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Writer's pictureVic Baiel

Special Project 1: The Abandoned Salvatorian Seminary

Opened as a college and minor seminary for the Salvatorian order until the late-1960s, this area in St. Nazianz was once full of an abundance of citizens influenced by this religion that travelled from Europe to this small town in Wisconsin just south of Green Bay. From 1909 to 1962, the seminary included four years of high school and the first two years of college. Patterned after the classical seminary program, this was known as the “minor seminary” years. In 1962, the Salvatorians opened a full four-year college in Waukesha, Wisconsin, and those first two years of college classes in St. Nazianz and in the other Salvatorian seminaries across the country were moved there. Salvatorian Seminary then became a “high school seminary.” That pattern was being repeated by many seminaries across the country around that same time. In the 1970s it was reopened as JFK Prep Academy for boys, living within their own dormitories and educating themselves along with this religion influence. That school remained open until 1982, when the finances of running a “small private school” were no longer feasible for the Salvatorians.



The view when you enter the area; the Seminary faces the entrance and is the primary building, residing in the middle of the 'campus' grounds.



A closer look into the detail at the entrance of the Savlatorian Seminary. The windows remain boarded up to stop visitors from breaking in and exploring the inside that is claimed to be "haunted."



The back side of the Seminary building; the windows have no remaining glass and are boarded up with wood panels.



Right behind the Seminary resides the only human life remaining within this area. Built off the retired school's gym, this small thrift store is open to the public with a few visitors on daily business days.



Right in front of the Thrift store remains a statue encased in stones, appearing to be well preserved unless recreated from the late 1900's.



Right behind the small statue in the previous photo is a church that is non-accessible as well, the windows boarded up as the building slowly deteriorates.



A larger shot of the old church and its unique structure.



To the direct left of the church remains a graveyard full of fathers and brothers that I assume were once related to this church.



At the stem of the graveyard lives a tomb of the founder of this area, Fr. Ambrose Oschwald. He travelled from Germany to Wisconsin on the mission of spreading this religion, later dying in 1873 and being placed in this building to rest.



The older graves remain closer to the 'tomb' of the founder, living through white crosses as more recent ones are gray and a semi-circle like shape.



Right behind the tomb lies a small prayer building that was used by the JFK Prep School for boys in the 1970s. Photos from back then reveal there were benches, a small stage, and crosses in which the boys kneeled and prayed to.



On this exact red building there is a plaque claiming this historic area is now listed within the 'Wisconsin State Register of Historic Places', suggesting this property holds a great significance own the history of the run-down town of St. Nazianz.



A capture that was chilling to stand by; this grave with no title or current label of significance appears to be recently buried with nothing more than a small statue guarding it.



An abandoned building standing behind the recent grave; this property was listed as private and I was unable to specify was the significance was behind this structure.

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