The Dodgevill area in Franklin Township was called Casey's Prairie around 1934. In the 1840s the Catholics in the Dodgeville area decided to build a church in Dodgeville. The original church, a brick building, standing just east of the present building, on the site where the rectory now stands, was erected by the Reverend Bishop Loras, Iowa's first Catholic Prelate. Services were conducted by the German Jesuit Fathers of St. John's who came out of Burlington. This was six years before Iowa became a state, which was De. 28, 1846.

In 1888, Pastor Rev. J. B. Wilhelm was charged with three mission churches in Des Moines County: Augusta, Kingston and Dodgeville. All were formerly cared for once a month by the German Jesuit Fathers of St. John's Church in Burlington. In 1901, the members decided to build a new church and it would be built entirely of stone. It was 72 feet by 40 foot in a Romanesque architectural style. The estimated cost at that time was $3,000. The walls of the church are almost three feet thick and faced with Bedford Stone blocks purchased from Colorado. The two towers are 87 feet tall. The windows were made by the Pittsburgh Glass Company in Davenport. A great deal of work was done by the parishioners which reduced the cost greatly. Still, the total cost of the church topped $13,000. The building was completed in 1905 with 26 of the original 30 families remaining, almost 50 years after building the original brick church. The first High Mass was celebrated on December 10, 1905. The church was dedicated on May 28, 1906 by the Reverend Bishop Davis.

On February 16, 1930 the church burned to the ground. Only the stone walls were left standing. After the ashes cooled, searchers found the fire blackened altar vessels. The Chalice was intact, but nothing else was left. Parishioners did manage to save the school and parsonage with the help of the Burlington Fire Department's pumper truck and many county residents assisting by hauling water to the site. Reconstruction was started on the church immediately. The Stations of the Cross mounted in the walls were furnished by St. Paul's Church in Burlington as they had purchased new ones.

The dedication of the church, presently standing in Dodgeville, was held on July 7, 1931 with Bishop Rohlman performing the dedication ceremonies. St. Mary's Church continues to serve the people of Dodgeville and surrounding communities as a mission church.