Before construction began on the Kenwood site, Duluth Benedictine sisters enjoyed outings to the farm. The young women in black dresses and veiled bonnets are postulants.
1914 procession in the sisters' cemetery at Villa Sancta Scholastica. On the feast of Corpus Christi (the Thursday following Trinity Sunday) the faculty and students of Villa Sancta Scholastica went in procession to the outdoor chapel in the sisters' cemetery. Here, the elementary school students in their First Communion dresses, carrying baskets of flowers are followed by the sisters and finally the chaplain with his altar boy assistants.
In 1892, the first ceremonies were held accepting new members into the Duluth Benedictine community. Back row, reception of novices, left to right, back row: Sister Benedict Mlynek, Sister Margaret Mary Borsch, Sister James Roche. Front row, Sister Leonissa Sauber, perpetual vows, Sister Jeremia Cannon, first vows.
In 1921, an addition was made to the 1909 building: the tower from the original plan was constructed, the north lateral wing was extended and a gymnasium was built. Thomas Ellerbe of St. Paul was the architect. This view from the northeast shows the gymnasium, often mistaken for a chapel, and what was still the main entrance to Tower Hall.
Exterior view of the Mortuary Chapel in the sisters' cemetery in 1916. In Gethsemane Cemetery of the Duluth Benedictine sisters, a cistern for water collection was built on the highest hill and to screen it from view, a stone chapel was constructed. This was the location of many summertime outdoor pilgrimages and ceremonies. Maude, the sister of Sister Milburga and Sister Adelinus Bolin, is pictured with her daughter.
The first segment of Villa Sancta Scholastica, the motherhouse and academy of the Duluth Benedictine sisters was completed and occupied in 1909. This shows trees being planted in front of the building and the statue of St. Scholastica in its original location.
1938 panorama of Duluth Benedictine Sisters property. In 1937, Mother Agnes Somers hired the St. Louis architectural firm of O'Meara, Hills and Quick to plan two new buildings for the Villa Scholastica campus. Due north of Stanbrook Hall, and connected to Stanbrook and Tower Halls by cloister walks is the combined Chapel of our Lady Queen of Peace and the College library.
A 1930 photo of Sister Agnes (Catherine) Somers. Born in Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada, in 1875, she entered the Duluth Benedictines in 1900 at the suggestion of her cousin, Sr. Celestine Sullivan. She was instrumental in the creation of the College of St. Scholastica in 1912. She was prioress of the Duluth community from 1924-1942, and under her administration the College became a four-year institution in 1924, Tower Hall was completed in 1928, Stanbrook Hall and the College library and chapel were constructed in 1938. In her retirement, she wrote an (unpublished) history of the community to 1924, and a description of the architectural and artistic holdings of the College, All Her Ways.
An 1885 photograph of Sister Alexia (Mary Martha) Kerst (1856-1916), the sister of Mother Scholastica. She was born in St. Paul, MN, and entered St. Benedict's Convent in St. Joseph, MN, in 1878. She was the first administrator of St. Alexius Hospital in Bismarck, ND. She came to Duluth with the other foundresses of the Duluth Benedictine community in 1892 and was instrumental in the foundation of St. Mary's Hospital there. When Mother Scholastica died in 1911 she was elected prioress, a position she held until her death in 1916.
A 1924 photo of Sister Chrysostom (Margaret) Doran (1875-1959, fourth prioress of the Duluth Benedictine Sisters . She was born in New London. WI and started teaching at age 17 and entered the Duluth Benedictines in 1906. In 1919, Bishop McNicholas appointed her Prioress of the community. She embarked on an ambitious building project: added a tower and wing extension to Villa Sancta Scholastica, a gymnasium for the college and an extension to St. Mary's Hospital. She had the old Sacred Heart Institute converted to a residence for nursing students , and oversaw the foundation of an independent Benedictine community in Crookston. She was Prioress from 1919 to 1924.
An 1878 photograph of Sister Scholastica Kerst in the St. Benedict's convent habit. Catherine (Sister, later Mother Scholastica) Kerst (1847-1911) was born in Meuringen, Prussia, and came to St. Paul, MN, in 1852 with her parents. She entered the Benedictine community of St. Gertrude in Shakopee, MN, in 1862 and in 1877 transferred to St. Benedict's Convent in St. Joseph, MN. She was prioress there from 1880-1889. In 1892, she led the foundation of what is now St. Scholastica Monastery and was prioress there until her death in 1911.
In 1921, an addition was made to the 1909 building: the tower from the original plan was constructed, the north lateral wing was extended and a gymnasium was built. Thomas Ellerbe of St. Paul was the architect. This view from the west shows the rear of the gymnasium, and the north wing extension, with a "bump out" to accommodate the altar of the new third-floor chapel.
In 1955, Sister Leona Michlitch and Sister Anselma Mahowald, both former officials of the Duluth Benedictine community, take a summer walk to the cemetery.
Benedictine Sisters of Duluth picking berries on the western 80-acre parcel of their Kenwood property. At the far left is Sister Amata Mackett, the farm manager.
The Kerst sisters, Mother Scholastica (1847-1911) and Sister Alexia (1856-1915) were among the group of Benedictine sisters to come from St. Benedict's Convent in St. Joseph, Minnesota, to found the new Benedictine community in Duluth in 1892.
In 1900, several Duluth Benedictine Sisters host a tea party for a guest at the original St. Ann's Home. When the original St. Mary's Hospital moved to east Duluth in 1898, the building was converted to first an orphanage and then a rest home. Left to right, Sister Camillus Gretsch, Sister Caroline Scheffold, Sister Madeline Heinen and guest.
A 1938 photo of Stanbrook Hall. In 1937, Mother Agnes Somers hired the St. Louis architectural firm of O'Meara, Hills and Quick to plan two new buildings for the Villa Scholastica campus. This is the new high school, Stanbrook Hall, which was completed in 1938. Stanbrook Hall High School operated until 1967, after which the building was converted to the administrative offices of St. Scholastica Priory.
1909 photo showing modifications to strengthen ceilings in Tower Hall. When Franklin Ellerbe of St. Paul took over the completion of Villa Sancta Scholastica in 1908 steel support columns were added in all of the rooms below fourth floor, and steel beams were added to shore up the ceilings. These beams were covered with wood, and provided a somewhat Tudor flavor to the decor. This is the high school students' recreation room on first floor of the building.
Tower Hall at Villa Sancta Scholastica was completed in 1927 with the addition of a second tower (not in the original plans) separated from the original tower by an elaborate lobby and main entrance, and the northward extension of the eastward-facing wing. Mother Agnes Somers chose the St. Louis architectural firm of O'Meara and Hills. The original college bus is parked in front of what is now called Tower Hall.
Students from Villa Sancta Scholastica Academy survey their new premises in 1910. The motherhouse and academy building was completed in 1909. The original architects were German and Lignell of Duluth, but the building was taken over by Franklin Ellerbe of St. Paul in 1908 when construction deficiencies were pointed out. View towards the west. The boiler and laundry building is on the right to the rear of the main building.
In 1921, an addition was made to the 1909 building: the tower from the original plan was constructed, the north lateral wing was extended and a gymnasium was built. Thomas Ellerbe of St. Paul was the architect. In this view from the northeast, the new tower is prominent, and the addition to the north wing. The boiler room and chemistry lab building is in the rear.
In 1921, an addition was made to the 1909 building: the tower from the original plan was constructed, the north lateral wing was extended and a gymnasium was built. Thomas Ellerbe of St. Paul was the architect. This view from the southwest shows what was still the main entrance.