St. Benedict’s Catholic Church, Wild Rice, N.D. Slide Collection
Collection
Identifier: Slides 775-797
Scope and Content
The St. Benedict's Catholic Church slide collection contains 23 color slides presenting the history of the church, its buildings and leaders. It was likely produced for a slide show celebrating the churches centennial in 1970. They are housed with-in the Institute for Regional Studies Slide Collection, slide number 775 to 797.
Dates
- 1970
Access
The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the NDSU Archives.
Copyrights
Copyrights to items in this collection remain with original copyright holders or are in the public domain.
History
St. Benedict's Catholic Church is the third oldest Catholic Church in North Dakota. It was established 1870. Originally known as "Holy Cross Mission," it was first noted by a United States surveying party in October, 1870, located at the confluence of the Wild Rice and Red Rivers east of the present day Renold Cossette farm, 4 1/2 miles northeast of St. Benedict's Church. This log church burned in the spring of 1871.
Louis Francois LaFleche was a missionary priest who made trips through the Red River with hunting parties between 1844 and 1856. He later became Bishop of Trois Rivieres in the province of Quebec. When farmers there decided to emigrate to the United States in search of better farm land, Fr. LaFleche told them that fertile land could be found at the junction of the Red River and Wild Rice River.
The first pioneer who came to establish permanent home and farm was Ulphi Cossette, father of Marie Flore who was the first white child born in Cass county. Other homesteaders who followed in 1870 include, Pierre Toupin, Joseph and Charles Sauvageau. Names of other early settlers from St. Benedict's include: Morin, Herbert, Denis, DuBord, Trottier, Richard, Pronovost, Brunette, Brunelle, Bellemare, Bernier, Bailly, and Montplaisir.
A second church building was started in 1872 and completed in 1875. By 1875 there were 40 Catholic families located in the immediate area. This second church was located near the Red River in what is now the "Forest River" subdivision, formerly part of the Richard Johnson farm. The church was described as being built of logs, and approximately 20 x 30 feet. In 1882 the Holy Cross Mission Church was moved to its present location, and was given the name of "St. Benedict's". There were 600 Catholics under the charge of Fr. Bernier. A larger church seating 300 was built in 1888 at a cost of $6,000. It was tom down in 1913 when the present church was erected. It costed $12,000 to build. The first couple married in the new church was Arthur DuBord and Lumina Rheault. Arthur was the grandfather of Leo DuBord, current parishioner of St. Benedict's. The present priest's residence was built in 1923, replacing an older structure.
In 1903 six sisters of St. Mary of the Presentation opened a Catholic school at the site of the current CCD Center to the south of the rectory. Additions to the school were added, with the high school opening in 1939. Sisters took in borders of French-Canadian families who wanted their children schooled in religion and according to French tradition. The high school closed in 1964, and in 1968 the final eighth grade class graduated.
Records of St. Benedict indicate 21 young women became sisters, two men became priests and two others became religious brothers under the aegis of the school.
History copied from St. Benedict’s Catholic Church of Wild Rice : 125 Years, 1870-1995. Horace, N.D: The Church, 1995, page 1-2.
Louis Francois LaFleche was a missionary priest who made trips through the Red River with hunting parties between 1844 and 1856. He later became Bishop of Trois Rivieres in the province of Quebec. When farmers there decided to emigrate to the United States in search of better farm land, Fr. LaFleche told them that fertile land could be found at the junction of the Red River and Wild Rice River.
The first pioneer who came to establish permanent home and farm was Ulphi Cossette, father of Marie Flore who was the first white child born in Cass county. Other homesteaders who followed in 1870 include, Pierre Toupin, Joseph and Charles Sauvageau. Names of other early settlers from St. Benedict's include: Morin, Herbert, Denis, DuBord, Trottier, Richard, Pronovost, Brunette, Brunelle, Bellemare, Bernier, Bailly, and Montplaisir.
A second church building was started in 1872 and completed in 1875. By 1875 there were 40 Catholic families located in the immediate area. This second church was located near the Red River in what is now the "Forest River" subdivision, formerly part of the Richard Johnson farm. The church was described as being built of logs, and approximately 20 x 30 feet. In 1882 the Holy Cross Mission Church was moved to its present location, and was given the name of "St. Benedict's". There were 600 Catholics under the charge of Fr. Bernier. A larger church seating 300 was built in 1888 at a cost of $6,000. It was tom down in 1913 when the present church was erected. It costed $12,000 to build. The first couple married in the new church was Arthur DuBord and Lumina Rheault. Arthur was the grandfather of Leo DuBord, current parishioner of St. Benedict's. The present priest's residence was built in 1923, replacing an older structure.
In 1903 six sisters of St. Mary of the Presentation opened a Catholic school at the site of the current CCD Center to the south of the rectory. Additions to the school were added, with the high school opening in 1939. Sisters took in borders of French-Canadian families who wanted their children schooled in religion and according to French tradition. The high school closed in 1964, and in 1968 the final eighth grade class graduated.
Records of St. Benedict indicate 21 young women became sisters, two men became priests and two others became religious brothers under the aegis of the school.
History copied from St. Benedict’s Catholic Church of Wild Rice : 125 Years, 1870-1995. Horace, N.D: The Church, 1995, page 1-2.
Extent
23 Photographic Slides (23 photographic slides)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
St. Benedict's Catholic Church is the third oldest Catholic Church in North Dakota. It was established 1870 near the confluence of the Wild Rice and Red Rivers.
Provenance
Donor unknown.
Property rights
The NDSU Archives owns the property rights to this collection.
- Title
- Finding Aid to the St. Benedict’s Catholic Church, Wild Rice, N.D. Slide Collection
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Institute for Regional Studies Repository
Contact:
West Building N
3551 7th Avenue North
Fargo North Dakota 58102 United States
ndsu.archives@ndsu.edu
West Building N
3551 7th Avenue North
Fargo North Dakota 58102 United States
ndsu.archives@ndsu.edu