The Rev. Matthias Wernerus arrived in rural Grant County in 1918 and began beautifying his church, as any pastor might. But when a grateful parishioner donated a life- sized statue of the Virgin Mary, Wernerus was inspired to create a unique showcase for it.

Using free materials, he gradually built the Dickeyville Grotto. He covered two-story walls with cement into which, while it was still wet, he pressed bits of colored stone, glass, and other "found objects." Parishioners contributed seashells, pebbles, tiles, gems, crystals, crockery, onyx and corals, until nearly every square inch was covered with bright colors - a three-dimensional kaleidoscope of religious and patriotic designs.

In just three years, Wernerus crafted one of the nation's best examples of folk art, and tens of thousands of pilgrims visited it before his death in 1931.

Exposed to the elements, the fragile structure slowly deteriorated, and the tiny parish was unable to restore it. But about 10 years ago, a grateful visitor announced, "I'd like to help restore this grotto. . . . God has been so good to me and my construction business that I feel he led me here to do this to thank him."

So from 1995 to 1997, the Rev. Jim Gunn led the congregation in repairing cracked cement, replacing missing tiles and gems and shoring up weak railings. Like Wernerus, he embedded found objects and encouraged the village children to participate.

Today the Dickeyville Grotto is again a destination for streams of admiring visitors.

- Wisconsin Historical Society
http://www.wisconsinhistory.org

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