The Cataldo Mission
The church's stone foundation was dug in the mountains half a mile away. Mud was used to hold the stone in place. Some of the timber was brought from a mile away. The Jesuits built three altars were built and carved all the decoration by hand. Above the altars were paintings depicting "Heaven" and "Hell," work of some of the best Old World artists brought to Idaho by the priests. Panels were carved on the ceiling by Brother Francis Huybrechts. Father Ravalli carved statues of the Virgin Mary and of St. John the Evangelist. He also carved the main altar and painted it to look like marble. The church had no pews, as the Indians were perfectly happy sitting on the floor.
The mission opened in 1853. Eventually the fathers built many other structures to make a small, self-sufficient village. There was a parsonage house, a lodge, a barn, a grist mill, and two cemeteries. The Indians camped around the mission in tepees. The priests continued to preach the gospel and teach the Indians about farming. Many Indians were baptized. Louise Sighouin, daughter of the chief, was baptized and dedicated herself to service of the mission. She taught the children and the aged. She visited the poor and nursed the sick. She criticized those who hung on to their old worship and often succeeded in bringing them over to the black robes. As a whole, the tribe always tried to foster peace between whites and Indians.
In 1853, Isaac Stevens, future governor of Oregon Territory, stopped to rest here on his way to take office. Two years later when he returned, he heard the pledge of allegiance to the United States from the Jesuit Fathers and Brothers, all of whom were Europeans. The mission was threatened during the Yakima Indian Wars that started in 1855. The Spokanes and the Palouses tried to get the Coeur d'Alenes to join them in a fight against the whites, who were, according to those two tribes, going to take away the Coeur d'Alene's land. Thanks to some careful persuading by Father Joset, at least half the tribe stayed out of the wars. At the end of those wars, the Coeur d'Alenes were required to sign the treaty along with the other tribes. The treaty was signed at the father's residence at Cataldo.
In 1877, during the Nez Perce war, some white settlers deserted their farms and fled in fear.
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