Highest Point in Washington County, WI
N 43° 14.646 W 088° 19.729
16T E 392119 N 4788779
Holy Hill is the highest point in Washington County, WI. Between 1862 and 1864, Francois Soubrio, a hermit was discovered living on Holy Hill. He built an altar and raised a cross. On May 24, 1863, a log chapel was built.
Waymark Code: WM4NHP
Location: Wisconsin, United States
Date Posted: 09/11/2008
Views: 26
The Basilica of Holy Hill sits on the tallest hill in this area
of southeast Wisconsin. It is a beautiful building that is visible
from many miles away. The buildings are gorgeous.
In 1906 members of the Carmelite order came to Holy Hill.
Visiting the Basilica:
The Basilica is open daily from 5:00 AM to 5:00 PM
From the Basilica of Holy Hill web site:
"The Discalced Carmelites came to Holy Hill from Bavaria at the
invitation of Archbishop Messmer on June 26, 1906. These first
Carmelites were Fathers Eliseus Mackina and Irenaeus Berndi and
Brothers Adam Modimayer and Alphonse Merl. The men were officially
introduced to the local community by Fr. Bertram on the feast of
the Visitation, July 2, 1906. Three more friars, Brothers Andrew
and Martin and Fr. Otto, joined the Holy Hill community in
September of that year.
The men braved their first Wisconsin winter in a farm house
known as the old Whelan home. The conversion from house to friary
was complete by December 8, 1907. Hardships were many. The men
wanted to leave often, but Br. Adam insisted upon staying. He was
convinced that God wanted the Carmelites to remain at Holy Hill.
Br. Adam died on October 7, 1916 and was originally buried behind
the second shrine. During excavation for the third shirne, his body
was moved to the approximate location of his marker, which is near
the tenth station just below the current friary parking lot. His
actual grave site was covered over during construction of the
present friary.
Fr. Kilian Gutmann, then superior of the Discalced Carmelite
residence in Fond du Lac, replaced Fr. Eliseus as superior of Holy
Hill in October 1906. Fr. Kilian remained as Holy Hill's superior
until October 1914. His administration was responsible for digging
a 230 foot well near the top of Holy Hill to provide water for the
pilgrims. His greatest privilege was to celebrate the Hill's Golden
Jubliee (1863 - 1913). Fr. Kilian was succeeded by Fr. Corbinian
Penzkofer in April 1914. Fr. Corbinian's office commissioned
sculptor Joseph Aszklar of Milwaukee to create the third (present)
set of outdoor stations. These are life-size statues of Bedford
Stone set in fieldstone grottos. Work on them began about 1918 and
was completed in 1928. Fr. Corbinian also supervised construction
of the building that is known as the Old Monastery Inn and Retreat
Center."