LA CROSSE COUNTY HISTORICAL SKETCHES


  Concordia Hall for many years
was the community house of the
village, and many of the villages
were saddened by the passing of the
landmark. The grounds were sold,
and an attractive Catholic church
has been built there.
         Maintains School
  The society maintained a school,
a dramatic society, an athletic as-
sociation, and a singing society. The
first teacher was a Mr. Kopling,
while a Mr. Steinberger, whose
memory still lives in the memories
of "old-timers" in the village, fol-
lowed him.
  With characteristic religious fer-
vor the Welsh people organized a
Congregational church at an early
date. This drew the Welsh from
the  surrounding   country, many
coming to church by ox team. The
humble little building west of the
creek was the scene of many a soul-
stirring gathering. Songs and re-
citing of poetry were common prac-
tices.
  For a time the Welsh of Fish
Creek worshipped with the Bangor
Welsh, but later built a Congrega-
tional church of their own in Fish
Creek. As the country became
more thickly populated a company
withdrew from the Congregational
church and founded the Welsh Pres-
byterian church, which still holds
services but in the English lan-
guage.


  A Baptist church with a mem-
bership of seven was organized in
the Big Creek school in 1855. Ser-
vices were held in the school at
Bangor, and as the membership
grew the church felt the need of a
building of its own. Jacob Johnson
donated land for such a building,
while William Phoenix constructed
it. The organization was formally
recognized by the La Crosse Val-
ley Association in 1858.
        Church in School
  The Presbyterian church of Ban-
gor was also organized at the Big
Creek school, and its first meetings
were held there. Later it met in
the Grange Hall in Bangor. The
church building was erected in
1884.
  Now Bangor is a prosperous vil-
lage of nearly 1,000 people. The
Hussa Brewing company of an ear-
ly day has become the Hussa Can-
ning company, and its products are
distributed in all parts of the coun-
try.
  Joseph Hussa, Sr., was one of
the early settlers, while his five sons
are prominent in the commercial
life of the village. Two daughters,
Mollie and a Mrs. Bemis, also live
in the village.
  Well-equipped schools, churches,
electrical system, water supply.
thrifty homes and enthusiastic citi-
zens make the Bangor of today a
delightful home town.


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