The parish of St. Hubert’s is one of the oldest in the county. Many years before becoming the City of Chanhassen, the community went by the name St. Hubertus in honor of this parish. The church has played a central role in the community life of that town since it was organized. Named for Saint Hubert, who lived in Belgium in the 600s, converted to Christianity, gave all his money to the poor, and became a missionary bishop, his life has become a guide for the church and its parishioners.
Father Magnus Maria Mayr, O.S.B., organized the parish of St. Hubert’s Church in 1865. It was his belief that German immigrants should preserve their culture here in America rather than trying to be too “American”. He believed this preservation would happen only by the settlers settling, worshipping, and attending school together. The German Catholic community around St. Hubert’s was his attempt to accomplish this.
The original church was a small log cabin, only 18 x 24 feet, built on land donated by Henry Pauly, Sr. and additional land purchased by the congregation. That structure was used until a new pastor was appointed in 1872. The story goes that Reverend Father William Lette refused to offer mass until the congregation built a new, nicer frame church. Father Aloysius Wewer was appointed in 1877, the first in a long line of Franciscans who served at the church.
Father Wewer was replaced by Father Ambrosius Jannssen, who in 1881 began construction of a 2-story brick structure that would serve as both a school and residence for the Franciscan nuns who worked at the school. That structure burned shortly after, with a new one replacing it. A wing was added on in 1894, consisting of 2 classrooms and a hall. The Sisters of St. Benedict came to teach at St. Hubert’s in 1895.
Around this time, Archbishop John Ireland was encouraging German-Catholic settlement in Minnesota, as a way to grow and expand the Catholic Church here. In 1887, the village around St. Hubert’s was turned over to the diocese, and platted as St. Hubertus. All streets were named after Saints: St. Aloys, St. Claire, St. Francis, St. Joseph, and St. Mary. Main Street was St. Hubert, which it would stay up through the mid-1900s. The village remained as St. Hubertus until it was incorporated as Chanhassen on April 21, 1896. Archbishop Ireland also oversaw dedication of the newly constructed St. Hubert’s church. Construction began on this in 1887, led by Reverend Fulgentius Eich. It was completed in 1888.
St. Hubert’s Church became the center of daily town life in Chanhassen up through at least the 1940s. Life revolved around church, school, work, festivals and holy days. The baby boom after WWII caused need of a larger school, which opened in 1957. In the twenty-first century, that building is home to Chapel Hill Academy. Expansion continued after that, with a new church in 1976 and the old brick school being torn down in 1974, with the latest being the new school and church built in 1997.
The brick 1888 church was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. That same year, the structure was leased by the city for $1 per year, and was used by the Colonial Church at Heritage Square as headquarters.
In the twenty-first century, the students and parish of St. Hubert’s remain active in community events and social justice activities. Among the festivals and activities, past and present, are: the ReDiscover Celebration, the German Festival, the Feast of St. Hubert, the Knights of Columbus, Feed My Starving Children, Sharing and Caring Hands, MealTrain, and the Harvest Festival.
Related Resources
[Primary]
St. Hubert’s website. Historic St. Huberts. Accessed August 15, 2014. www.sthubert.org/historic-st-huberts
Hoisington, Daniel John. Chanhassen: A Centennial History. Chanhassen, MN: The Press, Banta Corporation, July 1996.
[Secondary]
“City Attempts to Preserve Old St. Hubert Church.” Chanhassen Villager, March 9, 1995.
“Fate of Historic Church in Question.” Chanhassen Villager, December 4, 2008.
“Future is Unknown for Old Landmark Church.” Chanhassen Villager, September 6, 1990.
“Golden Jubilee: St. Hubert’s Catholic Parish of Chanhassen 50 Years Old.” Weekly Valley Herald, November 11, 1915.
“Keeping the Past Alive- Parish, City Look to Preserve St. Hubert’s.” Chanhassen Villager, October 21, 1993.
“On The National Register of Historic Places.” Chanhassen Villager, March 15, 2007.
“St. Hubert’s To Build $230,000.00 School Building.” Weekly Valley Herald, April 19, 1956.
“The Historic St. Hubert’s Building Dedicated in 1888 Has Closed.” Chanhassen Villager, August 6, 2009.
“Traditions Kept Alive at St. Hubert’s.” Chanhassen Villager, January 7, 1988.
