A History of St. George Church and School - Kenosha, WI: A detailed account from the beginning in the 1830s to the present.

By Dr. Tim Dosemagen

The history of St. George School and Church is rich with stories that open up the past, revealing many things about our ancestors. The book covers this history quite well, adding many anecdotes, family stories, and tales from the childhoods of those who walked the halls of the school, from the early 1850s right up until the school was closed by the Archdiocese in 1986.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Nov 26, 2024
• ISBN: 9798823027724

Dr. Tim Dosemagen

Dr. Tim Dosemagen is a graduate of St. George School, with the Class of 1976. His ancestors, both Dosemagen and Hein, and Krethen and Kuhl, began as church members in the early 1850s, Tim represents the 5th generation of Dosemagens as parishioners at St. George / St. Elizabeth, where Tim has served as a Lector since 2022. The father of 2 and Grandfather of 4, Tim resides in the Greater Milwaukee area.

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© 2024 Dr. Tim Dosemagen. All rights reserved.

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ISBN: 979-8-8230-2771-7 (sc)

ISBN: 979-8-8230-2773-1 (hc)

ISBN: 979-8-8230-2772-4 (e)

Published by AuthorHouse 11/22/2024

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Contents

Dedication

Introduction

Beginnings

Foreword

German Immigration to Southeastern Wisconsin in the Early 1800s

Wisconsin Rules To Be Observed By Public School Students – 1846

Origins of the Church – Kevin Burrow’s Research

Excerpt from The Kenosha City Directory – 1875

History of St. George School Dissertation

Appendix

St. George’s Centennial Program For The Fair of July 5th and 6th, 1952

St. George’s Catholic Church

Parish Directory – 1976

Parish Directory – 1991

Parishioner Memories and Tributes

Selected Canon’s Columns – 2022 to 2024

The Legacy and Impact of a Great Catholic Education

A Tribute to St. Casimir Church and School

Epilogue

Dedication

Consider the following number: 10,000,000. TEN MILLIONS. Let that sink in for a moment.

Since the founding of the church approximately 180 years ago, at 52 weeks per year, averaging 11 Masses per week, St. George / St. Elizabeth Church has celebrated Mass (easily) 100,000 times. With an estimated average church attendance of 100 persons per Mass, it is safe to say that there have been well over TEN MILLION Mass participations at this Kenosha, WI landmark.

Then add the countless spiritual events - Baptisms / Confirmations / First Communions / Quinceaneras / Funerals / Confessions / Adorations / Vigils / Stations of The Cross / Marriages / Confessions / Passion Processions / Blessings of the Throat / Blessings of the Pregnant / Anointings of the Sick / Memorial Day Cemetery Observances and Masses / Tenebraes / Adorations / Holy Thursdays / Good Fridays / Holy Saturdays / Easter Sundays / Christmases

This extensive and impressive list of special church events simply goes on, and on, and on – continuing with strength - to this very day. HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of events, each featuring casts of dozens of volunteers, acolytes, Deacons, Lectors, celebrants, light bearers, incense bearers, choirs, altar boys, ushers….

Now consider the number 40,000. FORTY THOUSANDS.

From the founding of the school in the early 1850s through to its closure in 1987, with an average school attendance of 300 pupils, easily 40,000 school years were experienced at this Kenosha launching pad of learning. For many, like my grandfather Edward F. Dosemagen, (Class of 1921) a St. George School 8th grade graduation would serve as the entirety of their formal education, preparing them for a lifetime of gainful employment.

Then add the countless extracurriculars – Basketball / Scouting / Dances / Fairs / Fundraisers / Field Trips / Volleyball / Service Projects / Graduations / Baseball / Christmas Concerts / Recitals / Parent-Child Events / Choir events / Clean Ups / Dinners / Plays / Performances / Concerts / Guest Speakers / Anti-Abortion Rallies / Wartime Rallies / Book Clubs….the list goes on, and on, and on – continuing to this day with great vigor. TENS OF THOUSANDS.

The total: At least 2 Million. TWO MILLION! Just ponder that number, and ask: Why did it take 175 years for a book to be written that finally memorializes this astounding scope of vibrancy?

This book is dedicated to all of the great leaders of St. George Church and School, from its inception in 1851, through its transformation into St. Elizabeth Catholic Church in 2000, and now as part of the thriving Downtown Kenosha Catholic Church community today.

It is to the priests, sisters, teachers, coaches, association leaders, parents, volunteer leaders, and all the uncounted others who selflessly dedicate, and caringly dedicated their lives to the families, parishioners, students and community, to whom we owe so very much. This book salutes these pillars of the community, and anchors of Northside Kenosha’s spiritual life.

We specifically remember one such servant here – a true son of St. George, Fr. Ed Carroll, who passed on from his very productive life, just as this book was being finished.

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The Reverend Edward F. Carroll of Kenosha passed away at age 99, on a Tuesday in late November, 2023. Born on February 16, 1924, in Kenosha, Fr. Ed was the son of the late Elbert and Ethel (Williams) Carroll, and brother of the late William P. Carroll. He attended St. George Elementary School and St. Catherine’s High School. In 1940, he began his priestly formation at Saint Francis Minor Seminary. From 1944 to 1950, he attended Catholic University, Washington, D.C. He received graduate degrees in Philosophy and Theology. Father Carroll was ordained to the priesthood on May 27, 1950, at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Milwaukee, WI, by the Most Reverend Moses E. Kiley.

Father Carroll’s priestly ministry began on September 11, 1950, as an assistant pastor at St. Robert’s Catholic Church in Shorewood, WI. In September of 1955, Father began graduate studies in social work at the Catholic University of America. He was appointed the assistant director of Catholic Charities on June 20, 1957, and as chaplain at St. Mary’s Hill in Milwaukee on March 20, 1959. From 1957 to 1987 Fr. Ed also served as moderator of the Christ Child Society. On August 1, 1963, he became administrator of St. Charles Boys’ Home and Chaplain to the Brothers of the Holy Cross. Beginning on June 18, 1980, he became the director of Catholic Charities. His last appointment was on September 11, 1984, when he was assigned Pastor of St. Paul Parish in Genesee Depot, WI, where he served until his retirement on February 27, 1989.

Notably, Fr. Ed Carroll’s distinguished and remarkable journey with Catholic Charities (and his gifted impact in the social services) began in 1955, when the director of the Catholic Social Welfare Bureau asked him to join the staff as a Social Worker. Fr. Ed secured a Master’s degree in Social Work and joined the agency, where his main focus was to decentralize the agency. He helped open offices in Waukesha, Kenosha, Fond du Lac, West Bend and Sheboygan, while expanding the office in Racine. It was vital that we made our services more accessible to people throughout the Archdiocese, not just Milwaukee, he shared. In 1960, the agency’s name changed to Catholic Social Services to better reflect its broadened base of services to families, individuals, and the elderly. At this time, Fr. Ed was named Associate Director of the agency, overseeing the Milwaukee office. Following Monsignor Springob’s retirement in 1980, Fr. Ed was named Director of Catholic Social Services. In 1983, he retired from the agency. His ministry work continues.

Recently he assisted parishes as a senior priest. When asked about his time at Catholic Charities, Fr. Ed reminisced and stated that he felt fulfilled in his work every time an office branch was opened and when a social worker on their team added an MSW to their name. It’s good to know that people around the ten counties are receiving services because of the work that I was part of. But there are still several areas within the archdiocese that need our services. And it can’t happen without the support of the community and our partners. (Reprinted from the Winter 2020 Charities Newsletter)

To all the servants of Christ at St. George Church and School, and Saints Elizabeth and James today, along with the entire Downtown Kenosha Catholic Church family of volunteers and staff - thank you.

Introduction

Born on the western shores of Lake Michigan, about halfway between Chicago and Milwaukee in the city of Kenosha, State of Wisconsin, in 1962, the author is a proud alumnus of St. George School, Class of 1976. I am also a 5th generation member of St. George Church, presently known as St. Elizabeth Church.

Over the years, I had the pleasure of organizing several class reunions – each of which was held at the very same location of our 8th grade class graduation dinner celebration, Villa D’ Carlo restaurant in Kenosha. We held these events in 1988, 2001, and 2011, and each gathering featured great times recollecting the 8 most formative years of our lives, years that we shared together at one of Kenosha’s oldest churches and private schools.

Reunions are hard to organize, if only because they require travel. Late in 2021, in the midst of a pandemic, I created a very special group on facebook, dubbed ‘St. George Online Reunion’, which immediately grew steadily in membership, reaching well over 350 graduates, former church members, amateur historians, as well as the curious. Later in 2023 after several requests, I created yet another facebook group – specifically for the purpose of gathering material for this book, dubbed ‘A History of St. George Church & School’, which rapidly grew to 150 members. Pictures were posted, stories were shared, laughs were enjoyed as the stories flowed more freely than wine, and the memories came crashing in like waves. The two facebook groups widened even further, to include friends, family members, historians, the curious and other acquaintances – and included postings of historic significance, as well as humor. It was amazing, and more than once – inspired.

One of the early group members was Father Sean Granger, Pastor of Downtown Kenosha Catholic (which includes St. Elizabeth Church & Campus), and another early member was a notoriously chatty (but nevertheless curiously useful) lady who shall remain unnamed, possessing an amazing recall for names and events who attended St. George School in the 1950s. Father Sean’s knowledge of St. George history was deep, broad and scholarly – while the lady’s memories were often fascinating, salacious and intriguing.

Such is the stuff of great histories – like the fruit and the core, both sides of the coin were flipped often, enhanced by fancy and nostalgia perhaps - and much to this author’s great delight.

My father, Gerald E. Dosemagen (Class of 1945), had been church and school treasurer during the early to middle 1980s, right up until the Archdiocese of Milwaukee closed St. George’s school in 1986, ironically the same year the school successfully paid off its mortgage, well ahead of schedule.

So Father Sean, the lady and I each shared our roots at St. George, both deeply spiritual, personal and familial, and still very much alive in the present day St. Elizabeth Church, and Downtown Kenosha Catholic Community.

Beginning in the summer of 2022, the lady, Father Sean and I enjoyed several lunches together on Thursdays (German food days not coincidentally) at Union Park Tavern in Kenosha, a 2 block walk north from the church. Our conversations were always lively and engaging, ranging from current events, well into the past of the current Downtown Kenosha Catholic, and all things St. George Church and School related. We shared our faith through our memories.

These lunches were integral to stitching together the history of our church and school, as we were also joined on several occasions by Louisa Fredriksson, Downtown Kenosha Catholic Church’s (DTKC) talented and energetic Education Director, as well as many other notable guests from The Kenosha Historical Society. Thus were ‘The Friends of St. George’ formed.

Over many weeks and months, we enjoyed sharing many old pictures, stories and recollections.

These were so fascinating that an idea arose: What if a book on St. George’s rich history could be written?

Thus was the idea for this book launched, beginning a wonderful and loving journey of many discoveries, many of which you are now cordially invited to join. Come along – back to the past, and on to the present. Most importantly – please strap in - and do enjoy the ride!

And lastly, as you slowly read this wonderful book, please savor it - remembering the Old German Proverb, still seen on bumper stickers across the German autobahns today:

Reisen, nicht Racen.

Ride, don’t race.

Dr. Tim Dosemagen – Schlesingerville (Slinger), Wisconsin - USA

Beginnings

To help with this book, the following church bulletin announcement was published for several weeks, with thanks to Fr. Sean. This article ran for many weeks as the end of 2022 approached, and It helped significantly with the content of, and compilation of this book.

Preserving Our History

An alumnus of St. George School (Class of 1976), Dr. Timothy Dosemagen, is seeking your help with a new project. As many of you know, St. Elizabeth Parish’s campus was formerly St. George Church and School (for well over 100 years). Within all of those decades, there have been many years of memories. Dr. Dosemagen wishes to write a book to preserve stories of your experiences on our campus; these stories can come from both our years under our former patron, St. George, and our more recent years with our new patroness, St. Elizabeth. All of the proceeds of the book will go back to the parish to preserve our campus. If you are willing to pass along even a few small stories to Dr. Dosemagen to help assemble this book, you can contact him via email ([e-mail]).

Over one of our lunches, another idea arose: How might we gather memories from St. George alums who still attended church at St. Elizabeth?

We decided to create Christmas cards, and Fr. Sean wrote the following letter which was inserted into the cards, which were then handed out by the author to people as they entered and departed church from November through the end of 2022.

Christmas Season – 2022

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

I hope you enjoy this card. It is a fun tribute to the history of our parish campus. The gift of this card is my way of introducing myself.

My name is Dr. Timothy Brian Dosemagen, and I grew up in Kenosha, graduated from St. George School in 1976, and have returned as a parish member. I have had many experiences in my life, but I am most grateful to my faith and this campus for forming me to be both successful in life, and a devout follower of Christ today.

I love history, especially the history of this campus. Catholics have been here since 1845. It was under the protection of St. George for most of those years, but in 2000, we gained a new patroness, St. Elizabeth, the mother of St. John the Baptist.

Because I love our history and wish to preserve it for future generations, I would like to write a book. I would like to preserve stories of things that have happened on our campus. I would love to hear your stories and to incorporate them into this book for others to experience. Would you consider sharing stories of history you may know from previous generations, and your own history being here?

All proceeds from this book go back to the parish to preserve our lovely campus. The greatest profit, though, is to tell the story of generations of Catholics who gave great glory to God as they persevered in living the faith in their own time.

Beyond this book, I want to introduce you to an organization that I have created: The Friends of St. George’s. It is a way to connect alumni from the school as well as another opportunity to assist in preserving our lovely campus that we all share.

Please feel free to contact me directly at [e-mail] with your stories / mementos / pictures of our history for the book project, or perhaps even to join and be a part of the Friends of St. George’s. I hope you’ll consider assisting our mission. Every memory matters, and is very welcomed.

Enjoy the card, and thank you for being a fellow parishioner as we grow closer to Christ together here at St. Elizabeth!

Sincerely, Tim

Dr. Timothy Dosemagen | The Friends of St. George’s – Kenosha, Wisconsin

3824 Sherman Road, Slinger, WI 53086

Foreword

Where do books begin?

Was it in Trier? With my Godmother Karen Dosemagen (St. George Class of ’57) and her wonderful friend and travel partner, Judge Barbara Kluka, sitting in the amazing Dom Kirch, and listening to the famous Floating Organ – the church music almost martial in its rousing cadence and thumping beat…beckoning us to imagine: Is this what heaven is like?

Was it in the acts of visiting Schweich, Hetzerath and Fohren, searching in regen wetter, for 13 days, for our ancestors by knocking on so many church doors, including that of none other than Sankt Georg Kirch, and upon viewing the walls of this St. Elizabeth doppelganger church, actually viewing (among many others) the surnames Spieker and Bollendorf….and wondering, what if this was the launching point for Kenosha’s Saint George Church?

Was it in the whispers of the families gathered in great anticipation for the Tenebrae Service on Wednesday of Holy Week at St. Elizabeth, led by the intrepid and beloved Father Sean Granger, K.H.S., or the following night’s Holy Thursday, with its discalcing and washing of the feet, or the following day’s Good Friday Noon Mass, featuring an adoration of the cross so holy and so ancient, or the following night’s Easter Vigil Mass, resplendent with the sounds of the choir and instrumentalists, and the quiet cadence of the readings, beginning with Genesis 1:1?

Was it in the personally guided tour from Fr. Granger, taking time from his frenetic and unpredictable schedule to join me in viewing the upper hold of the beloved church bells, actually climbing the steps to the church’s highest reaches, walking above the ceiling on beams so big, so thick, it makes one wonder just how exactly those German immigrants got them up so high back during the 1876 rebuilding…Beams, mein Freund…..beams so big, that a man of over 250 lbs. barely made them squeak as he walked them, sweat pouring down his forehead……while Father patiently waited for this author to overcome his fear of heights just long enough to join me for the long walk back down the stairs, and back to the relatively safe altitude of choir loft?

Was it the early memories of my First Communion, and the joy of marching in the warm May breeze, finally joining the big folks (and my parents & siblings) in finally being able to fully celebrate the Eucharist?

Was it at my first Mass? My Confirmation? One of Father Sean’s famous sermons?

I do not know. Perhaps the answer is All Of The Above.

Now THAT would make Sister Martia smile.

– Dr. Timothy Brian Dosemagen, St. George School Class of 1976

Schleisingerville, WI - USA

German Immigration to Southeastern

Wisconsin in the Early 1800s

Excerpted from In The Richness of the Earth, A History of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee

by Steven Avella

Wisconsin’s population skyrocketed between 1842 and 1875. Beginning with fewer than 50,000 people in the year prior to the establishment of the diocese of Milwaukee, the population of the state had surpassed one million by the time Roman authorities created it as a Metropolitan See in 1875. The rapid growth affected every aspect of Wisconsin’s settled areas. It would put special stress on the development of Catholic life. The demands of this rapidly growing diocese came home to the first Bishop, Fr. John Martin Henni of Milwaukee, not only amid the clanging of hammers and the rush of building in the See city, but especially from an inspection tour he began shortly after his arrival.

Henni’s visitation (of 1844) revealed the pockets of Catholic settlement that had preceded the erection of the new diocese. First he inspected the work of O’Kelley and Kundig in the area south and east of Milwaukee. He headed directly southeast, stopping first at Sac Creek (Oak Creek) A strong settlement of Irish Catholics about fourteen miles distant from Milwaukee. He proceeded from there to Racine and Kenosha, "Two rapidly flourishing towns in Racine