Be part of the Jessenland Legacy!
Option 1: The Legacy Fund
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Starting at $100, we offer four levels of support. With each level of support, you will be honored with a plaque prominently displayed in the building.
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Option 2: Make a donation!
Every dollar counts and we are grateful for any donation of money or time if you would like to help maintain and preserve the Jessenland Historical and Cultural Center building and grounds. If you would like to make a donation of less than $100 or would like to remain anonymous, please click the 'Donate' button below.
We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
or you can send check or money order to:
Friends of Jessenland
P.O. Box 234
Henderson, MN 56044
Jessenland History and Culture Center
Established in 1855, the Parish of St. Thomas the Apostle served as the foundational heart of Jessenland Township, recognized as Minnesota's pioneering Irish farming community, nestled just northeast of Henderson along the scenic Minnesota River. The present church structure, erected in 1870, holds a distinguished place on the National Register of Historic Places.
The roots of this community trace back to 1852, when Thomas, Walter, and Dennis Doheny first claimed land in the area. Within a few years, their numbers swelled as numerous other families arrived to join them.
Early spiritual needs of Jessenland's Irish Catholic settlers were met by visiting priests starting in 1854. By 1855, the formal establishment of St. Thomas Parish marked it as one of Minnesota's oldest parishes and the very first in the Diocese of New Ulm. It is believed that Father Thomas McMannus, the inaugural priest to minister in the region, may have provided the inspiration for the parish's enduring name.
Under the dedicated supervision of Father Theodore Venn, the cornerstone for the present church building was laid in May of 1870. Drawing architectural inspiration from the esteemed Church of St. Louis in St. Paul, Minnesota, the new edifice measures 36 by 85 feet. Its design beautifully echoes the Greek Revival style, characterized by a prominent pediment gable roof and subtle Georgian stylistic elements, particularly evident in the slender, elegant round tower and spire that gracefully ascend above the structure. Construction faced a formidable challenge when a severe storm struck in late summer 1870, threatening to halt progress entirely. Yet, through the collective efforts of over 300 devoted local residents, the building was completed remarkably swiftly, allowing for the celebration of an All Saints Day Mass that very same year. At its completion, the parish proudly counted approximately 100 families among its members. The adjacent eight-room rectory, which became home to its first resident priest, Father John W. Nealis, was finalized in 1878, and by 1881, parish membership had expanded to 130 families.
The name "Jessenland Township" itself is thought to have originated from Bishop Joseph Cretin's evocative comparison of the church's land to the biblical land of Gessen. Geographically, Jessenland Township, situated just north of Henderson, Minnesota, encompasses the entirety of Township 113, Range 26 West, save for a small portion carved by the meandering Minnesota River. The terrain is notably irregular, featuring high bluffs bordering the river, intersected by deep ravines. Inland from these bluffs lie numerous marshes, and in the northwestern sector, Silver Lake stands as a substantial body of water, renowned for its abundant fish. High Island Creek traverses the township slightly below its center, ultimately flowing into the Minnesota River. Historically, the land was blanketed by dense, heavy timber, a significant portion of which has since been cleared for wood and to facilitate extensive agricultural development.
Portions of this history were taken from "HISTORY OF THE MINNESOTA VALLEY, INCLUDING THE EXPLORERS AND PIONEERS of MINNESOTA", By Rev. Edward D. Neill and accounts from the Sibley County Independent (later known as the Henderson Independent)
The roots of this community trace back to 1852, when Thomas, Walter, and Dennis Doheny first claimed land in the area. Within a few years, their numbers swelled as numerous other families arrived to join them.
Early spiritual needs of Jessenland's Irish Catholic settlers were met by visiting priests starting in 1854. By 1855, the formal establishment of St. Thomas Parish marked it as one of Minnesota's oldest parishes and the very first in the Diocese of New Ulm. It is believed that Father Thomas McMannus, the inaugural priest to minister in the region, may have provided the inspiration for the parish's enduring name.
Under the dedicated supervision of Father Theodore Venn, the cornerstone for the present church building was laid in May of 1870. Drawing architectural inspiration from the esteemed Church of St. Louis in St. Paul, Minnesota, the new edifice measures 36 by 85 feet. Its design beautifully echoes the Greek Revival style, characterized by a prominent pediment gable roof and subtle Georgian stylistic elements, particularly evident in the slender, elegant round tower and spire that gracefully ascend above the structure. Construction faced a formidable challenge when a severe storm struck in late summer 1870, threatening to halt progress entirely. Yet, through the collective efforts of over 300 devoted local residents, the building was completed remarkably swiftly, allowing for the celebration of an All Saints Day Mass that very same year. At its completion, the parish proudly counted approximately 100 families among its members. The adjacent eight-room rectory, which became home to its first resident priest, Father John W. Nealis, was finalized in 1878, and by 1881, parish membership had expanded to 130 families.
The name "Jessenland Township" itself is thought to have originated from Bishop Joseph Cretin's evocative comparison of the church's land to the biblical land of Gessen. Geographically, Jessenland Township, situated just north of Henderson, Minnesota, encompasses the entirety of Township 113, Range 26 West, save for a small portion carved by the meandering Minnesota River. The terrain is notably irregular, featuring high bluffs bordering the river, intersected by deep ravines. Inland from these bluffs lie numerous marshes, and in the northwestern sector, Silver Lake stands as a substantial body of water, renowned for its abundant fish. High Island Creek traverses the township slightly below its center, ultimately flowing into the Minnesota River. Historically, the land was blanketed by dense, heavy timber, a significant portion of which has since been cleared for wood and to facilitate extensive agricultural development.
Portions of this history were taken from "HISTORY OF THE MINNESOTA VALLEY, INCLUDING THE EXPLORERS AND PIONEERS of MINNESOTA", By Rev. Edward D. Neill and accounts from the Sibley County Independent (later known as the Henderson Independent)
If you have any pictures of Jessenland, we'd love to see them! Please send them to [email protected]
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Links
Jessenland Township Planning & Zoning
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Sibley County Historical Society
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Jessenland Township on Wikipedia
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Township land plat map, circa 1955