St. John (Blairstown, Iowa)

St. John (Blairstown, Iowa)

"Saint John Parish in the Benton County town of Blairstown came into being in 1945 as a mission of Saint Patrick Parish in Watkins, only five and a half miles away. Father Nicholas U. Keffeler, pastor of Watkins, recognized the prospects for a parish in Blairstown as he saw the town outgrow most of its neighbors. The first annual report for 1945 listed 90 members in 24 households. Father Jospeh A. Sullivan came as assistant in 1945, and Father Nestor B. Goedken came the following year. Until a church could be built, Sunday Mass was celebrated in the American Legion Hall in Blairstown."

-Kurt, Rev. Msgr. Edgar, “Parish Profile #136,” The Witness, August 13, 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.

English.

Various primary and secondary sources.

ca. 1945/1947-
History of the parish over the span of about 70 years, including information about its priests and parishioners.

50th Anniversary Jubilee (3 documents)
Annual Financial Report (4 documents)
Bulletin (1 document)
Correspondences (2 documents)
Decree of Erection (3 documents)
History (1 document)
News Articles (2 documents)
Original Legal Files for the Reincorporation of the Church (21 documents)
Pastor List (3 documents)
Witness (3 documents)
Year History (1 document)
Zee Homily (1 document)

“New Church to Be Dedicated Where Mass Was Not Offered for 50 Years.”