A small, solitary white chapel on the corner of a country road near Warsaw, North Dakota is a symbol of hope and faith for those who labored the land on which it stands. The wayside shrine was built in 1907, during a time when Polish immigrants were flocking to Walsh County. These pioneers were devout Roman Catholics, and like many other churches in the area, this devotion led to the construction of St. Joseph’s Chapel.

Joseph Wosick was one of the Polish newcomers to the Red River Valley. Yearning for a sense of home, he suggested a cross or monument be built for the local farmers. Wosick donated the land for the chapel, while several others pitched in by giving $17. In total, $102 was allotted for the chapel’s construction. The chapel’s interior, just large enough for a priest and a pair of altar servers, is decorated with religious statues and paintings, and, naturally, stained-glass windows. A ray of sun brings the jewel-toned windows to life, reflecting shimmering, colorful confetti throughout the small space. On the outside, hand-carved crosses and trim, created by Joe Kotmatka, another local, have adorned the chapel’s frame and roof for over a century. The first chapel Mass was held in the fall of 1907 by the Reverend Mathew Gawkwicz.

Throughout the years, there have been several dedicated caretakers of St. Joseph’s, including Geraldine and John Bishop. In 1975, because of persistent floodwaters, the church was moved to its current location on the Bishop Farm. An annual mass offers the unique opportunity of worshiping in a roadside church, but visitors are welcome year round to stop and view this small piece of historic and pioneer history. St. Joseph’s Chapel was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1994 and remains a great testimony of faith for generations past, present, and future.