| History of Our Lady of the
Lake Catholic Community On June 21, 1873, Dr. Edwin Ellis donated three lots
for the construction of the first Catholic Church is Ashland, Wisconsin. A frame building,
completed in 1877 on the site at Third Avenue East marked the site of the first St. Agnes
Church.
The mission parishes of Bayfield, La Pointe, Odanah, and Ashland were transferred to
the charge of the Franciscan Friars of the Sacred Heart Province of St. Louis, Missouri in
the fall of 1878. The present church construction commenced in 1886. The first services
were held in November of 1887 in the basement. Construction continued over a 10-year
period; the steeple and side entrances were finishing touches that marked the church's
completion.
The next project was the St. Agnes Grade School, as Christian education was one of the
top priorities of the congregation. The school was built in 1881 and for over 125 years
Catholic education has been offered here in Ashland. In 1884 the administration and
instruction of the school was entrusted to the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration
of LaCrosse, WI. The first grade school also served as the Sisters' Convent. A new school
was built in 1895. Its third floor has the largest hall in the city with a seating
capacity of 1,000. An agreement for administration and instruction was made in 1884 with
the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration of La Crosse, Wisconsin. The Depadua High
School was built in 1927, and classes began a year later.
A delegation of Polish immigrants met with the Bishop in 1899, asking permission to
build a separate Polish church. Like so many other parishes of the time, St. Agnes then
divided its congregation, forming the new Holy Family Church. A school affiliated with the
new church followed shortly in its wake. However, the Holy Family School joined together
with the St. Mary's School of Odanah in 1971, consolidating finally with St. Agnes School.
In 1990, Fr. Vernon Olmer, OFM, orchestrated the union of Holy Family parish with that
of St. Agnes, following the educational facilities' lead. The new group was incorporated
with the new name of Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Community. Renovations were made to the
social hall and structure, leading a modern touch while maintaining the historical
integrity and making everything handicap accessible.
Today, Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Community has a membership of 1300+ families with
a Catholic School that offers a Christian education from pre-school through grade 8. The
parish is clustered with St. Mary's Church in Odanah. |
