Durward's Glen is a historic property located in the town of

Caledonia Caledonia (; ) was the Latin name used by the Roman Empire to refer to the part of Great Britain () that lies north of the River Forth, which includes most of the land area of Scotland. Today, it is used as a romantic or poetic name for all ...

, Columbia County,

Wisconsin Wisconsin () is a state in the upper Midwestern United States. Wisconsin is the 25th-largest state by total area and the 20th-most populous. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake M ...

, northeast of the village of Merrimac. The land encompasses a ravine nestled between steep bluffs, part of the Baraboo Bluffs adjoining the

Wisconsin River The Wisconsin River is a tributary of the Mississippi River in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. At approximately 430 miles (692 km) long, it is the state's longest river. The river's name, first recorded in 1673 by Jacques Marquette as "Meskousi ...

. Nature trails wind throughout the area. The property includes a church, a grotto, residences, a barn, an outdoor

way of the cross The Stations of the Cross or the Way of the Cross, also known as the Way of Sorrows or the Via Crucis, refers to a series of images depicting Jesus Christ on the day of his crucifixion and accompanying prayers. The stations grew out of imitati ...

, and religious statues, including the Guardian of the Glen statue near where Durward's daughter was born. A small cemetery contains the graves of the Durwards and several of their children.Durward's Glen, Religious Sanctum and natural Wonder, May Be Restored by Local Knights of Columbus; Plan for Retreats
" ''The Capital Times'', October 19, 1924. Retrieved January 3, 2013. The Durwards' original house burned in 1951.

History

In 1862 the property became the home of Bernard Durward, a painter and poet, and his family. Durward had been born in Montrose, Scotland, emigrating to the United States in 1842, and finally settling in Wisconsin in 1845.Artist's Wisconsin Home Now a Shrine
" ''Milwaukee Journal'', June 26, 1931. Retrieved January 3, 2013. Before moving to the glen, he was a painter in Milwaukee whose compositions included portraits and works with religious themes. Among his portraits were those of local notables, including

Solomon Juneau Solomon Laurent Juneau, or Laurent-Salomon Juneau (August 9, 1793 – November 14, 1856) was a French Canadian fur trader, land speculator, and politician who helped found the city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was born in Repentigny, Quebec, Canad ...

Byron Kilbourn Byron Kilbourn (September 8, 1801December 16, 1870) was an American surveyor, railroad executive, and politician who was an important figure in the founding of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was the 3rd and 8th mayor of Milwaukee. Biography Kilbour ...

, and Archbishop

John Henni John Martin Henni (June 15, 1805 – September 7, 1881) was a Swiss-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who served as the first Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, Wisconsin from 1843 until his death in 1881. Biography Early life a ...

. It was while painting Henni that Durward became interested in Catholicism, converting in 1851. He then became the first teacher of English literature at St. Francis Seminary, where he taught for several years. The Durwards discovered the site when they were visiting friends in the area. When they fell in love with the glen, they negotiated with the blacksmith who lived there to buy the land.Durward's Glen
" ''Milwaukee Journal'', September 7, 1919. Retrieved January 3, 2013. The Durwards called their home "Auld Geordies", but later referred to it simply as "the glen".Harold M. Griffin,
500 Help Dedicate Durward's Glen Chapel
" ''Wisconsin State Journal'', October 15, 1928. Retrieved January 3, 2013. The Durwards had six children, five sons and a daughter. Two sons became priests. While living in the glen, they engaged in various artistic endeavors. Mrs. Durward made lace, often for priests' vestments. One son was a religious painter. To supplement their income, they also engaged in truck farming, selling their fruits and vegetables in local markets. The Durwards constructed a house on top of a knoll on the property. In 1866, the family built a small chapel so that Mrs. Durward did not have to walk so far to church. One of her sons was ordained there. Later they added a studio to the buildings. After the chapel, known as "St. Mary's of the Pines", burned in 1923, it was restored by the Madison council of the

Knights of Columbus The Knights of Columbus (K of C) is a global Catholic fraternal service order founded by Michael J. McGivney on March 29, 1882. Membership is limited to practicing Catholic men. It is led by Patrick E. Kelly, the order's 14th Supreme Knight. ...

in the late 1920s.Begin restoration of Durward's Glen
" ''Wisconsin State Journal'', August 11, 1925. Retrieved January 3, 2013. The Durward family sold the land to the

Roman Catholic Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a lette ...

Order of St. Camillus in 1932. The order established a seminary on the land, where it trained priests beginning in the 1930s.Ed Zagorski,
Durward's Glen a religious experience
" ''Baraboo News Republic'', September 10, 2012. Retrieved January 3, 2013. The order's primary building was a 75-foot stone and log novitiate, built entirely by hand.Durward Glen Chapel Done
" ''Milwaukee Journal'', June 08 1935. Retrieved January 3, 2013. The buildings were expanded in the 1960s to accommodate a conference and retreat center. The glen was sold to The College of Saint Mary Magdalen in 2007, which owned the land for four years before selling it to Durward's Glen Our Lady of the Rosary Group. The group now uses the property as a retreat center, and for weddings and other group events. The glen was added to the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...

on November 7, 1978.

References

External links

Historic photos of Durward's Glen

Historic newspaper articles about Durward's Glen
{{National Register of Historic Places Gothic Revival architecture in Wisconsin Italianate architecture in Wisconsin Buildings and structures in Columbia County, Wisconsin Historic districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Wisconsin National Register of Historic Places in Columbia County, Wisconsin