Union Hill
The community of Union Hill is located partly in Belle Plaine Township in the southern part of Scott County, and partly in Le Sueur County.
The original European American settlers of Union Hill mostly came from the same area- from within 50 miles between Bonn and Trier in Western Germany near the border of Luxembourg on the west and the Rhine River on the east. They settled in the Union Hill area starting in 1857. g
These immigrants would have considered themselves Prussian, and they spoke a form of low German. In spite of the geographical proximity, there were actually some language discrepancies in Union Hill at its founding. Families from Waxweiler pronounced some words differently than families from Alendorf even though the communities were less than 25 miles apart.
There was a strong motivation for these immigrants to come to Minnesota. At a time when farming was a key to financial independence, politics at the time rendered land ownership almost impossible for this group of Prussians in Europe. Prussia also demanded military service from men, and some chose to leave to avoid this duty.
St John’s Church
The cornerstone of the community was St John’s The Evangelist Roman Catholic Church, which the settlement of Union Hill sprang up around. It was constructed in 1867, and the first High Mass was given in July of that year.
The building of the original church did not come easily. It was described at the time as the “culmination of ten years of struggle” This struggle included a church made of wooden logs that parishioners built in 1860 two miles from the present church, only to be told that it could not be consecrated because of its proximity to St Benedict's Church.
The 1867 church lasted for 16 years, when it was replaced in 1883 by a larger building, which still serves to this day.
In 1983, the New Prague Times published a translation of a piece written by Albert and Victorian Rushland, sharing Albert’s memories of St. John’s Parish. The piece was shared in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the new church.
Albert remembered that the original church was very difficult to build “The roads were very bad so two or three oxen were coupled together, and so it went through thick and thin”
The church started its days with a series of pastors from Germany, who stayed as long as they were able, and then returned to their home country. Eventually, father Schnek stayed two years, but “during this period he had the misfortune of having his horses run away from him, when he fell under his wagon and broke his leg”.
The next priest, Father Deusterman, requested 17 dollars a month for his services, to which the author reported replying “Oh ho” incredulously Deusterman also wanted a school for the church, which Albert Ruhland agreed was important. Ruhland went to collect money for the project with him, and described the venture thusly:
“Ya, I told him, I want to bring you to the best man we have in the parish, A. Lochen. And so we went to Lochen. When we arrived, Mr Lochen asked
‘What do you want here?’
‘We want to collect for the new school’
‘So I will give nothing. Let others do for the parish as we have already done, We already have a school’
Then Father Deusterman said ‘I did not come here for a sermon, I can do that myself. If you will not give, I will put you down for zero’. Lochen replied ‘As far as I am concerned you can put me down for two zeros, it is all the same to me.
I then begged Deusterman to give me his list of parishioners. And so he gave me the list and I went right back to Lochen. He said ‘Oh! What is it now!’. I replied ‘You know this will not do. There should be a school at the parish’. ‘Ya’ he replied. I told him I would give 10 dollars. ‘All right, he said, I will give 10 dollars too’. Then I went to M. Schoenecker, and he gave the same. Nick Schoenecker also and N, Lenz. Also Schommer, Theo Lochen, R Rech and Kramer. Also Bartel Schoenecker. And so the school was built.”
This occurred in 1873. The completed school was a two story frame building 20’ by 40’ square. Soon after a teacher’s residence was added. Unfortunately, an 1894 fire destroyed both buildings. They were rebuilt in 1895, and stood until 1920 when they were again destroyed by fire.
Ruhland’s favorite priest was Father Mathias, who came to the church in 1880. He noted “All that could walked to the church even with terrible weather. The church was always full. And how nice it was on the communion rail. It was gratifying to see everyone trying to make peace with their god. He also met with the children during their first hour of school”
By 1883 there was a clear need for a larger church, and the community came together to build one. Ruhland noted proudly “The new church upon completion stands there with no debts. All was paid for by donation, with all our hauling and own labor”.
Upon its dedication Jordan Advocate described the new church as “one of the finest churches in the country”
Like many other Scott County churches, the parishioners of St Johns celebrated its anniversaries with pomp and flair.
In 1916, they marked their Golden Jubilee with “religious services, exercises, and meals for all by the ladies of the parish”. The New Prague times assured readers that services and speeches would be conducted in “The English, German, and Bohemian languages”. Afterwards, the Jordan Independent reported that “many visiting priests were present and the home congregation increased by hundreds of visitors”. In the evening there “was a picnic in the nearby grove and young folks presented a drama in the parish hall. On monday there were church services in the morning and a dance in the evening”.
1940’s Diamond Jubilee was a grand affair. At 10am ceremonies started with an orchestra performance and procession to the church. During the day there were “songs speeches and lunch”, sandwiched by morning and evening sermons.
The 140th anniversary was marked in 2006. The event coincided with the 90th birthday of Father Elgar, who at the time had been the pastor at St. John’s for 40 years. The event was held in a huge tent set up on the lawn of the church and included a meal, speeches, and “visiting dignitaries”