The community that built St. Anne's was chiefly German and German-Bohemian, mainly people who immigrated from around the border between Bohemia and Bavaria from 1881 to 1883.

In 1888, following approval of Bishop Kilian Caspar Flasch of the Diocese of La Crosse, construction of the church and adjacent cemetery began.

Next to the church to the west was the Highland School: further, in 1892, the Thums General Store and Post Office was built across the road.

Local preservationists and former parish members purchased the church and cemetery from the Diocese of Superior and formed Historic St. Ann's Inc..

[3] Over the years, through annual work bees, members have enhanced the building, grounds and cemetery property.