Property Record
237 E MAIN ST, S SIDE OF MAIN ST, 200' W OF J
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | ST. PATRICK'S CHURCH |
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| Other Name: | ST. PATRICK'S CHURCH |
| Contributing: | |
| Reference Number: | 66700 |
| Location (Address): | 237 E MAIN ST, S SIDE OF MAIN ST, 200' W OF J |
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| County: | Lafayette |
| City: | Benton |
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| Year Built: | 1854 |
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| Additions: | 1922 |
| Survey Date: | 1976 |
| Historic Use: | church |
| Architectural Style: | Early Gothic Revival |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Limestone |
| Architect: | SAMUEL MAZZUCHELLI |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Not listed |
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| National Register Listing Date: | |
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| Additional Information: | A 'site file' exists for this property. It contains additional information such as correspondence, newspaper clippings, or historical information. It is a public record and may be viewed in person at the State Historical Society, Division of Historic Preservation. A stone church structure of Greek Revival, Gothic and Italianate influence that has a sloping roof with a bracketed wooden cornice. Stained glass windows of pointed Gothic design accent the facade. A square entrance and bell tower project from the front facing gable. Short rectangular bays with recessed entries and half pointed arched windows project from the front facade on either side of the tower. Stone pilasters and decorative lintels frame rectangular entrance portals in the symmetrically designed front facade. Originally the church had cornice returns in the street facing front gable. The tympanum was penetrated by three Gothic arched windows. In 1922 the facade was altered and a bell tower installed. The entrance and window trim was reused in the alteration. The interior was renovated in 1975. A Sorrowful Mother Chapel, a gabled structure with a round window in the gable peak adjoins the church at the rear. St. Patrick's Church is historically significant to the religious development. It is also significant for its association with Father Samuel Mazzuchelli, who is responsible for establishing several Roman Catholic churches in the Wisconsin Lead Region. In the 1830's, Benton had a growing population, due mainly to the lead mining activities in the area. Many of the lead mining families were Irish and their numbers swelled in the 1840s. Father Samuel Mazzuchelli, who had taken an interest in the lead mining region moved to Galena in the 1830's. He periodically visited the lead mining communities in New Diggings and Benton. In 1847, on land donated by Dennis Murphy, the first St. Patrick's Church was built. It was a frame structure designed by Father Muzzucheli. In 1852-54, the frame structure was moved across the street and the present stone building was erected. It also was designed by Muzzuchelli. Father Muzzuchelli was an important figure in the history of the lead mining region. He was born and raised in Milan, Italy, in 1806. He was called to the priesthood at a young age, about 17. He then became a missionary to the Indians after arriving in America in 1828. This first mission was on Mackinac Island. His parish extended over Wisconsin, part of Minnesota and Illinois. He spent a few years near Green Bay, and the Winnebago Indians. In 1831, he moved to Galena and opened churches there and Dubuque. He visited several communities in Southwestern Wisconsin. Mazzuchelli went to Italy for a visit in 1843-44. Upon his return in 1844, he purchased land at Sinsinawa Mound and constructed a college. He also founded the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa to teach children in the lead mining area. Education was very important to him. In 1849, Mazzuchelli retired from Sinsinawa and moved to Benton. In 1852, he agreed to resume direction of the Sisters and the College moved to Benton. They began a convent and St. Clara's Academy, a private girl's school. About the same time St. Patrick's frame church was moved across the street to become the main building of the school. Benton became Mazzuchelli's permanent home. In 1864, Mazzuchelli died of pneumonia. Three years later the sisters purchased Sinsinawa Mound and moved the convent back there. Mazzuchelli built 25 other churches and schools. It is said that Blackhawk signed the treaty to end the Blackhawk War underneath the old cottonwood trees that stand in the yard. |
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| Bibliographic References: | (A) Tresch's Book. (B) Building stone. (C) Butterfield, History of Lafayette CO., 1881, p. 561. (D) Marolla, Ed., Mazzuchelli of Wisconsin (Horicon, WI: Marolla Press, 1981), photographs p. 61, 65-66. (E) J. and J. Anderson, "Samuel Mazzuchelli, O.P." Wisconsin Trails, Autumn, 1978. Wisconsin State Journal 11/23/1998. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |