Early History of St. Augustine Church and Cemetery
(From: Joe and Dorothy Becker Archives and published September 8, 2004 in "Compilation on St. Augustine Church and Cemetery" by Rose Ann Blau)
"St. Augustine Parish began about 1840 with Sunday liturgy celebrated at the Joseph Kohler home. St. Hubertus Church, Hubertus Wisconsin was built in 1845 and St. Augustine Church was built in 1846 as a Mission of.jpg)
St. Hubertus. St. Augustine was originally a log chapel located in Section 7, Richfield Township. It was destroyed by fire in 1855.It was replaced that same year with a fieldstone church in Section 18 at Hwy CC and Hwy 167, Richfield Township. Father J. B. Hasselbauer was the first pastor of St. Augustine. He was replaced in 1861 by Father George Strickner.
St. Augustine Church Cemetery, Plot One, is·north of Hwy 167 and west of Hwy CC. A large 
cemetery structure was erected with back and outer front edges made of fieldstone. A cement cross was located in the center on the front. The first burial in this cemetery was William Radermacher in 1843.
St. Augustine Church had remodeling done in 1905, and the dedication was held August 25 with a picnic making $700.00. The parishioners were very happy about this. On November 15, 1915, the Carmelite Fathers were asked to become pastors of St. Augustine Church in Richfield. September 12, 1921, the newspaper reported that funds from last Sunday's bazaar at St. Augustine were to be used to remodel the interior of the church. During the summer of 1922, parishioners repainted and redecorated the interior of the church using these funds.
In the Fall on Saturday October 21, 1922.fire destroyed the church about xoon. Damage was approximately $12,000. The cause was unknown but could have been caused and/or related to an incense burner. Only a few church benches were saved. A new furnace had also been purchased and was about to be installed. The loss was partly covered by insurance of $5,000.
The Carmelite Fathers welcomed the parishioners to make the Shrine Church at Holy Hill their temporary church. St. Augustine Church was officially dissolved September 22, 1924, and St. Mary of the Hill Parish was established. New articles were now purchased for the altar and church. At that time there were .68 members in the church.
The stone walls that were still standing were in poor condition. Originally 
a few stone benches had been placed inside as a kind of meditation area, but the walls were so unstable that the benches had to be removed. In the early 1970s, the Parish Council had to take action on the ruins of St. Augustine Church. Because of the liability, the decision was made to tear down the walls so no one would be injured. After discussing several plans, it was decided that a memorial wall with a plaque would be built in one corner of the original church foundation.
In 2003, a five-year beautification program of the old 1850 cemetery began. Many burial lots were unidentified and had lost their markers, probably due to vandalism. A fieldstone display of broken and/or unreadable monuments was constructed along with a new cemetery shed.
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