Abstract

Microfilmed copy of three record volumes of the Catholic Cemetery, La Crosse, Wisconsin, 1883-1935. The early records are in German (1883-ca. 1915); the remainder in English. Mainly a record of burials in the cemetery in date order.

Acc. No. 1997-23
Purchased by the Archives with gift funds from the Genealogical Society of Utah, Oct. 1997; originals filmed in July 1981; their control number 1306453.
Finding aid written by Anita Taylor Doering, Oct. 1997.

History

According to one newspaper article, the Catholic Cemetery, was begun in the 1850s with a donation of land by Joseph Ebner for a Catholic burial ground lying south of Market Street and extending south several blocks. Additional land to the north of the original cemetery was purchased in 1885, and a chapel was constructed in 1891. Grottos, flower beds, and a lagoon were some of the improvements made to the site. Another newspaper article cites the cemetery's first sexton, Erhard Reisinger, with building the grottoes and stations of the cross.

A mausoleum was planned in 1977 to provide above ground burial, and was completed in 1981. The old grottoes were razed to accommodate it. In an 1985 article, the cemetery caretaker said he buried approximately 200 people a year.

Scope and Content

Supposedly the cemetery dates to the 1850s and the early records were destroyed by fire. These microfilmed volumes are a record in chronological order of burials in the Catholic Cemetery, 1883-1935. Item #3 is first by section number, therein chrono-logically. The pre-1915 records were written in German and the script is difficult to read. After 1915, the records were written in English.

"Cemetery Now is 60 Years Old: Grandfather of Late Joseph Ebner Donated Ground for it in the Early Fifties," La Crosse Tribune 29 July 1910; special section, p.5.

Hollnagel, Gayda. "Catholic Cemetery Rich in History," La Crosse Tribune 6 July 1985, p.6.

"The Diocese of La Crosse Proudly Announces Catholic Chapel Mausoleum," La Crosse Tribune 23 Jan. 1977, p.9.

Hollnagel, Gayda. "Business Keeps Family Close to Heaven's Gate," La Crosse Tribune 10 Jan. 1995, p.A-1.