Friends of St. Bridget's Church

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Friends of St. Bridget's Church

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Friends of St. Bridget's was formed to preserve St. Bridget's Church, the Nolan Settlement, for future generations to connect with and celebrate their heritage.

11/09/2026

SAVE THE DATE - the annual St. Bridget's Christmas Party will be on Sunday, December 6, 2026 at the church; doors open at noon. All are welcome to attend!

11/01/2026

Today is All Saints' Day. Today, we remember the saints who lived lives of faith, kindness, and compassion. May their examples remind us that we don't have to be famous, wealthy, or perfect to make a difference. Sometimes, the smallest acts of kindness can leave the biggest impact on someone's life.

10/27/2026

Recently, we painted our doors and the wood trim around the doors & windows. It was very weathered. Thank you to Joe Lynch and Lynch Brothers Painting for the great work!

10/01/2026

What could $250 buy in the 1860s?
At Nolan Settlement, it helped establish a church community.

Historical accounts say that in 1863, 40 acres were purchased for $250 (about $6,646 in 2026). A small frame church was erected on the property. That first little building eventually gave way to the brick church that has become such a familiar landmark today. A remarkable legacy from a remarkably modest beginning.

You can help us continue preserving this legacy; donate securely online here: https://tinyurl.com/465rdnf8

(Aerial photo believed to be from 1937)

09/26/2026

🌎 Calling all Nolan Settlement descendants!

One of our favorite things about St. Bridget’s is discovering how far the families connected to this little country church have traveled.

If your parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents attended St. Bridget’s, tell us:

What family are you connected to, and where do you live today?

Iowa? Illinois? Colorado? California? Somewhere even farther away?

Let’s see how far the St. Bridget’s family has spread.

09/22/2026

Why is it called Nolan Settlement?

Before St. Bridget’s Church existed, Father William Edmonds traveled through the countryside southeast of Solon to celebrate Mass in settlers’ log cabins.

According to the history preserved by St. Mary’s of Solon, Father Edmonds encouraged Mr. Nolan and four other families to build a small church and told him that if they did, the area would be called Nolan Settlement.

More than 160 years later, the name survives.

Does your family have roots in Nolan Settlement? Tell us the family name in the comments.

09/14/2026

The metal roof was recently cleaned; rusted holes were sealed, primed, and painted, and the trim along the roof soffits was covered with white metal trim. Thank you, Wells Painting for doing this great work! Make a donation today and help us with projects like this. Donate securely online here: https://tinyurl.com/465rdnf8

09/07/2026

There is always work to be done, and your generous donations help us to maintain our historic church. We recently replaced the old fuse box with an updated electrical panel. Several additional light switches have also been installed. Thank you, Hellwig Electric, for helping keep St. Bridget’s safe and maintained. Make a donation today and help us with projects like this. Donate securely online here: https://tinyurl.com/465rdnf8

08/16/2026

Road Construction Alert: Weather permitting, Morse Road NE at the intersection of Highway 1 will be closed to traffic on Monday, Aug. 17, 2026.

Morse Road NE will also be closed near Morse for a bridge replacement project on Monday, Aug. 17, 2026.

Vehicles wanting to travel on Morse Road NE on Monday, Aug. 17, should use 210th Street NE to Peters Avenue NE. Those wanting to access Morse Road NE between Highway 1 and Morse may go south on Turner Avenue NE.

Visit https://www.johnsoncountyiowa.gov/secondary-roads/road-construction-updates for additional updates on this project.

08/10/2026

A newspaper article from October 15, 1894, features news from Morse, including news of "The fine large new bell for the new Catholic church which is under course of er****on in Nolan Settlement was taken out from Morse...weighs almost 2500 lbs."

Address

2136 St. Bridget's Road NE
Solon, IA
52333

Website

http://www.friendsofstbridgets.org/

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