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HISTORY

SFX Church 1902.png

Greenwood Cemetary Collecction

The image above is of the laying of the church's cornerstone in 1903.

​Picture a small group gathered in the priest's home, where Mr. Phillip Schmidt, our first teacher, ignited the flame of knowledge. Since that chilly January day in 1883 St. Francis Xavier school has been a place where learning is rooted in tradition and faith.

From humble beginnings, St. Francis Xavier grew and a simple one-room schoolhouse appeared in 1885, soon expanding to two rooms by 1887. Then, in 1890, a significant chapter began with the arrival of the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity from Wisconsin. For over a century, until 1999, these dedicated sisters poured their hearts into our students and remain the only religious order to ever teach here.

In 1902, the present church was erected through the collective efforts of local parishioners, who generously contributed both materials and their skilled labor.

 

  • 504 Days of Labor

  • 451 Days with Teams

  • 87,000 Feet of Lumber

  • 112,000 Feet of Logs

  • 102 Cords of Stone

  • 1,000 Loads of Gravel

  • 2,000 Loads of Sand

  • Every post for Scaffolding

Little Traverse History Museam

As our community flourished, so did our school. In 1927 and a grand new building rose. The construction of the new St. Francis parochial school building, an $82,000 project, began with a contract awarded to Ashland, WI's Egan & Thomelson. Planned featured included eight classrooms, a dining hall, a gymnasium, and living quarters for the sisters. The three-story structure measured 106 by 61 feet and touted being "modern in every respect" and constructed to be "as near fireproof as is possible."

 

The cornerstone of the high school addition was laid in 1954 and by 1963 eight classrooms were added to accommodate an enrollment of 905 students. Though the high school closed in 1971, the spirit of St. Francis Xavier, its rich history, and dedication to faith-based education continues to thrive. Today, we invite you to be part of that story, where tradition meets modern learning in a nurturing, faith-filled environment.”

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