolDistrictnearthechurchopenedwithMissLuluRothastheteacher.ManyofthechildrenofPosenattendedthepublicschoolinthechurchvicinity.OnJanuary1,1904,attheannualmeetingoftheparish,itwasdecidedthatthenewchurchwouldbebuiltonthepresentsiteoftheoldwoodenchurch.Fromthemomentanewchurchwasdiscussed,thequestionaroseastowherethenewchurchshouldbelocated.Adisputedeveloped,withsomedesiringthechurchnorthofthevillageofThorp,whilethoseinthevicinityofPosendemandedthatitbebuiltontheoldsite.Itwasalsodecidedthatthenewchurchshouldbebuiltofbrick,130x60feet.Theparishhadover400familiesresidinginitsvicinityandthewordwasoutthatmanymorePolishfamilieswouldbemovingintothearea.A building committee of 15memberswas appointed by the Congregation as follows: AndrewZaborowski,LouisGalmakowski,ValPrzybylski,S.Wietrzynski,V.Budzinski,AntonStroinski,JosephKotecki,AntonBalcer,JosephLesniewski,VincentIzydorek,LeonTrawinski,JosephBudzinski,Ig-natiusWoitkiewicz,FrankNeiman,JohnGiwojnaandau¬tomaticallythetwotrusteesatthetime,JohnWnekandFlorianAnyzewski.ItseemedthatcooperationwaslackingbetweenthecommitteeandFatherOrlik,becauseFatherwasaccusedoftakingovertheoperationwithoutinformingthecommitteeontheprogressmade.Thiscaneasilydevelopbecauseattimesallmemberscouldnotbecontactedundertheconditionsthatexisted,anddecisionshadtobemadequicklyandfirmly.Furthermore,knowledgethrougheducationrestedmore inthehandsofthepriestthan inmanymenwhowereconstantlybusy

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tillingthesoil.Itistheopinionoftheauthor,thatthedisagreementwasmajoreventhoughverylittleismentionedintheparishminutes.ThereportintheApril28th,1904editionoftheThorpCourierdisputestheversiongivenintheparishminutes,namelythatFatherOrlikdidnotcoop-eratewiththecommittee.Wequote:"ThebuildingcommitteeofthenewchurchofSt.Hedwig'sCongregationmetonSundaylast.TheplansandspecificationspreparedbyanarchitectatChicagowereexamined,anditwasdecidedthatsamewouldbeadvertisedforbidstocontractorstoerectsaidchurchandfurnishallnecessarymaterial.Thestructureistobe66x135feetandtheseatingcapacitywillbeabout1500persons.ThebuildingofSt.Hedwig'snewchurchwasprogressingslowly.AsidetrackfortherailroadwaslaidinSept.of1904fordeliveringthematerialnecessaryforthebuilding.OnTuesday,Nov.22,1904afterthecelebrationofaHighMass,thelayingofthecornerstonetookplace.PresentattheceremonywereFatherGara,of Independence,FatherPescinskiofSt.Peters,StevensPoint,Fr.KorczykofWisconsinRapids,andFatherWojakofCassel.FatherOrlikwasahos¬pitablehostandentertainedtheclergypresentandthespecialandhonoredguests,intherectory.ItmusthavebeenveryironictoFatherOrliktohearharshcommentsmadeabouthimashewascanvassingtheparishwithhorseandbuggytoraisefundsandcollectthepromisesparishionersmadetosupportthebuildingofthechurchwiththe$25.00perindividual.Itinvolvedthecollec-tiontakenattheMassduringthelayingofthecornerstone.WhenFatherOrlikturnedinonly$5.00,wordspreadaroundtheparishthatthePastormusthavekeptthemoneyforhimself.Whenquestioned,Fr.Orlikexplained"theexpensesfortheaffairinhostingvisitingclergy,guests,andpaymenttothepreachertookmostofthemoney."Theexplanationwasfair.Itisnottheobliga-tionofthepriesttoputonaffairsfortheparishtomakethemmoredignifiedandthenstandtheexpensefromhisownpocket.Goodandgenerouspeoplealwayswereoftheopinion,thattheparishshouldstandtheexpensewithinreason.OnecanseethementalityofmanyofthepeopleofSt.Hedwigsatthetimeasthehistorianwrote:"theprestigeofFatherOrlikdroppedtremendously,ashewasaccusedofbeingapoormanager."OnMarch12,1905itwasdecidedtoincorporatetheParishunderthestatutesoftheStateofWis-consin.ThereforeonMarch30th,St.Hedwig'sCongregationoftheTownofWitheefiledarticlesofincorporationwiththeSecretaryofState.Therewasnocapitalandnostock.IncorporatorswerePhillipKramer,L.I.Orlik,PaulZwolińskiandMartinBurzyński.ThiswasaccomplishedinSeptemberof1905throughtheinfluenceofFatherOrlik,thePastor,andFatherGaraofIndependencetowhomtheparishionersofSt.Hedwig’sreferredtoas"theGoldenVoice"becauseofhisabilitytopreach.Aboutthistimethelittlemoneythatremainedintheparishtreasurywasalmostexhausted.Theeconomicsqueezewason.Activebuildingoperationsonthechurchthroughoutthesummerweresuspended.ThearchitectofthechurchwasLouisNovyofChicago,whohimselfwasinchargeoftheoperationsonthespot.Whileworkwassuspendedonthechurchduetolackoffunds,achangeintheadministrationofSt.Hedwigstookplace.InSeptemberof1905,FatherOrlikwastransferredaspastorofPosenbyBishopJamesSchwebachandassignedtoNorthCreeknearArcadia,Wisconsin.Inhisplace,FatherFrancisXavierPudloofMillCreekbecamepastorinPosen.FatherPudloonhisarrivalalreadyhadknowledgeofthefinancialsituationoftheparish.Hewasdeterminedtocompletethechurchassoonaspossible.Heinauguratedaspecialcollectionforthe

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church,eachSundayduringHolyMass.HewasanenergeticmanfullofzealfortheworkofChrist.Hebeganacensusoftheparish,visitedthehomesofhisparishionersandpleadedwiththemtogiveprivateloanstotheparish.OnNovember29,1905$7,800.00wasborrowedbyhimfromthefollowingparishioners:"Fiveyearsafterdateforvaluereceived,St.Hedwig'sCongregationofPosen,ThorpP.O.,incorporatedunderthelawoftheStateofWisconsin,promisestopay:1.Hoffman,John;2.Somgur,John;3.Anyzewski,Florian;4.Nowobielski,JohnandAndrew(brothers);5.Budzyński,Vincent;6.Glamkowski,Louis;7.Kotecki,Joseph;8.Obrycki,Thomas;9.Hoffman,Frank;10.Słupski,Stanislaus;11.Szymczak,Michael;12.Morgan,Joseph(aliasKostrzewa);13.Izydorek,Vincent;14.Szczok,John;15.Giwojna,John;16.Mazurek,Stanislaus;and17.Niedzwiec-ki,James;thesumofseventhousandeighthundreddollarsattherateof7%perannuminterestrateuntilpaid.Thisnoteisgivenassecuritytosaidcreditorswhohavepersonallygivenmortageswithnotesinordertoprovidemoneyforbuildingthenewchurchoftheabovesaidcongregation;forwhichpaymentsthewholecongregationofSt.Hedwig'sChurchdeclaresitselfresponsiblebytheBoardofDirectorsforSt.Hedwig'sCatholicCongregation:ByJamesSchwebach,President;A.Kramer,V.G.;Rev.Fr.X.Pudlo,Pastor;MartinBurzynski,TreasurerandMikolajJasinek,secretary."(QuotedfromParishMinutesdated29Nov.1905).Asthemoneywasnowprovided,thebuildingofthechurchcontinueduntilcompletion.FatherPudlowhowassolicitousaboutthespiritualwelfareofthePolesin1905alsotookcareofthepeopleofJunction,wherethepresentSt,MaryCzestochowachurchstands.ThefollowingareexcerptsfromthehistoryofSt.MaryCzestochowa,JunctionwrittenbyRev.EdwardA.MasalewiczwhilePastortherein1958fortheGoldenJubilee.Itreadsasfollows:"ThesettlersoftheareasoughtoutaPolishspeakingpriestbecauseoftheirlanguage,onewhocouldbebetterunderstoodandcouldmorefullyparticipateintheworkoftheChurch.St.Hedwig'sChurchatPosen,Wisconsinseemedlikeasolutiontotheproblem,butitwasalittletoofartotravel,especiallyininclementweather.Never¬theless,manyofthesepeoplemadethejourneytoPosenandjoinedthepolishparish.FatherPudlo,pastorofSt.Hedwig’s,receivedthemkindlyandalwayshadasympatheticeartotheirtroublesandministeredtotheirspiritualneeds.By1906thecommunitygrewrapidly....thisgaverisetothethoughtofestablishinganewparishanderectingachurch,therebyeliminatingthedifficultyoftravelandgivingthePolishsettlementanopportunitytoincreasetheirfaithbymoreactiveparticipationintheDivineSacrificeaswellasthereceptionoftheSacraments...."Asplansweredeveloping,"ThecommitteeimmediatelycontactedFatherFrancisPudloofPoseninordertoconsulthimonmethodstobeemployedforbringingthecherisheddreamtocompletion.FatherPudlowasoverjoyedwiththechoiceandlentasympatheticeartotheproject.Heattendedthenextmeetingofthegroupanddeliveredan'elegantsermon.'Heinspectedthearea,com-mendedthepeopleontheirchoiceandzeal,andpromisedtoapplyforpermissiontotheMostRev.BishopJamesSchwebachtoorganizeaparishanderectanewchurch....IntheFallof1907permissionwasgrantedbytheBishoptobuildthechurch...Asdifficultiesarose,FatherPudloveryzealouslyanduntiringlyaspastor,encouragedthepeopletocompletethehouseofGod....Finallyafterhardwork,thechurchwascompletedonNov.13,1907....ThefirstMasswasofferedontheFeastoftheImmaculateConcep¬tion,December8,1907bythepriestwhohadsomuchtodoinguidingthepeopleofJunction,FatherPudlo,thePastorofSt.Hedwig’sinPosen...InFebruary1908,theparishwasofficiallyincorporatedbytheBishop.FatherPudlowasofficiallyappointedaspastorofthenewchurchwhichwasattachedasamissiontoSt.Hedwig'sCongregation,Posen

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(Thorp),Wisconsin."FatherPudlowasthePastorofSt.MaryCzestochowaforafewyearsuntilitwasimpossibleforhimtohandlebothparishes.In1910JunctionbecameaMissiontoSt.Mary'sChurch,Stanley,Wisconsin.MeanwhileFatherPudlodidnotforgetthespiritualeducationoftheyoungsters.HeannouncedonthethirdSundayofSeptember,1905thatSundaySchoolforchildrenwillbeheldonthelastSun-dayofthemonthafterVesperdevotions.He,himself,wouldactastheinstructor.AboutthistimeJohnWnekdonatedanewchalicetotheparishcostingtheamountof$125.00.ItwasimportedfromEurope.Duringthewintermonths,therewasnoworkonthechurch.FatherPudloreceivedpermissionfromtheBishoptomaketripstoChicagoandMilwaukeepreachingsermonsinthePolishChurchesbeggingformoney,sothatthechurchinPosencouldbecompleted.Aloanof$10,000.00wassecuredfromtheChippewaFallsBank.Thetrusteesnowhadtopostbonds,thetreasurer,$1,500.00andthesecretary$500.00.Ataspecialparishmeeting,February2,1906withMr.AlexWachnik,thecontractor,thebillswereread,withMr.Wachnikagreeingthathewouldcompletethechurchforthesunof$19,990.00andweatherpermitting,hewouldfinishthechurchbyApril1,1906.ThisdidnotmaterializeandsoonJuly29th,1906itwasdecidedtograntMr.Wachnik$400.00moretocompletethechurch.InAugustofthesameyear,itwasagreedtospend$1,890.00forchurchfurnishingswiththecontractgoingtoaMr.FelixKamrowski.Parishpicnicsandauctionswereinauguratedinordertoraisethemoney.ThefirstsuchaffairwasheldonNov.18and19,clearingalmost$543.00.Overjoyedwiththesuccessoftheauction,theparishdecidedtoholdanotheroneinJuly1906.OnJuly12,1906,FatherPudloadministeredfirstHolyCommunionto58boysand56girls.ThiswasFather'sfirstclassatSt.Hedwig’sandhewasproudofit.Withsomanychildreninthecom-munionclassonemayreadilyunderstandhowfasttheparishhadbeengrowingandthenecessityforanewandlargerchurch.FatherOrlikwaslookingfarintothefuturewhenherecommendedthebuildingprogram.AlsoonJuly4th,theannualpicnicwasheldanditwasahugesuccess.Hundredsofpeoplevisitedthegroundsandinspectedthenewchurch"beingbuilt,theedificebeing136feetlongand64feetwideandtothetopofthesteeple,120feethigh,builtofsolidbrickwithafullbasementunderthewholestructure.Theoutsideworkonthebuildingisaboutcompletedandfinishingworkontheinteriorisprogressingsatisfactorily.(ThorpCourier,July12,1906edition).TowardstheendofJulyFatherJohnRayskiwasvisitingwithFatherPudlo,inordertocollecthisbigprize,namelyfortyacresoflanddonatedforthepicnicbyMr.&Mrs.IgnatzWojtkiewicz,membersofSt.Hedwig'sParish.Thesekindpeoplemadethegiftinordertodefraysomecostofthebuildingofthechurch.(ClarkCounty,RegisterofDeeds,Dec.18,1905).FatherMasalewiczcanverifysomeofthesacrificesmadebythegoodfamilies,asonedaughterwrotetohimduringtheDiamondJubileecelebrationasshemadehergifttoSt.Hedwig’sonMay28th,1967,stating:"St.Hedwig'sChurchstandsasamonumenttomyparents,forinthosedaystheyonlyhadthreecows,soldoneofthemtohelpbuildtheirchurch,tearscometomyeyeswhenIstopandthinkofthehardshipstheyunderwentastheylivedinalogcabinandhassomuchlovetogive."Shecontin-ued,"Iamhavingmyfriendsdeliverinpersonmypersonalcontributionofseventy-fivedollarsinmemoryofmylateparents,JohnandAntoniaJarocki."(JosephineChurchNaketin).

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InteriorpaintingofthechurchwasdonebyMr.S.Kujawskiasthechurchwasbeingreadiedforservice.Thealtars,pulpit,andconfessionalswerecompleted.Themomentforrejoicingwasnowathand.Everyparishionerwhoalmosttwoyearsagobeganworkingonthebasement,couldnowseethefruitsofhishardwork.Everytear,sweat,andsacrificewasincorporatedinthebricksandsteeplethatrosehightoheavenasasymboloffaithandloveforGodinthePosenarea.Eventhosewhowerealwaysagainstprogressandopposedthosewhostrovebyunjustcriticismhadtoshaketheirheadsandjointhoserejoicing.FatherPudlowashappyabouttheaccomplishment,eventhoughitmeantsomuchgriefandhardshiptohim.Thebigdayarrived,thededicationandtheblessingofthenewchurch,October17,1906.Priestsandguestcamefromnearandfar.TheWisconsinCentralRailroadoffered1and1/3discountfareswithintheradiusoffiftymilesfromPosen.TheMostRev.JamesSchwebach,BishopofLaCrosseDiocesededicatedandblessedthechurchandadministeredtheSacramentofConfirmationinthepresenceofacapacitychurch.ThatdayGodblessedSt.Hedwig’swithbeautifulweather.TheRev.JohnTokarz,PastoroftheChurchinFlensburg,MinnesotadeliveredthesermoninPolish,whiletheRev.JohnF.KosinskiofChicago,IllinoisdeliveredtheEnglishsermon.SomeoftheclergywhoassistedtheMostRev.BishopandFatherPudlowere:Rev.J.M.Korczyk,WisconsinRapids;Rev.MichaelKlosowski,Plover,Wis.;Rev.TeofilWojak,BeaverWisconsin;Rev.JosephKampaofMil¬waukee;Rev.A.M.ArentzofSt.Bernards,Thorp;Rev.Wil-liamRedding,Colby,Wis.;Rev.G.PeshofTomahawk,Wis.,Rev.A.W.Gara,Independence;Rev.J.W.Gara,PineCreek,Wis.,andRev.JohnTokarzofFlensburg,Minnesota.ThefollowingisadescriptionofthenewChurchtakenfromtheThorpCourier,Vol.XXIII,No.40,August16,1906edition:"St.Hedwig'sPolishCatholicChurchlocated2mileseastofThorp,whichhasbeenunderconstructionfornearly2yearspast,isapproachingcompletion.Thecontractor,A.F.Wochnich,hascompletedhisworkontheinstallationoffurnitureandfurnaces.ItisexpectedtohavethebuildingreadyfordedicationearlyinSept.Thestructureisbuiltofsolidbrick,overa12-footfullbasement,66x135ft.insize,theauditoriumfromfloortoceilinginthecenterbeing45feetinheightandwillseat1200persons.Tenmassiveflutedcolumnsintheinteriorsupporttheroof,archedinca¬thedralstyle,thearchitecturaleffectsbeingenhancedbybeautifulplastercastfiguresandornamentalwork.Agalleryorbalconyoverthevestibuleextendsacrosstheentirewidthoftheinteriorbeing65x36feetinsizewithanarchedcenterforthelocationofanorganandthechoir.Theplatformforthealtarisalsoverylarge,withhandsomelyfinishedandspaciousvestryroomsoneachside.Thewallandceilingsarefinishedinnaturalcolor,andthefloorsofhardmaple.Fourteenlargestainedglasswindows,portrayingartisticlife-sizefiguresembellishthebeautyoftheinteriorandoutsideappearance.Thewindowsarevaluedatnearly$2,000.00,severalofwhichwerepaidforbyindividualmembersoftheParish.Threeentrancesatthefrontofthebuildingleadintothevestibules,theoutsideandinteriorofthecenterentrancebeingthehandsomestandlargest.Thetoweris135feetinheight,ofmassiveproportion,surmountedbyacrossfinishedingold.Thebasementcontainstwohandsomelyfinishedcommitteeandschoolroomsofamplesizes,alsoachapel57x66feetinsize,maplefloorsandhardfinishedplasteredwallsandceilings.FourBoveshotblastfurnacesarebeinginstalledtoheatthebuilding.Thecontractpriceofthestructurewas$18,000.00butnecessarychangesmadesincebeginningwork,andtheconstantadvanceinpriceofbuildingmaterial,increasesthecostofthebuildingtotheneighborhoodof$23,000.00.This

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doesnotincludethewindows,pews,altar,furnacesandsmallerfurniture,whichwheninstalled,willincreasethecostabout$7,000.00more,makinginall,wheneverythingiscompleteaninvestmentofabout$30,000.00.Totheearnest,consistentanduntiringeffortsofFatherF.Pudlo,pastor,andallmembersofhisparishwhichnownumbersabout370families,belongsthecreditoferectingthebeautifuledifice,whichwillstandasamonumenttotheirutmostexertionsandprovealastingrememberancetotheirnobleandgenerousliberalityforgenerationstocome."Withthenewchurchusedforservicesnowandtheexcitementover,FatherPudlocontinuedtomaketripstoMilwaukeechurchesandChicagoinordertopayoffthedebtonthenewchurch.Manyaffairssponsoredbytheparishcontinuedtotakeplaceinordertokeepthemoneyflowingfortheworthyproject.Whetherthesituationwasoneofhardshiponthepartofthepeopleeconomically,orwhetherthroughignoranceandstubbornnesstheyrefusedtosupporttheirinstitution,onemayneverknow.Thiswedoknowastherecordsshow,thatFatherPudlowgainedmuchsupportfromtheoutsidethroughhissermonsinotherparishesofthecities,raisingmoneyforSt.Hedwig’s.TimesinPosenwerenotthatdifficultastheThorpCourieroftenmentionsthesuccessfulandwelltodoPolishfarmers.Thesocalled"PewRent"wasinitiatedatthistimewiththefirstfrontseats$10.00for2places;sevencenterrowsofpews$8.00for2places;backrowsofpews$6.00alsofor2places;everyfamilywasobligatedtorent2pewsandsinglepersons,onepew.Itwasaningeniousmethodforeducatingthepeopleoftheparishoftheirobligationtosupporttheirownparish.Inlateryearsbecauseofthis,dissensiondevelopedandgaveabadexampletovisitingpeoplewhodesiredtoattendHolyMass.Manypeoplebecameconvincedthatthey"owned"thepewsandwouldnotallowanyonetositinthem.TheoriginofthepewrentsystemdatesbacktotheannualmeetingofJanuary2,1907.EventhoughfinanciallySt.Hedwig’swasstruggling,ajanitorwashired,namelyDominikSlota,whowaspaid$10.00amonth.TheorganistHelenBalcerreceivedfiftycentsforSundayMusicandforsinging at the worship service.InAprilof1907,themainaltarandbaptismalfontwerepaintedwhitebyMr.S.KujawskiofPo-senforthesumof$65.00.Thealtarandbaptismalfontarestillwhiteinthechurchastheywerepaintedin1907.TheIndependentChurchtwomileseastofSt.Hedwig'sstillflourishedinapoorman'sway.ARev.Klawitter,whowasthepriest,hadbeentakentotheClarkCountyPoorFarmbecauseoffinancialdifficultiesbyFeliksMikolainisinOct.1905,wasfinallyreplacedin1909byRev.L.GrochowskiofJolietforservicesonly.FatherGrochowskiwouldonlymakesporadicvisits.Foroverfouryearstherewerenoser¬vicesuntilthearrivalofFatherGrochowski.FatherPudlocontinuedworkingwithzealtobringmanyofthosewholeftSt.Hedwig’sbacktothetruechurch.Hiszealandeffortspaidoff,becausebythistimemanyofthefamiliesreturned.InMarchof1909,Mr.ValentineMalecki,thefriendofFatherFrydrychowiczpassedawayattheageof55.HewasburiedfromtheIndependentChurchwhichhehelpedestablish.ApriestfromChicagoPolishNationalChurchconductedtheservicesandburialtookplaceintheIndependentCemetery,justwestoftheTedPapierniakfarm.InOctoberof1909thefeastofSt.HedwigandtheFortyHourDevotionswerecelebratedinasol-

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emnway.ForthefirsttimethecustomofinvitingasmanypriestaspossiblefortheoccasionwasinauguratedbyFatherPudlo.Thosewhoassistedonthiscelebrateddaywere:Rev.JamesGara,PineCreek;Rev.JohnRayski,NorthCreek;Rev.IgnatiusMordarski,Bevent;Rev.F.Kupka,Poniatowski,Wis.;Rev.LucienKufel,Friendship;Rev.F.C.Ciszewski,Cassel;Rev.IgnatiusMiller,Stanley;Rev.LeoPollock,EauClaire;Rev.JohnKarcz,Hatley;Rev.TheodoreMalkowski,Polonia;Rev.W.Krzywonos,JunctionCity;Rev.StanleyKoperski,Toron,Wis.;Rev.J.Pociecha,Albin;Rev.J.M.Schraum,Colby;Rev.J.M.Riesterer,ChippewaFalls;andRev.A.M.Arentz,Thorp,Wis.AninterestingitemthatappearedinVol.XXVI,No.50,October28,1909editionoftheThorpCourierstated:"TheCongregationofAllSaintsChurchinLublinheldameetingonSunday,October17,forthepurposeoferectingapriest'sparsonage.Acommitteeoftwo,JosephWranaandJohnKozy,werechosentodosomecollectingforthebenefitofthebuilding."ItwouldseemthatthechurchinLublinalreadyexisted.IntheearlydaysofSt.Hedwig’s,peoplefromLublintravelledtoPosenforSundayservices.Intheopinionofthiswriter,aftercheckingvarioussources,itwouldseemthatMr.WagnerintheCourierhadmistakenthenameoftheLublinChurchwhichhappenedtobenamedSt.Stanislausfromitsinception.InthehistoryofSt.StanislausChurch,Lublin,WisconsinwrittenbyRev.EdwardCyzinJune1967,thefollowingisquoted:"AhardylifepresenteditselffortheearlyCatholicsettlers.Therewerenobridgesorroadsinthosedays.TheCatholicsettlersofLublinattendedchurchservicesinThorp,Wisconsin,adistanceoftwelvemiles.DespitethehardshipsandthesmallnumberofCatholics,anattempthadbeenmadebytheseinhabitantsofLublin,tolocateaCatholicChurch."FatherCyzcontinues,"ApetitionhadbeensenttoMostRev.ASchinner,D.D.,BishopofSuperiorDiocese,in1907,requestingthataCatholicChurchbebuiltinLublin.Thelandandthelumberfor theconstructionof theChurchhadbeendonatedbytheStateLandCo.WiththeBishop'scon¬sent,theChurchwasbuiltandcompletedin1908."ItwouldfollowthattheparsonageinquestionwouldbeforSt.StanislausChurchasalreadytherewasaresidentPastorinthepersonofFatherT.F.Malecki,followedbyRev.B.J.Barca.ItwouldappearthatAllSaintsNamewasusedinadvertently,sinceitwassooftenbroughtintofocusthroughtheIndependentChurchandtheIndependentPolishNationalChurchofLublintookitsoriginfirstin1925whentheeraofitspre-decessorsexistenceinPosencametoanend.FatherPudloissuedhisannualreportfortheyear1906intheJanuary10th,1907editionoftheThorpCourier,inthemannerofstatementsofreceiptsandexpenses,asthepaperwasthebestsourceforpromulgatingthisinformationtohispeople.ThePastorinhisthoughtfulnessfortheemployeescontinuedtoraisetheirsalarieseachyear.Pewrentbecauseoftheneedofmoneywasraisedin1910to$15.50forfrontpews;$13.50forcenterpews;and$11.50forbackpews.InJunearecommendationthroughtheleadershipofFatherPudlowasmadetoremodeltheoldwoodenchurchforaschool.Sincetheearlydaysoftheparish,theBishopandeachpastorbegin-ningwithFatherKorczyksawtheneedofaparochialschoolforthePolishchildrenofthePosenarea.Attheannualmeetingamajorityoftheparishionersvotedagainsttheschool.Thiswasthebeginningofastrugglebetweenthepriestandmanyparishionersuntiltheyear1950whentheparochialschoolwasbuilt.ThishurtFatherPudloverymuch.Hefoughtafalsenotionofthepeo-plethat"therewasnoneedforaschool,sincetheparentsdidnotgotoschool,neitherdotheir

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childrenneedanyCatholicSchool.Assoonastheyareoldenoughtheycaneithergetmarriedorgotowork."Ittookyearsandyearstobreakthiskindofthinking.FatherPudloagainraisedtheissueofschoolonJanuary3,1916attheannualparishmeeting,onlytofindtheoppositionjustasstrong.InhisownwritingastranslatedfromthePolishlanguagebytheauthor,hewrites:

"FatherPudlopresentedthis ideaofaschool,Jan.3,1916,sendinghisresignationtotheBishop,becausetheparishionerswouldnotagreeontheschoolissue.TheBishoprefusedtheresignationonthebasisitwasnotgoodfortheparish.OnAugust20,1919,FatherPudlopersonallyapproachedBishopSchwebachwiththeschoolproblemandwouldnotreturntoPosenagain.OnNovember3,1919,hewastransferredtoArcadia,Wisconsinafter14yearsofserviceatSt.Hedwig’s.Igiveonewordonlytomysuccessor,FatherKorczykthathewillneverbuildaschoolinPosen."

FatherPudlobeforehisdeparture,namelythelastsevenyearsofhisadministration,encountereddifficultiesastheoppositionfromsomemembersbegantogrow.Inneedofmoneytoimprovetheparish,loanshadtobemade,manytimesfromprivateparties.ThefollowingnoticeappearedintheApril11,1912editionoftheThorpCourier:

"Noticeto themoney loaningpublic:ThePolishCatholicFederationof laymen,ofThorp,Wisconsin,herebygivesnoticetoallpersonsloaningorabouttoloanmoneytoSt.Hedwig'sCatholicCongregationofThorp,Wisconsin,thatthesaidFederation,consistingofover200membersofsaidCongregation,willnotbecomeresponsibleforthepaymentofsaidloan;thatthesaidFederationbyunanimousvotehasauthorizedthisnoticetobegiventothepublic.DatedMarch26,1912;Signed:MartinBurzynski,President,StanleyKujawski,Sec¬retary."

ThoughithurtFatherPudloandinspiteoftheopposition,thechurchwasinsuredfor$35,000.00andthepremiumpaid.Thelowrateforcemeterygraves,namely$5.00alotwasraisedto$25.00alot.Alotconsistedof8to10gravesforafamily.ByJanuary1913,eventhoughoperatingcostswerehigh,thedebtstoodat$11,090.00.Mostoftheprivateloanstothememberswerepaidoff,whileotherswhocouldaffordit,wroteofftheloanasagifttotheparish.IntheFebruary5,1914editionoftheThorpCourier,FatherPudloagainpublishedhisannualreport:Itreadasfollows:totalreceipts$6,502.23;totalexpenses$6,160.99;balanceonhand1January1914,$341.24.Thedebtstoodat$10,090.00.Aboutthistimealso,namelyJuly29,FatherPudlowaspresentattheneighboringparishforthelayingofthecornerstoneforthenewSt.Bernard'sChurchintheVillageofThorp.Anotherbigachievementduringhisadministrationwastheinstallationof3newbellsinDecemberof1914,sothatthevoiceofthechurchthroughtheringingofthebellswouldsingoutthroughthePosenareacallingitspeopletoworship.Thesesamebellsareusedforthesamepurposetoday.Theclocksonthesteepleofthechurchwerealsoinstalledatthistime.Sinceelectricitywascomingintotheareain1915,Fatherrecommendedelectriclightsfortherec-toryandabathroom.Priortothiskerosenelampsandcandleswereused,whilethebathroomwastheoutdoortype.Thiswasapprovedatanestimatedcostof$600.00.Electricityforthechurchwasalsodiscussedandapproved.Troubledevelopedbetweenthepriestandthetrusteesconcerningthepaymentfortheelectricity

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installationwiththefirmofHansonandZaborowski.Thecostconcernedwasthe$200.00differ-encethatwasapprovedbythetrusteesatthemeeting.Thefirmwanted$800.00whiletheannualmeetingapprovedexpenditureof$600.00.FatherPudlowishedtopaythebillsastheywerejustandfair.Manyopposedthisanddissensionarouse.ThetrusteeswereremovedasFatherPudlomentionsinhisdiary,"becausetheyranthingsastheywishedwithoutconsultationandwithop-positiontothePastor.ThetrusteeswereremovedbyBishopSchwebach.OnApril17,1917tohelpFatherPudlointheadministrationoftheparishandtocareforthewelfareofthelargeparish,anewlyordainedAssistantPastorwasappointedbytheBishop.Thenewassis-tantwasFatherBronislausSzymczak.HisarrivalmarkedanotherstepinthegrowthofSt.Hedwig'sParishinPosen.FatherSzymczakdidnotremaintoolongwithFatherPudlo.Theatmosphereintheparishwasnottoopleasingbecauseofthedissentionandoppositiontothepastor.Foranewlyordainedpriestitwouldbehardtounderstandthesituation.AgainstthewishesofFatherPudlo,theyoungpriesttookoffmysteriouslyonJune9,1917,nevertoreturntoPosen.FatherSzymczakwasassignedtoanotherparishbyBishopSchwebach,whileFatherPudlocontinuedtoadministertheparishandfulfillthedutiesofpastorandpriestbyhimself.Abouttheyear1918duetothemanydeathsofolderpeopleoftheparish,thecemeterywasenlargedonthenorthsideofthechurch.Finallyasmentionedonpage30intheschoolissueparagraph,FatherPudlo,theenergeticandhardworkingpriestaskedforpermissiontoleaveSt.Hedwig'sParish,PosenonNovember3,1919,nevertoreturntoPosen.Themanydissensions,heartbreaksandlackofappreciationofhispriestlywork,especiallytheoppositiontotheideaofaCatholicschoolwhichwassoclosetohisheartforthegoodofthePolishchildrensothatthrougheducationsomedaytheycouldrepresentPosensuccessfullyinvariouswalksoflife,hewasmovedinconsciencetomakethedecision,whichtohimwasimportantandsad.HewastransferredonNovember3,1919toSt.StanislausChurch,Arcadia,Wisconsin.FromSeptember1905toNovember1919,FatherPudlobaptised1,080childrenandadults;Per-formed189marriageceremonies;buriedover350peopleoftheparish;heardover18,797con-fessionsofhispeopleguidingthemintheirspirituallife;andmade786sickcallsbyfootandhorseandbuggythroughouthisparish.Duringhispastorateandunderhisinstructions,992childrenandadultswereconfirmed;over1,201childrenwereinstructedincatechismbyhim,receiv¬ingHolyCommunionforthefirsttime.In1914therewereabout525familiesintheparishwithapopulationofover2,053souls.Therewerefivevocationsfromtheparish,threetotheHolyPriesthoodandtwoyoungladiesbecameNuns.Duringhisadministration,donationstoPolandamountedtothesumof$50.00.Theparishpropertywasvaluedat$100,000.00.Hepaidoutabout$37,000.00inexpenses,ofwhichtheparishpaid$27,000.00fromitsofferingsandpewrent.FatherPudlo'sefforts,namelypreachingcontactingfriendsbroughtintheother$9,000.00whileFatherhimselfcontributed$1,000.00toSt.Hedwig’s.FatherPudlowasagoodpriestwholaboredhardinthevineyardoftheLord.Maybesomeofhisdecisionsdidnotagreewithothers,yethiseffortsprovedthathehadSt.Hedwig'sclosetothisheart.Allhisactsandjudgmentsweresincereforthecommongoodoftheparish.Themistakeshemadeinjudgmentweareallpronetomake.

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St.Hedwig’suptothistimewasblessedwithwonderful,zealousandeducatedpriests,whosparednosacrificeforthegoodofGod,theChurch,theParish,thecountryandtheirpeople.Unfortunately,theminoritythatopposedthepriestssooften,lackedChristianCharity,andforcedtheseprieststoforsakePosenanddevotetheirpriestlytalentandzealinotherParishesoftheDioceseofLaCrosse.FatherPudloreportedthefollowingdonorsandtheirgiftstotheParishofSt.Hedwig’s,hecom-pletedandstillstandssixtyyearslater,possessingmanyoftheseitems,aslistedintheHistoryofClarkCounty:"threegoldplatedchalices,donatedbyJohnWnek,SmogurandJohnKowieski,value$260.00;twocompositionstatues,donatedbySt.Moczarny,valuedat$64.00;St.HedwigstatueboughtbyM.Turek,valuedat$50.00;pairofAngelstatues,donatedbyAndrewNowobielski,valuedat$45.00;hangingcrucifix,donatedbyKutnarowskibrothers,valuedat$65.00;ZincCorpusforcemeteryandthewoodencross,donatedbyGeorgeZukowski,valuedat$100.00;whitemoireantiquecanopies,donatedbyM.BurzynskiandJosephSzerlong,valuedat$90.00;brasscandela-bra,boughtbyCI.Haburda,valuedat$65.00;goldsensoria,donatedbyAndrewNowobielskiandhissister,AnnaKobylarczyk,valuedat$300.00.RomanMissal,andonegroupofstationsoftheCross,donatedbyFlorianAnyzewski,valuedat$99.00;TheMainAltarinthechurch,donatedbyAndrewZaborowski,valuedat$700.00;severalsmallthingsdonatedbyJosephKotecki,valuedat$50.00;goodsforthechurch,Rev.JosephKampaofMilwaukee,valuedat$100.00;redchasuble,donatedbyWiltzius,Co.,ofChicago,valuedat$15.00;pairofdalmaticsandablackchasuble,donatedbyPustetCo.ofCincinnati,Ohio,valuedat$50.00;blackcopedonatedbyFatherPudlo,valuedat$25.00;whitecopedonatedbytheRosaryLadiesofSt.Hedwig'sParish,valued$45.00;twoalbs,donatedbySt.JosephSocietyoftheParish,valuedat$25.00;whitechasuble,donatedbytheconfirmationclassof1911,sacrificesofchildren,valuedat$105.00;flowersforthealtarsdonatedbytheSistersoftheRosaryoftheParish,valuedat$25.00;cemeterycross,donatedbyF.Szatalowicz,value$25.00;pairofvasesforflowers,donatedbyJohnKoman,valuedat$5.00;mis-sioncross,donatedbyJohnKowieski,valuedat$3.00;ChristmasCrib,donatedbyA.Dombrzalski,valuedat$25.00;redchasuble,donatedbyF.KlasterCo.,GreenBay,Wisconsin,valuedat$25.00;Ciboria,donatedbyLohmannCo.,ofSt.Paul,Minnesotavaluedat$10.00;chandelier,(whichstillhangsinthecenterofthenave)donatedbyJohnHoffman,valuedat$85.00;whitestole,donatedbyW.StominskiofChicago,Illinois,valuedat$10.00;forawindow,groupstations,andfurnaceintherectoryplusotherthings,FatherPudlodonated$705.00;hardwoodflooringforthepriest'srectorydonatedbyMichaelZaborowski,valuedabout$100.00;compositionstatue,donatedbyM.Najdychor,valuedat$22.50;compositionstatue,donatedbyNickJasinek,valuedat$10.00;compositionstatue,donatedbyJosephineIzydorek,valuedat$10.00;Tabernacleforthealtar,do-natedbyMath.Brucis,valuedat$500.00;sixwaxcandles,donatedbyPeterBorowick,Sr.,valuedat$5.00;altarclothsdonatedbyMissMaryBorysiewicz,valuedat$25.00;smallerarticlesfortherectorydonatedbyP.Osowski,valuedat$5.00;smallerarticlesforthepriest'shouse,donatedbyJohnG.Bogumill,valuedat$25.00;glassdoorsfortherectory,donatedbyM.Gavin,valuedat$25.00;goldplatedsanctuarylampwithextensionandtubeforhanging(stillinuse)donatedbyP.Borowick,Sr.,andP.Borowick,Jr.,andwifevaluedat$325.00;CollectioninChicagofromfriendsofFatherPudlobrought$802.36andinMilwaukee$699.50.TheTowerclockbyspecialcollection,valuedat$650.00;churchbellsalsobyspecialcollection,valuedat$555.00;groupsta-tionsofthecross,someweredonatedbymembersofthecongregationandothersbycollectionat$90.00each,valuedat$1,260.00;Ornamentedwindowswereboughtasfollows:FatherPudlo,

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JosephSzerlong,FrankHoffman,SistersoftheRosarySocietyofSt.Hedwigs,St.Joseph'sSociety,FirstCommunionchildrenof theclassof1906,MichaelManczuk,VincentBudzinski,M.GavinofMilwaukee,thecongregationandschoolboys.ThegroupstationsoftheCross:FatherPudlo,FlorianAnyzewski,M.Tomkowiak,SimonMaslowski,FrancisWojciechowski,theEuropeanStatueandArtCo.,(2)AnnaLasota,andPaulHolubowicz.TheremaindercamefromcollectionsfromtheCongregation."(HistoryofClarkCounty,Wisconsin,1918,compiledbyCurtiss-Wedge,H.C.CooperCo.,Winona&Chicago,Pages737-738).RecordsshowthatthefirstweddingthattookplaceinthenewchurchwasthatperformedbyFatherPudloonOctober22,1906.MissAnnaHoffmanwasunitedinmarriagewithGeorgeB.Zukowski.Thefirstfuneralisdifficulttoestablish.ThreearelistedinthemonthofOctober1906.TheyareOctober6,thatofCatherineMachiniak;Oct.10,JosephNowobielskiandOct.16,EvaJasinska.Theauthorcouldnotestablishthefirstbaptismtotakeplaceinthenewchurch.