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 forested region in the central and western Scottish Highlands, particularly stretching through parts of what are now Lochaber, Badenoch, Strathspey, and possibly as ...

, Columbia County,

Wisconsin Wisconsin ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest of the United States. It borders Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michig ...

, 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 the longest river in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, at approximately 430 miles (692 km) long. As a tributary of the Mississippi River, it is part of the Mississippi River System. The river's name was first recorded in 1673 b ...

. 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 , are a series of fourteen images depicting Jesus Christ on the day of his crucifixion and accompanying prayers, These stations are derived from the im ...

, 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 Burials at Calvary Cemetery (Milwaukee) 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. ...

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 Catholic prelate who served as the first Archbishop of Milwaukee from 1843 until his death in 1881. Biography Early life and education John Henni was born on June 15, 1805 ...

. 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 Church, Catholic Fraternal and service organizations, fraternal service order founded by Michael J. McGivney, Blessed Michael J. McGivney. Membership is limited to practicing Catholic men. ...

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 The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics worldwide as of 2025. It is among the world's oldest and largest international institut ...

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 Federal government of the United States, United States federal government's official United States National Register of Historic Places listings, list of sites, buildings, structures, Hist ...

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