St. Mary Mt. Carmel (Eagle Center, Iowa)
“Eight men organized Eagle Township in Black Hawk County in 1858. At least three of them are buried in the Eagle Center parish cemetery. A majority of the first settlers were Catholic. The first church was built on five acres of high ground, but never fully completed because of the economy. Train prices were depressed. After destruction in a windstorm in 1874, the church was replaced by a frame building that served the parish for over a century. The present church was completed in 1976, the property is a total of ten acres.” Rev. Msgr. Edgar Kurt, “Parish Profile #143: Saint Mary of Mount Carmel, Eagle Center.” Dubuque: The Witness, 1 October 1989.
The Archdiocese of Dubuque. The Center for Dubuque History at Loras College.
Loras College Kucera Center for Catholic Thought Frank and Ida Goedken Series: "Spiritual Life in the Upper Mississippi River Valley"
Burback, Emily. Burns, Daniel. Gibson, Michael. Oberfoell, Carol. Waldmeir, Helen. Waldmeir, John.
1859- History of the parish over the span of 159 years, including information about its priests and parishioners.
“Bishop Mathias Loras purchased a site in 1854 for the first church in Colesburg in northeastern Delaware County. Before that time, visiting priests celebrated Mass in various homes for the Irish settlers, who came into the area as early as the 1840s, and that explains the choice of Saint Patrick for their patron. They built their first church about 1862 under Father Michael Lynch’s direction and it served until a replacement was built in 1877. Land for the cemetery was donated by John McMahon, probably in 1857 as the oldest tombstone bears that date.” Rev. Msgr. Edgar Kurt, “Parish Profile #91: Saint Patrick Parish, Colesburg.” Dubuque: The Witness, 18 September 1988.
Ca. 1952- History of the parish over the span of 66 years, including information about its priests and parishioners.
"Bishop Clement Smyth directed Father Richard Nagle to acquire land within the town of Clermont, and a frame church was dedicated by the bishop in the fall of 1860. It was named for the patron saint of Peter Cummings who donated the land. Father John Hackett came to the parish in 1881 and planned a larger church built of Clermont brick and native stone. It was dedicated in June 1884 by Bishop John Hennessey, who also blessed a bell given by State Senator William Larrabee. Years later, Governor Larrabee gave the parish a pipe organ." -Rev. Msgr. Edgar Kurt, Saint Peter Parish, Clermont, Parish Profile #45, The Witness, October 18, 1987.
1853- History of the parish over the span of 166 years, including information about its priests and parishioners.
Historical documents pertaining to the history of Saint Raphael Cathedral in Dubuque, Iowa.
Various primary and secondary documents.
1833- History of the parish over the span of 186 years, including information about its priests and parishioners.
Historical documents pertaining to the history of Saint Mary parish in Eladora, Iowa.
ca. 1860- History of the parish over the span of 159 years, including information about its priests and parishioners.
"About the time this Clayton County town was looking for a name, Abd-el-Kader, an Algerian chieftain, was leading his countrymen to freedom. His bravery thrilled these Americans, and they named the town for him. Missionaries visited Elkader in the 1840s and 1850s. Then Father Patrick McGinnis came in 1856 as resident pastor. At that time the parish was named for the Nativity of Our Blessed Lady, but by 1869 it was known as Saint Joseph Parish." - Rev. Msgr. Edgar Kurt, Parish Profile #39, The Witness, September 6, 1987 Saint Joseph Parish, Elkader
1856- First Church 1856- Second Church 1897-1900 History of the parish over the span of 163 years, including information about its priests and parishioners.
"Early pioneers of Elma in Howard County had been attracted by employment in the Great Western railroad roundhouse. They attended Saint Patrick Church at St. Cecilia’s, west of Elma, where Father Francis Gunn was pastor. In 1892 the foundation for a church was laid on Elma property donated by Lemuel Potter. Later purchases gave the parish a total of six acres. Construction was not continual, but the church was finally ready for dedication to the Immaculate Conception in the summer of 1902. With 600 seat structure was of brick with white stone trim and slate roof. The interior was frescoed by George Satory, a prominent church decorator of that era." - Rev. Msgr. Edgar Kurt, Parish Profile #81, The Witness, July 3, 1988 Immaculate Conception Parish, Elma
1887- History of the parish over the span of 132 years, including information about its priests and parishioners.
"Three Catholic families of Epworth in western Dubuque County were formed into a parish by Father James Commerford in 1879. He had been ordained in Ireland in 1878 and appointed resident pastor of Placid (or Pleasant Grove) the following April. Soon after his arrival in Placid Father Commerford began celebrating Mass in the O’Connor home once a month. On November 9, 1879, the cornerstone of the first church was laid. Work on the church probably resumed the following spring, but there is no record of when it was completed or dedicated. That was probably when it was named for Saint Patrick." - Rev. Msgr. Edgar Kurt, Parish Profile #103, The Witness, December 11, 1988 Saint Patrick Parish, Epworth
1879- History of the parish over the span of 140 years, including information about its priests and parishioners.
Historical documents pertaining to the history of Immaculate Conception parish in Fairbank, Iowa.
1858- History of the parish over the span of 161 years, including information about its priests and parishioners.
"In 1860 Father John J. Aylward, pastor of nearby Bankston, began a frame church at Farley Junction, about a mile from the present church site. In 1867 Father Charles McGauran, pastor of Bankston, saw to the building of a rock church, which was used until dismantled for use in the present church. Well into the present century most of the members were Irish, and many of the pastors were also Irish. One of them served a long pastorate. Father David J. Slattery, from 1884 to 1912. He is remembered for his efforts in placing orphan children in the homes of his parishioners and caring for some in his own home." - Rev. Msgr. Edgar Kurt, Parish Profile #43, The Witness, October 4, 1987 Saint Joseph Parish, Farley
1861- History of the parish over the span of 158 years, including information about its priests and parishioners.