Holy Cross Community

Church is Built

Dedicated and courageous, the Dutch settlers developed a closeknit community in Butler, and Holy Cross Church was their center. Francis Murray was instrumental in bringing the group of Dutch colonists to Butler in 1910. Murray was serving as an agent for the Johnston Land Company.

To encourage the sale of land, Murray contacted Father August Van Den Heuvel, to inquire about setting up a Catholic colonization program to help find colonists for the land in Butler. While on a visit to Holland, Father Van Den Heuvel (a native of Uden, Holland) found there was a possibility to have a Dutch priest of the Crosier order come with future colonists. Knowing there would be a priest there from their homeland, would be a great help in recruiting more people for the colony.

The first Sunday for the colonists was Easter Sunday. They held Sunday mass in the Modern Woodmen Hall, which was owned by the Modern Woodmen Insurance Co. of America.

In April of 1910, the Johnston Land Company began to build the first wood frame church and rectory on the forty acres of land that was eventually given to the Holy Cross Church as their property.

As more families settled in the Butler area, the church was getting too small. In the fall of 1928, digging began for the basement of a new church. The original church building and adjacent parish house were removed. The new church was completed in August of 1929. At that time, there were about 50 families attending.

Dutch was spoken often in Butler. The sermons in church were given in Dutch until the 1940’s.

Holy Cross catechism class, 1951.

Church Burns Down

Butler’s Holy Cross Church burned down after being struck by lightning on Mother’s Day, May 10, 1999.

One of the historical artifacts destroyed by the fire included the four-foot by six-foot photograph of the parish founders just after they arrived from Holland in 1910. The fire also destroyed a wooden trunk with the names of the original parishioners carved on it. That trunk was full of Dutch letters and manuscripts, an assortment of paintings, wooden shoes, and other items brought from Holland. These items had been safely stored in the church basement for over 100 years.

Ruins of Holy Cross Church, 1999.

Church Is Rebuilt

Butler’s Holy Cross Church was rebuilt just south of where the previous church stood. The new church opened with a Christmas Eve Mass on December 23, 1999.

The new church was dedicated the following March, only ten months after the fire.

Among other features, the new church is known for its distinctive stained-glass window located behind the altar. The window, acquired from a church in southern Minnesota, depicts Jesus as the Good Shepherd with his sheep.

The old tower bell was among the items saved from the old church. It has since found a home right outside the new church.

Tower bell rescued from the old church, 2021.

Left: Altar view in the new church.

Cemetery

The Holy Cross Cemetery was started in 1912. Henry Dupont was the first of the Holy Cross parish to die in Butler in September 1912. Dupont had helped to build the first church and parish house in 1910.

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Scholte headstone.

George and Johanna Boogaard headstone and markers.

Theodore and Marie Van Erp headstone.

Catherine and Peter Van Erp headstone. Johanna Van Erp headstone.

Holy Cross Cemetery

Memorial Monument

In 1985, a memorial monument was built for the 75th Anniversary celebration of the Holy Cross parish. It was built to honor the first parishioners who came from Holland in 1910. The memorial faces Holland and is located on the spot where the altar was situated in the original parish church.

The altar of stone and cement was designed and built by William Scholte. Built into the monument are windows which hold memorial cards of some of the deceased members of the Butler parish. Some of the earlier members have their names written across the windows as there were no cards available.

Within the construction of the altar is a large piece of concrete which was a part of the foundation of the original church. It is located in the front of the altar, under the words, Holy Cross.

Memorial monument, circa 2016.

Memorial cards in the monument windows.

“Shine (Johanna Van Erp),” mixed media collage.

Holy Cross Grotto

The Fatima Grotto was designed and built by William Scholte.

It is dedicated to the Dutch Immigrants who settled in the area.

The grotto in full bloom, circa 2012.

Fall Festival

The annual Fall Festival was held the second Sunday in September at Holy Cross Church. A dinner was served following the morning Mass, to raise funds for the parish. The parishioners would also hold the annual “Butler Shoot” during the festival. It was an occasion for hunters to practice their skills for the upcoming duck season. They shot at a target and whoever hit the bullseye won a live chicken. The Fall Festival started in 1929 and was held every year, except during World War II when many of its members served in the army.

44 “Mary Ann (Van Erp) Seifert and Bernice (Boogaard) Messer,” mixed media collage.

Church Choir

The Holy Cross Church choir was organized in 1910 with Joseph Fick as organist. Fick purchased and donated the first organ to the parish. Later, Mary Holzer served as organist for many years. Holzer was also a farm housewife and mother of ten children.

Holy Cross Church choir, 1963.

46 “She Would Bake (Johanna (Ruys) Boogaard),” mixed media collage.