School: Colby St. Mary's – 125 Year Celebration (2020)
Transcriber:
stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org
Surnames: Hudack, Kunze
----Source: Tribune/Phonograph (Abbotsford, Clark Co., Wis.) 05 Feb 2020
In a small, untamed corner of Wisconsin during the late 19th century, a group of
settlers chose to come and scratch a life from the wilderness.
They called their new home Colby, and over the years they built it into a
quietly prosperous place.
Their success in Wisconsin was a testament to the hard-working, stubborn nature
of their German and Scandinavian heritage.
But it took more than just work. They nurtured the dream that they would thrive,
with a hope that was fed from a clear spring called faith.
In 1886 those first settlers organized under a parish called St. Kilians, but as
their parish grew to include over 250 families, the parishioners realized they
needed a school to educate their children.
By 1894 a two-story brick building was erected, and thus the first Catholic
education came to Colby, with the school holding 50 students taught by three
nuns.
As the years went by, and families grew, the school expanded once more to its
present building and location in 1937.
While brick and mortar keeps the physical edifice standing, each generation
ensured that its spiritual foundation is always renewed. 125 years later, that
faith, and this school, endures.
St. Mary’s history teacher Scott Hudack has taught at the school for over 30
years, and as a historian, has a great appreciation for the school, and its
success in the area.
“I think people, whether they know it or not, need some stability in their
lives,” said Hudack. “It’s been there before they’ve been there, and it will be
there after they’re gone. There has to be something to depend on — the school
and the church is the physical representation of their faith.”
Steve Kunze, whose family has long, deep ties to St. Mary’s, spoke about the
enduring power of the parish and the challenges it has overcome.
“It’s been a great experience to be a part of something special like St.
Mary’s,” Kunze began. “I’ve been a member of the parish most of my life. My
parents were, I have been, all of my children have gone here. It’s nice to be
with people that have a great love of God.”
The school and parish have thrived throughout the years, but challenges — both
financial and cultural — are omnipresent, says Hudack, and it will take renewed
commitment to see both flourish.
“You don’t fnd that much anymore, that commitment and sacrifice that is needed,”
Hudack said. “We are a throwaway society, and sometimes we throw away things
that are very valuable. You have to integrate new ideas without destroying
foundations.”
The school has overcome great challenges before, and families like he Kunzes
continue to send children and grandchildren to St. Mary’s, and to extend and
reach out to others.
“This is a very welcoming place, and a welcoming school,” said Kunze, who
graduated from St. Mary’s in 1972. “The faith, and the school, take in everyone.
I have two grandchildren coming here, and I hope it’s still here for them. I
hope it continues to expand, and I hope it is here for another 125 years.”
New problems and new ideas will certainly come to St. Mary’s, and while
challenges are many, those within the parish are confident the school will
continue to be here though the coming years for future generations.
“You can’t pretend change isn’t happening,” Hudack said. “You have to adapt. I
think we’ve done that. We’ve added, but we’ve kept our core values and core
curriculum. Some of what we do might seem old-fashioned, but the faith survives.
You can see that in the students — they take on the roles and are propelling us
forward.”
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