The Irish standard., 1888-05-19
ASHLAND, WIS.
Observations Of The Irish Standard Scribe
During a Brief Visit to This
Beautiful City.

~S'.~'AA>>~
About eighty miles east of Duluth,
situated on Lake Superior, is the city OF
Ashland, with present population of
perhaps 1900 souls. It is the tarmlnl
of the Northern Pacific, Wisconsin
Central. Chicago, st. Paul, Minneapo-
lis & Omaha, and Lake Shore & West
ern roads, which is an indication that
its railroad as we'll as water facilities
are among the best, and together will
one day place Ashland OH a plano with
the great cities OF the Northwest. Like
our own city of Minneapolis, the site is
magnificent one, and be who builds
home in Ashland will find the cost OF
grading Of little or no expense. Iron
mining and numbering are largely en-
gagged in, and as a shipping post Ash
land has already become noted
| To the iucessant labors of the Fran
ciscan Fathers the Catholic people Of
Ashland aud vicinity have much to be
| thankful for Near the corner of
Front street and Fourth Avenue east is
now being erected one of the fnest-if
not the fnest-church edifice in the
city. 1t is Of Bayfield, brownstone, and
when finished, which will be about the
first Of August, will cost in the neigh
borhood Of $50, GOO. Rev. Macmillan
Klein is the pastor, and he is beloved
not only by the Catholic people but 10y
people Of other creeds as we'll for his
untiring energy and zeal in behalf Of
that faith which he so we'll and faith
fully espouses. The church which takes
its name from St. Agnes, has under it's
guidance number of societies, among
them Division No. 2, A. Q. H., branch
OF the Catholic Knights Of Wisconsin,
also German and French organizations,
the names of which we are unable to
give. Division No. 2, A. 0. H., was Or
ganized March II, 1883, with Is charter
members, which has increased since to
Is, and it would uot be surprising to
learn that, by the 17th Of March 1889,
at least 50 more added to the roll. Some
Of the best Irishmen and Irish-Ameri--
cans in the city are already within its
fold. which is a promise III itself that
no step backward will be the motto.
! AS proof of their energy and general
go-aheaditiveness, the members OF the
"A. o. Ii. have rented one of the finest
| halls in the city, which is now known
as Hibernian hall, at a rental Of 5000
per year. This hall is located at the
corner of Second street and Fourth
avenue west. by system Of sub rent
ing the Order manages Or will manage
to cut down their own expenses largely.
1t is differed as follows: President,
Peter @. Doonan; vice president, James
Nolan; recording secretary, John Nc
Carthy; financial secretary, Thomas
McNally; treasurer, John McMullep;
marshal, D. 2. Harrington; sergeant
at-arms, Thomas McNally; trustees,
Robert Cunningham, j. }. Drjscoli,
Ed Fennel]y. The Catholic knights Of
Wisconsin has large membership in
Ashland. The following gentlemen
are the officers OF the branch: Presi
dent, Postmaster Jerry Sullivan; vice
president, J. B. Ferstl; recording secre.
tary, Peter Lamell; trustees, John
Hynes, Alex, Zipperer, j. B. Ferstl.
Mr.. Lanell also ills the positions Of
financial secretary and treasurer.
a splendid new brick veneer school
building is in progress Of erection,
which will cost in The neighborhood Of
5000 and will be in charge Of the Sis
ters. The Sisters hospital, on Front
street and Third street east, is certain
" credit to Ashland--it would be to
q city three times its size. There are
two buildings in use for this purpose,
one frame, or tue old hospital build
ing, and the other, brick veneer, late
ly erected at cost of $l5 ,0O0 The
former will accommodate sc patients, and
the latter, which has been built with
all modern improvements, is capable Of
caring for 200 more. There are thirty !
five Sisters acting in the capacity Of |
nurses, and as an institution for the
care of the sick 1t is considered the
pride of Ashland. Where the hospital
stand fully one-half block Of
land is owned by the Sisters, On Front
street and Third avenue east. The new
structure is known as St, Joseph's hos
pital.
So far as the writer's observation ex-
tended he found a spirit OF cordiality
among Irishmen and the descendants of
Irishmen wherever he met them during
his brief visit to that CITY Nor is this
lacking among other nationallties
there. The welcome that a stranger
receives in Ashland must naturally
carry with it good impressions, and this
is the secret Of that city S steady growth
now in the face Of the fact that a boom
OF a somewhat extraordinary nature
bore down upon aud threatened the
future prosperity and advancement OF
Ashland in 1887. We would like to
mention all with whom we came in
contact because they are deserving OF
oS! I.