The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1901-06-13
Nz HIlsslon Church Burned.


One of Oldest marks in Northern Wisconsin
soyed by fire early hour Monday morning which time
the old Catholic Mission Church at LaPonte island
burned the ground For the people Chequamegon
have pointed out particular object Of interest the ancient
Church. and historians and have told
the ancient structure Some the old Church
closed frame the better to order
view the old Mission necessary inside
not difficult attendant usually charge
the time Of the visit of writer
the fire destroyed it. John Cado
to the island one hundred and fifty years ago
It probable that the Church actually Father
Baraga between 1885 and 1910 and than likely that the
picture which much sentiment
brought the by Father Baraga al
though greater antiquity claimed for BOTH and the strous
Marquette historians with both
Marquette succeeded Grossieee
early missionary explorers of Lake Superior was
gospel to the Indian
tribes whom perhaps five number
have wranged for years
church, and of them have agreed that
Washburn Ashland still later
authorities the writings of
the early explorers the correct location was
Vandeventer Greek, which into the bay point
very the Thompson mill in this city However
it remained ndisputabe that the Mission existed and
there appeared to be reasonable conjecture that the old
Church Madeline the exact place. and this claim
undisputed number years com
panes notably Wisconsin Central positively
established Had been for rivalry
Congregational missionaries and the Catholics doubtful
antiquity building would have seriously
question Investigation which apparently
quite clearly demonstrated that the Marquette church the
mainland they practically proved this from the writings
great explorer And pointed that the
building used in the Madeline island church. notably
nails and flooring unknown in the time of Marquette the
part the sixteenth century However
built 1885, and there
lived substanate this story Rev Wheeler formerly president
of the Ashland Academy who born the island the
FORTRESS whose father Congregational missionary gave
light the buildings the church. claiming
writings father structure
had confirmed the building having been done 1885 Other
equally reliable authorities appeared to have practically settled
Much also
ing which entitled he Descent From the Cross
foughtfor the reicnthe sixteenth
and that originally brought the Mission by Marquette
the gift the ancient explorer from Pope
Seventh 1854 1t further claimed painting
the work of the famous old German MASTER Rubens But
this beautiful have exploded
through the Investigations of the Catholic people, who
origin the picture and whose explanations
accepted Their claim has been that the COPY
Rubens Italian painter that it
Father Baraga who to the old
Mission 1885 The old Mission has people
the practically unanimous Catholics
tants that product of the past century, still all
to tell of the connected with it, the
rarely mentioned without reference
the usrous Marquette whose early explorations splendid
spreading the truth of the gospel among untuored
and uncvzed in the middle the
ury has made for him unding placed
monument his statue in the National Capitol
Washington, the gift Of the great state of Wisconsin,
The traditions of the old church will always
with it's history and region the Che
quamegon bay will be mentioned without reference to the
other.
COfninU Highly