Wayside Chapels of Door County
Pictures coming soon!
Chapel at St. Peters
This chapel is located beside St. Peter's Catholic Church, Highway S, Lincoln, and is referred to as the Chapel of Our Lady of the Afflicted. Over the door is the inscription 'Notre Dame Des Aflices Priev Pour Nous' which means 'Our Lady of the Afflicted Pray for us.' (From "Faith Built Many Chapels" by Jeanne R. Weber and Josie Wautlet)
Chapel of Our Lady
This chapel is located on County S and Bader Road In Dyckesville, Wisconsin. It was apparently a stop during processions from St. Louis Church in Dyckesville.
Chapel of St. Ghislane
This chapel is located on the old Vandertie farm (now St. Michael's Cemetery) on Misiere Road off of County J. Apparently the chapel was originally owned by Justin Flemal and his family. When Jules and Helen Vandertie bought this farm in 1930 they promised to care for the chapel. The farm was sold again, after the death of Jules, to Charles Massart, Jr. Norman Wautier, Helen's nephew, took over as the dedicated caretaker of the old chapel. In the early 1900s Constant and Mary Flemal had several children who died of convulsive disorders at a very early age. Once again pregnant, Mary prayed to St. Ghislane who is a special patron saint of sick children. The Flemals built a chapel and said Novenas to St. Ghislane. A healthy child was born and later two more children, who were also free from convulsions. (From "Faith Built Many Chapels" by Jeanne R. Weber and Josie Wautlet)
Chapel of St. Hubert
The Chapel of St. Hubert is located on the Lloyd Everard farm, Luxemburg, Wisconsin. It can be reached by taking County Y to Duvall Road. According to Mrs. Everard this farm, which previously had belonged to Lloyd Everard's father, was purchased from Joe Guilette. Mr. Guilette inherited the from from Eli Jeques who was the original owner. While building his house there in 1939, Joe Guilette suffered a severe nervous breakdown which caused him to be hospitalized. Depressed and anxious to return home, Joe prayed to St. Hubert, promising to to build a chapel in his honor if only he could recover. In the early 1940s Joe regained his health and stability and returned to the farm. He completed his home and built the chapel. St. Hubert is traditionally considered the patron saint of hunters. There are several prayers which call upon him to save the victims of "mad dogs," and so this is how he became known for his help to sufferers of nervous disorders. (From "Faith Built Many Chapels" by Jeanne R. Weber and Josie Wautlet)
Robinsonville Chapel
The largest and most easily found chapel is on County Road K in Champion, Wisconsin. It is not the typical white wayside chapel, but rather a beautiful small red brick church built on the site of an earlier small one. It was here that Sister Adele Brice saw visions of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1859. Here she established a small school for the local Belgian children, and it was here on October 8, 1871 during the great Peshtigo fire, whixh also swept across Door County, that neighbors gathered and were miraculously spared while much of the surrounding area was consumed by the spreading fire. The many crutches and canes that cover a wall of the chapel bear silent testimony to prayers answered here. (From "Faith Built Many Chapels" by Jeanne R. Weber and Josie Wautlet)
St. Odile's Chapel
This chapel was built in 1870 in honor of St. Odile. Legend claims that St. Odile was blind form birth but regained her sight miraculously. It is said that Joseph Destree, who owned the land, was also an accomplished stone mason. He built many of the stone building which still stand in the Southern Door County area. He accidentally got lime in his eyes as he worked. Fearing blindness, he prayed for St. Odile's intercession. Then he built this chapel. (From "Faith Built Many Chapels" by Jeanne R. Weber and Josie Wautlet)
If you have any other information about these or any other chapels in the Door/Kewaunee/Brown County areas, please email me.