An aerial view of Wilno, Minnesota. St. John Cantius Church is in the center of the photograph, and has the two tall spires that existed prior to their shortening in the early 1950s. Photo from the St. John Cantius Roman Catholic Church records, Immigration History Research Center Archives, University of Minnesota Libraries.
Wilno was laid out in 1883 on land provided by the Chicago and Northwestern railroad to create a Polish settlement. The community was formed as part of a planned effort between the railroad and leaders of Polish National Alliance (PNA) with the cooperation of the Catholic Church. The organizers named the town after Vilnius by taking its Polish name Wilno.[2] St. John Cantius Church was established in the town in the same year.[3][4] Rev. R. Byzewski of Winona born in Kashubia and Bishop John Ireland of St. Paul also worked to establish the church.[5]
By 1891, the town was centered on the Polish Catholic parish and school. It also had a post office, carpenter, blacksmithy, general store, saloon, and wagonmaker. The town postmaster also operated a small reading room.[6]
A common myth is that when the railroad attempted to buy land for right-of-way, two Wilno farmers refused the amount offered. So the railroad was built through what became the town of Ivanhoe instead.[2] In fact the railroads frequently bypassed small "inland" towns like Wilno.[7] The town remained a tiny Catholic settlement.[4]
The centennial for the church was celebrated in 1983. At that time Wilno consisted of the church, two stores, and 10 households.[2]
^ abc"St. John Cantius Parish - Hills MN: A parish history from the 1983 Jubilee Book". internet Polish Genealogical Source. 20 October 2011. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
^John Radzilowski, "Hidden Cosmos: The Life Worlds of Polish Immigrants in Two Minnesota Communities, 1875-1925," Ph.D. diss., Arizona State University, 1999.
^ ab"Historic Resources of Lincoln County (Partial Inventory - Historic Properties)". Multiple Resource Area Nomination. 4 August 1980. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
^"St. John Cantius Roman Catholic Church records, Immigration History Research Center Archives, University of Minnesota Libraries".
wilno, minnesota, wilno, unincorporated, community, located, royal, township, lincoln, county, minnesota, united, states, unincorporated, communitywilnoshow, minnesotawilnoshow, united, statescoordinates, 49972, 23139, 49972, 23139countryunited, statesstatemin. Wilno is an unincorporated community located in Royal Township Lincoln County Minnesota United States Wilno MinnesotaUnincorporated communityWilnoShow map of MinnesotaWilnoShow map of the United StatesCoordinates 44 29 59 N 96 13 53 W 44 49972 N 96 23139 W 44 49972 96 23139CountryUnited StatesStateMinnesotaCountyLincolnTownshipRoyalElevation1 677 ft 511 m Time zoneUTC 6 Central CST Summer DST UTC 5 CDT ZIP code56142Area code507GNIS feature ID654217 1 An aerial view of Wilno Minnesota St John Cantius Church is in the center of the photograph and has the two tall spires that existed prior to their shortening in the early 1950s Photo from the St John Cantius Roman Catholic Church records Immigration History Research Center Archives University of Minnesota Libraries Contents 1 History 2 See also 3 References 4 Further reading 5 External linksHistory EditWilno was laid out in 1883 on land provided by the Chicago and Northwestern railroad to create a Polish settlement The community was formed as part of a planned effort between the railroad and leaders of Polish National Alliance PNA with the cooperation of the Catholic Church The organizers named the town after Vilnius by taking its Polish name Wilno 2 St John Cantius Church was established in the town in the same year 3 4 Rev R Byzewski of Winona born in Kashubia and Bishop John Ireland of St Paul also worked to establish the church 5 By 1891 the town was centered on the Polish Catholic parish and school It also had a post office carpenter blacksmithy general store saloon and wagonmaker The town postmaster also operated a small reading room 6 A common myth is that when the railroad attempted to buy land for right of way two Wilno farmers refused the amount offered So the railroad was built through what became the town of Ivanhoe instead 2 In fact the railroads frequently bypassed small inland towns like Wilno 7 The town remained a tiny Catholic settlement 4 The centennial for the church was celebrated in 1983 At that time Wilno consisted of the church two stores and 10 households 2 See also EditJohn Cantius church s namesake References Edit Wilno Minnesota Geographic Names Information System United States Geological Survey United States Department of the Interior 11 January 1980 a b c St John Cantius Parish Hills MN A parish history from the 1983 Jubilee Book internet Polish Genealogical Source 20 October 2011 Retrieved 20 April 2015 John Radzilowski Hidden Cosmos The Life Worlds of Polish Immigrants in Two Minnesota Communities 1875 1925 Ph D diss Arizona State University 1999 a b Historic Resources of Lincoln County Partial Inventory Historic Properties Multiple Resource Area Nomination 4 August 1980 Retrieved 20 April 2015 St John Cantius Roman Catholic Church records Immigration History Research Center Archives University of Minnesota Libraries Radzilowski Hidden Cosmos Radzilowski Out On the Wind Poles and Danes in Lincoln County Minnesota 1880 1905 Marshall MN Crossings Press 1992 56 61 Further reading EditRadzilowski John Out on the Wind Life in Minnesota s Polish Farming Communities Minnesota History Spring 2002 17 28 External links EditImages of Wilno and St John Cantius Catholic Church St John Cantius Catholic Church records University of Minnesota Libraries Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Wilno Minnesota amp oldid 1119425910, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
