On land donated by Patrick Donohoe in 1861, early Irish immigrants built a white frame church here in 1867-68 and dedicated it to St. Patrick in 1868. The location was called Bad Axe, the original name of Vernon County. St. Patrick parish was attached as a mission to St. Mary's at St. Mary's Ridge, then transferred to Sts. Peter & Paul in Pine Hollow, and later to Sacred Heart parish in Cashton. Priests from those parishes served as pastors of St. Patrick and celebrated Mass here monthly and on other occasions. In August 1936, lightning struck the church and it burned to the ground. Many early settlers, founders of the parish, and later parishioners are buried in the cemetery beside the church site.