Meeting On the Steps - July 13, 1969

• Thirty-one former parishioners and one former pastor meet on the steps of the church to discuss ways to save the church from being demolished.


• Plans to form a "St. Bridget Historical Society" are discussed.
• Twenty-seven of those present sign a petition to save their church from destruction.
• Leo Eagan, Vincent Buessing and Nell Glynn elected to study legal aspects of forming a Historical Society.

1st Society Meeting - June 7, 1970 - First St. Bridget Day

• Accepted responsibility for St. Bridget Cemetery.  Established separate fund for cemetery maintenance and upkeep.
• Plans were made to order commemorative plates.
• On July 12, 1970, Archbishop Strecker was given a plan for the upkeep of St. Bridget Cemetery.

2nd Annual Meeting -- May 12, 1972

• Leo Eagan and Vince Buessing hung Sanctuary Lamp back in original location.
• Julian Schmitz, Galen Runnebaum, Vince Buessing and Leo Glynn move boulder onto church grounds for memorial plaque.

3rd Annual Meeting - - May 28, 1972

• Society Receives deed to church and property from Archbishop Strecker.
• Roofing the church was discussed. Plans made for colored metal.

February 7, 1973 -- Workday

• Metal for roof was ordered from Meyer Lumber. Elmer Sunderland will do the work. Labor $552.32 - Materials $1,882.00

4th Annual Meeting - - July 3, 1973

• Found Original Map of Cemetery, dated May of 1897.  Nell Glynn found map in a storage drawer at the church.
• Nell Glynn and Verla Krogman updated map with names and measurements from cemetery.
• Vincent Buessing, Mark Wagner and Marshall and LeLand Moore cemented west end of church basement at no cost.

7th Annual Meeting - - May 30, 1976

• The St. Bridget Historical Society received a gift of $800.00 from the Marshall County Historical Society to be used for upkeep.
• Plaque was installed on boulder in church yard. Cost: $125.00.
• Cemetery maps were professionally drawn by Grove & Company of Marysville. Cost: $177.50. (Cohorst & Company of Marysville has original drawn map).

November 15, 1976 -- Workday

• Hauser Studios of Stain-Glass contracted to repair Church windows in the spring. Cost: $ 2,475.00.

8th Annual Meeting - - May 29, 1977

• Mark Wagner repaired lightning damage to church chimney.  Cost: $150.00.

May 31, 1977 -- Workday

• Mark Wagner painted four upper windows on church building.  Cost: $10.00.
• Pump organ restored to original working order.  Cost: $300.00.

October 26, 1977

• Kirk Jacobs painted around 12 large church windows.  Cost: $72.00.
• Mark Wagner painted gutters and downspouts.  Cost: $50.00.

10th Annual Meeting - - May 27, 1979

• Irene Young completed St. Bridget History books. Cost: $.60 per book.

13th Annual Meeting - - May 30, 1982

• Bill Sunneberg painted and mounted holy water fonts by entrance doors.  These are the fonts Vince Buessing found buried by the church foundation.

14th Annual Meeting - - May 29, 1983

• Renailed roof and clinched nails on inside.  Work done by board members. Cost of materials: $ 126.00.

July 16, 1988 - - Workday

• Installed cemetery gate built by Bill Sunneberg and lettered by Terry Stallbaumer.
• Installed new fence around cemetery.  Cost: $ 1,277.51.

November 14, 1989 -- Workday

• Schiffbauer Construction repaired plaster in church.  Cost: $946.00.

August 1990 -- Workday

• John McGeeney painted church windows. Paint costs: $230.47. Labor costs: $ 1,308.00.

24th Annual Meeting - - May 30, 1993

• Discussed condition of statues. Made mention of desire to restore statues at the annual memorial day Mass and had eight families offer to fund the restoration project. Contract made with Johnson Restoration of Vermillion for $ 3,250.00. Funds all donated.

July 17, 1993 - - Workday

• Volunteers washed and cleaned main and side altars in church.

February 8, 1994 -- Workday

• "Glass by Fischer" of Axtell, Kansas repaired stain glass window in servers sacristy that was damaged by hail storm.

25th Annual Meeting - - May 29, 1994

• Discussed: costs of tuckpointing the church, interest rates on society's funds; Made plans to repair roof on northwest side of church
• Chari Johnson-Reynolds reported on preliminary site information for the National Register for Historic places.  The society is attempting to place the St. Bridget Church on the national list of historic places.

July 16, 1994 - - Workday

• Repaired roof and trimmed cedar trees in front of church. Did maintenance work in cemetery. Cost: $44.58.
• Rerocked portions of road in cemetery.

27th Annual Meeting - - May 26, 1996

• Discussed: Rock for cemetery roads; investing of funds in long term or short term CD's.
• Chari Johnson-Reynolds reported that Martha Hagadorn, architectural historian for the Kansas State Historical Society, is still holding our nomination to the National Register. Not sure when nomination will be sent to Washington, D.C.
• Leo Glynn reported he talked with Ed Nutt, trustee for the Glen Wuester Trust and St. Bridget qualifies for consideration for any future financial grants they make.
• Terry Stallbaumer reported that on the last workday the cross atop the steeple was removed for repairs and painting. They also trimmed the cedar trees in front and did maintenance work at the cemetery.
• Leo reported that the Church window frames need painting
• The term of Bill Sunneberg as President of the Historical Society is expiring in June. Bill asked for nominations for President. Bill was renominated and all in attendance were in approval. Bill will serve as President until Summer, 1999.

28th Annual Meeting - May 25, 1997

• The 28th annual meeting of the St. Bridget Historical Society was called to order by President William Sunneberg at 1:40 P.M. with 12 members present. Father Tom Dolezal said the opening prayer.
• Secretary Leo Glynn read the minutes from the previous general meeting. The minutes were approved as read.
• Leo Glynn gave the Treasurer's report, it was approved as presented.
• Tuck pointing and preservation of the church was discussed. Chari Reynolds explained that the work all has to be done by hand, and not by machine to preserve the brick. Restoration has to be done to the standards set by the National Registry of Historic Places. We need to get started on applying for grants, which can be turned in by the end of July. Chari Reynolds said part of the criteria is "how bad it is needed." An architect from the Kansas Historical Society will come and determine our need. We probably will apply for part of the total project or maybe the entire exterior renovation. Mid-Continental has evidently done restoration work in Kansas and Chari thinks that we should try to get a contractor who is familiar with Kansas Historical Society restoration rules. Galen Runnebaum said we can't wait too long, because the mortar is falling out. Vince Buessing suggested adding to the Glen Wuester Trust money ($5,000.) which we received to assist in our share of the cost, if we get a grant. It can be used for a tuck pointing fund, if we don't get a grant.
• We need to check our Insurance about liability for workers and contact a lawyer before contracting anyone. In case we don't get a grant, Chari Reynolds suggested possibly getting an architect class from one of the Kansas colleges to look at it for a class project.
• Terry Stallbaumer reported on last year's workday: trimmed trees, worked on repairs at church and cemetery. It was a shorter than usual workday. This year's workday will be the 2nd Saturday of July, (July 12). We will be doing window repairs and painting, tree trimming and also plan to rock road at cemetery, if we have enough help. Chuck Smith has repaired the church windowsills.
• Mowing cemetery -- Stallbaumers will continue it for the same price -$150, each mowing.
• Gerald Carroll had contacted us about moving an old school house that is 2 miles east of St. Bridget to the St. Bridget property. He would rather have the original St. Bridget schoolhouse back, but it has been torn down. The State Historical Society would have to approve of it before we could move any building in, even if we wanted to. No one at the meeting was very interested.
• Nominations for Secretary-Treasurer:  Galen Runnebaum nominated Leo Glynn. Vince Buessing seconded. All approved.
• Father Tom Dolezal led the closing prayer. Meeting adjourned at 2:50 with 17 members present.

29th Annual Meeting - May 24, 1998

• The 29th annual meeting of the St. Bridget Historical Society was called to order by Vice-President Terry Stallbaumer at 1:40 p.m. with fourteen members present.
• Father Tom Dolezal led the opening prayer. Leo Glynn read the minutes of the previous general meeting. Judy Bond moved they be approved as read. Evelyn Fangman Lackey seconded.
• Leo Glynn gave the financial report.
• Old Business: Fr. Tom Dolezal gave update on Heritage Trust application. Last July's first application was short on some things and was turned down. Harold Gurtler, Marshall County Commissioner, offered the professional services of the Big Lakes Regional Council of Manhattan to help with our second application, which was to be submitted by June 15, 1998. We will be applying for a Tract II grant, asking approximately $90,200. We are seeking $65,200 from the Heritage Trust and our share will be $25,000.  Tract II includes tuckpointing, plus metal flashing and some wood repair and painting.  Father Tom had a copy of the application for review.  Both Chari Reynolds and Big Lakes worked to complete this application.
• The church has had some recent wind damage to the flat roof area on the bell tower. Loose bricks have fallen onto the front entrance steps. The wind storm blew basement windows out as well.
• Galen Runnebaum asked when we could start on the repairs.  We will advertise to get bids, once we get the approval for our grant.  Once we have received the grant, hopefully we will be able to find a company to do the work.
• Terry Stallbaumer gave a report on the 1997 work day. They caulked and painted windows, rocked bad sections on the cemetery road, trimmed trees and other maintenance at church.
• New Business: Galen Runnebaum thinks we should change workday to when it isn't so hot.  Since the Archbishop we be here at the end of August, it was decided to set the workday for August.  Galen is going to ask the Axtell Knights of Columbus to help us on the workday.  This can apply for one of their projects.  Father Tom will send out a newsletter.
• Cemetery mowing: Terry Stallbaumer said they need $175 per mowing, instead of $150.  Galen made a motion to have them mow for $175.  Doris Glynn seconded.  Everyone agreed.
• Election of Vice-President: Galen Runnebaum nominated Terry Stallbaumer. Tillie Buessing seconded.  All agreed.
• Meeting adjourned at 2:30 p.m. with 20 members present.

30th Annual Meeting - May 30, 1999

• The 30th annual meeting of the St. Bridget Historical Society was called to order by President William Sunneberg at 1:30 P.M. with 7 members present. Father Tom Dolezal said the opening prayer.
• Secretary Leo Glynn read the minutes from the previous general meeting. Norma Stallbaumer moved the minutes be approved. Fr. Tom Dolezal seconded. All approved.
• Leo Glynn gave the Treasurer's report. After a short discussion Norma made the motion to approve. All agreed.
• Old Business: The old parish house which Terry and Norma Stallbaumer owned is being demolished to make way for their new home.
• Last year's work day?workers repaired basement door and ceiling tile in basement Some worked at cemetery
• Marilee Weber donated a load of rock for the road. Trees were trimmed, toilets were painted, and other needed maintenance was done to the church.
• New Business: The Stallbaumers will mow the cemetery again this year for the same price of $175 per mowing.
• Discussed applying for grant. Application has to be in on or before June 15th. Also discussed that for the grant we would need new pictures of Church, as well as a financial statement of the Historical Society. Fr. Tom suggested that we should reimburse Chari Reynolds for photos, copies and time preparing the materials for Big Lakes (the organization responsible for submitting our grant request).
• This year's work day will be the Third Saturday of July, which is July 17th. Doris Glynn will send out notices. Work needed: in bell tower, the next level down from the bell needs attention. Floor needs cleaning and rotten boards need replacing. Also, floor under bell is rotten and needs replacing. A new ladder for the bell tower has been built by Bill Sunneberg, Terry Stallbaumer and Leo Glynn. Galen Runnebaum asked about the cemetery fence. Terry Stallbaumer said it's okay till fall then it would need to be checked for breaks.
• Father Tom Dolezal said that the organ repairman, who repairs the church organs at both Summerfield and Axtell, says our pump organ has sustained some damaged from mice and it could be repaired for $100?$150 if we would transport it to Lincoln. He suggested we put some moth balls in the back to repel mice. He said it was a good organ.
• Election of Officers: 1999 was the year to elect or reelect the president of the Historical Society. Galen Runnebaum nominated Bill Sunneberg. Norma Stallbaumer seconded. All approved.
• Father Tom Dolezal closed with a prayer at 2:35 pm.