Grammy's Pictures (1) - Miles Standish

Grammy painted many pictures over the years.  Many were copies of paintings by masters, others were her original compositions.

Mom made notes on a few.  This is the first of what will eventually be many posts showing some of those pictures, the stories and other fragments of notes that exist on the paintings.  Miles Standish was, I believe, Mom's favorite of the paintings.  It hung in the dining room in Gig Harbor.

25x21 [Jean Madden]

Crough Patrick

Ireland's Holy Mountain

The tradition of making a pilgrimage to Croagh Patrick dates back to the Stone Age, when visitors gathered to celebrate the beginning of the harvest. Archaeological excavations have uncovered a Celtic hill fort and glass beads dating to the 3rd century BC.  Christian significance dates back to Patrick, who legend says banished the snakes from Ireland from this mount.

Well, I enjoyed it from the bottom, the views are wonderful and sitting in it's shadow is the a National Famine Monument.  Kailee who visited a few weeks later made it to the top, as did some of the family during our original Family Gathering in Ireland in 1998!!

Kailee at the top - Sept 2017

The Famine Memorial

Visitor Centre
Croagh Patrick Heritage Trail
National Famine Monument - Wild Atlantic Way
List of Memorials to the Great Famine
More Pictures

St. Bridget's Cemetery, Simpson

In 1853, the Michael Buckley family came to what is now St. Bridget's parish. The first mass was offered by Fr. Michael Prendergast in the Buckley log cabin located about 500 feet west of the present church. The land for the church and cemetery was donated by Mr. Buckley.

The early Irish settlers were served by priests coming from Winona. Later the parish was cared for by priests from St. John's parish, Rochester. In 1879, Fr. Edward Stack became the first resident pastor.

The church was built in 1859 of native limestone with parishioners furnishing most of the labor. Originally the church opened to the south to face the stage road from Winona. Sometime before 1883 a tornado destroyed the church roof. It was rebuilt with the door to the north, since the road to Simpson, a railroad town since 1865, now passed there. In 1914 a bell tower and sacristy completed the church as it stands today.

First settlers included the Buckley, Twohey and Campion families. The Buckley family settled along the stage trail from Winona to High Forest. In 1855, the first Mass was said in the Buckley home, located about 500 feet west of the present church. A kitchen table was used as an altar.

The Rev. Michael Pendergast from Winona's St. Thomas parish was in charge at St. Bridget's in those early years. He traveled by horseback where needed.

John C. and wife Bridget Buckley donated 10 acres of land in 1858 as a site for church and cemetery. Parishioners began constructing a church from native limestone, while lumber, glass and millwork were hauled up from Winona.

By 1859, St. Bridget's was completed and dedicated by Bishop T.L. Grace of St. Paul. Father O' Gorman of Rochester served St. Bridget's until 1879. Then the Rev. Edward Stack became the first resident pastor.

The cemetery was platted to the east of the church and just south of the stagecoach road leading to the Buckley Settlement and High Forest. Records show Margaret Campion was the earliest known burial, in 1854.

St john's church 1863 completed 1871 the cemetery dates from 1874.

Catherine Lawler and Daughter Hannah

Margaret  dau of Richard and Mary (Lawler) O'Connor

St. Bridget's Cemetery - Dropbox
St Bridget's Cemetery - Find A Grave
ST. Bridget's Church
As the Spirit Moves Me
St Bridget Church - A Walk About