Father Francis Xavier Pierz Memorial Chapel - Brainerd, MN
Posted by: 
lenron
N 46° 16.527 W 094° 20.099
15T E 397143 N 5125518
Small chapel built in honor of Father Francis Xavier Pierz located in Crow Wing State Park near Brainerd, MN.
Waymark Code: WMCZ1V
Location: Minnesota, United States
Date Posted: 10/28/2011
Views: 7
This small stone chapel sits within the confines of Crow Wing State Park. The Park is the site of the former bustling center of commerce and village known as Old Crow Wing. Deserted since the 1870's, the village is now a ghost town that is preserved by the State Park.
In 1852 Father Pierz erected the first church and mission in North Central Minnesota. The church was torn down in 1915, but this church stands on the same site and same support stone as the original structure.
There is both a dated cornerstone and wooden sign commemorating the mission and documents it as the first.
The wooden sign reads:
Here on the site of the original mission church of Old Crow Wing, the Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus of Minn. have erected this memorial chapel in honor of Father Francis Xavier Pierz who here in 1852 established the first Catholic Mission in North Central Minnesota.
The stone cornerstone reads:
Chapel of St. Francis Xavier
Here stood the mission of the great servant of God, Father Francis X Peirz, his log chapel of 1852 and his frame church of 1867 (demolished 1915. Stones that supported the original structure's now support this stone, laid on Columbus Day in Minnesota's Centennial Year 1958 at which date the building of a permanent chapel was begun by the state's assemblies of 4th Degree Knights of Columbus
Website with more information on either the memorial or the person(s) it is dedicated to: [Web Link]
Location: Crow Wing State Park
|
Visit Instructions:
Add another photo of the memorial. You and/or your GPS can be in the photo, but this isn't necessary.