St. Benedict's Academy (1883-1909); St. Benedict's Monastery (convent), St. Joseph, Minnesota. Academy class of 1883-1884, front row sitting left to right: Neville Ensor, Mary Schwartz, Elizabeth Spies, Tillie Keppers, Barbara Venne, Margaret Sanz, Ursula Glatzmeier, Anna Herron, Bertha Linnemann, Carrie Smith, Alta Letson, Frances Pfannenstein, Lena Bernick, Mary Rhodes, Lucretia Mutschlechner. Second row sitting: Rose Black, Mary Merten, Anna Brockmann, Theresa Schreiner, Margaret Klein, Stella LaComb, Margaret Kerst, Josephine Friend, Anna Wagner; (Third row sitting): Anna Kahl, Laura Bosworth, Margaret Lauermann, Magdalen Theisen, Barbara Eich; (First row standing): Eliza Darbelly, Louisa Maurin, Sister Alexia Kerst, Mary Roach, Clara Otto, Mary Kennedy; (Second row standing - next to building): Johanna Madigan, Mary Brockmann, Jennie McLean, Sister Bonaventure Kapsner, Margaret Claesgens, Margaret Farrell, Sarah Farrell, Louise Wall, Mattie Bosworth, Josie Smith, Mary Zimmer, Sarah Kelly, Lavina Huber, Sister Pius Roche, Sister Celestine Marschall, Josie Gerard, Mary Hoffmann. While the sisters rejoiced at the increasing enrollment, they were concerned about maintaining a small enough number to assure a homey atmosphere and a community spirit. In the early 1880s, because many of the students were of grade-school age, there was a built-in family atmosphere in the academy. Gradually, however, the academy drew students of high school age and older; by 1909, the academy was ready to consider offering college classes (Saint Benedict's Monastery Archives).
First 5O years of the College of Saint Benedict (CSB). At first the college shared the facilities of the academy in Cecilia and Gertrude Halls. Cecilia Hall, built in 1881, is described in the 1926 College Bulletin: "Five dining halls with service rooms occupy the basement floor, five reception rooms the first floor, seventeen music practice rooms and five teacher's studios the second, while the third was remodeled in 1924 into a residence hall with an infirmary area. The private rooms are furnished with vanity dressers, tables and settees; each has a large private wardrobe and hot and cold water. A trained nurse is at all times in charge of the perfectly equipped infirmary. A secluded cottage (infirmary/guest house) on the campus, also in charge of a trained nurse, is used in case of contagious illness." Gertrude Hall, built in 1898, is also lauded in the 1926 College Bulletin: "In the basement is the service room fitted with the most convenient shampooing apparatus, irons, electric attachements, etc.--also cloak rooms, locker rooms, a stationery store, a confectionery store, and a kitchenette fully equipped for the serving of light lunches or 'spreads.' On the first floor are administration offices and the chemical and physical laboratories. . . On the second floor is the botanical laboratory and classrooms, well-lighted and each furnished with a special library open to the use of the students. The third floor provides airy pleasant dormitories for those who do not wish to rent private rooms." However, many of the activities of the college centered in the two new buildings, Teresa Hall and Sacred Heart Chapel, which were as up-to-date as Benedicta Arts Center and Regina Hall seem to us now - perhaps more so. Teresa Hall was the height of luxury! It had a library on 1st floor, an auditorium/study hall on 2nd floor, a rotunda (residence area) on 3rd and 4th floors (where some rooms had private baths and every bedroom had hot and cold water) and a gymnasium on the ground floor. (Gable, OSB) The chapel inspired by new architecture, very moderate baroque with its Carrara statues and Sienna marble pillars from Italy (and majestic, granite pillars from Rockville, MN), was a perfect example of its baroque type -- Newman's favorite. However, the college faculty was concerned about the later interior decorating of the chapel. In 1958, members of the art department, Sisters Johanna Becker and Jacquelyn Dubay as art consultants, helped the community restore some of the chapel's original lightness which had seemed so right in the beginning. (Gable, OSB)
Construction of Sacred Heart Chapel, St. Benedict's Monastery (October 21, 1912). An enclosed cloister walk was constructed to connect the second level of the south side of the chapel to the second level of Teresa Hall at the college. An enclosed cloister walk connecting the second level of the north side of the chapel to Marmion Hall (formation house) was also in the plans. Because later photographs show this south court area without a cloister walk, it may be assumed that the construction workers had to remove the cloister walk shown in progress in this photograph, probably to give more space for the ensuing construction work. However, photographs of early 1914 show that the enlosed north and south cloister walks were added to the chapel immediately upon the completion of the chapel.
Construction of Sacred Heart Chapel, St. Benedict's Monastery (October 28, 1912). One week after the steel girders for the inner walls were installed, the steel supports for the stained glass windows were in place.
Early ventures in St. Joseph, Minnesota (1880-1890). Because the government opened the contract for any number of students to attend St. Benedict's Industrial School, an addition was constructed on the west end of Marmion Hall so that the building could accommodate 150 students. When in 1896, the government dropped the contract system of Indian education, the school remained open for two more years when it was forced to close due to lack of funds. The west addition to Marmion Hall was then converted to a school for little boys (ages 6-12), often referred to as "Bethlehem School for Boys." The sisters reserved the east end of Marmion for the formation of its new members (Saint Benedict's Monastery Archives; McDonald, page 122).
Aerial view of St. Benedict's Monastery. This aerial view (taken 30 years after the construction of the chapel) shows how the Sacred Heart Chapel, though constructed at the back door of the convent, became the center of the campus. The Scholasticate (now Rosamond North) was built immediately west of Marmion for potential candidates, many of whom came to attend high school. Farther west, St. Walburg's was built to house the vestment and sewing departments, as well as to provide living quarters for some sisters. A garage replaced the farm buildings near the tower. However, it took another 15 years to move all of the farm buildings farther west.
Expansion of Monastery (1880-1909). This aerial view of St. Benedict's Convent/Academy campus (1909) shows the extent of the 40-year growth of the Benedictine community and its academy from the 1863 church/convent/school complex to this impressive campus. About five years after this photograph was taken, the addition of the spacious, copper-domed chapel and the Teresa Hall addition to the academy/college, gave St. Benedict's Convent the appearance of a full-fledged monastery with the college under its wing (Saint Benedict's Monastery Archives).
An aerial view shows Saint Benedict's Monastery's farm which had pastures, cultivated fields for crops and large gardens and shelter for cows, pigs, sheep and chickens.
As early as 1923, there are records showing that Sisters were involved with bee culture. Left to right are Sister Annina Zierden, Sister Juliana Venne, Sister Crescentia Eich and Sister Amalia Eich.
St. Benedict's Academy (1883-1909). The fact that a room was already set aside for art in the late 1890s attests to the sisters' desire to cultivate the love of beauty. The academy catalogues show the variety of courses that were available including oil painting. St. Benedict's Academy (later College) has produced notable artists, for example, Sister Thomas Carey, among its faculty and students throughout its history (Saint Benedict's Monastery Archives).
First 50 years of the College of Saint Benedict (CSB). For those who wish to study painting, china decorating, or crafts, the art studios offer special inspiration. Sun-flooded rooms with paneled ceilings, richly carved, a wide fire-place with hand-painted tiles, rare statuary, including pieces from Beuron--all contribute an atmosphere calculated to inspire the student with love for her work (College Bulletins).
Schools in North-central Minnesota (1871-1909). Eden Valley was platted in 1886 when the St. Paul, Minneapolis and Sault Ste. Marie Railroad Company laid their tracks through the area, Eden Valley developed rather rapidly. By 1901 three Benedictine sisters from St. Joseph went there to teach in temporary classrooms until the new parochial school was completed in 1902. Eventually the enrollment peaked at 310 with 8 sisters teaching at the Assumption School. Watkins The same year, the neighboring town of Watkins was platted along the same railroad. By 1907 the Catholic parish, St. Anthony's, in Watkins was large enough to build its own parochial school. The Benedictine sisters from St. Joseph were invited to teach there and the school soon realized an enrollment of 200 pupils. In subsequent years, the school developed to a peak of 321 students and for some years included high school classes (Saint Benedict's Monastery Archives, Olsenius, page 137).
St. Benedict's Academy (1883-1909). As St. Benedict's Academy's enrollment increased, a larger study hall included a stage so that the study hall could serve as an auditorium when needed. The school year was enhanced with performances by the Drama Club, Choral Group, and enriching lectures by guest speakers. One guest speaker, Herman Zschokke, chaplain to the Austrian imperial court and ex-rector of the University of Vienna, later described his visit to Minnesota in a book, "Nach Nordamericka und Canada." As the academy became a college centered on the west campus, a large Benedicta Arts Building/Petters Auditorium was built; it not only serves the college and Benedictine community but also central Minnesota (Saint Benedict's Monastery Archives; McDonald, pages 107-108)
First 50 years of the College of Saint Benedict (CSB). "The second floor provides a large study and assembly hall. A well-equipped stage in this hall makes it possible to use the assembly room as an auditorium. It is also provided with a motion picture machine, a balopticon, a stereopticon and a grand piano" (College Bulletin, 1926).
Expansion of Monastery (1880-1909. Though a far cry from the car and bus services now available for St. Benedict's Convent, this horse-drawn "bus" and a carriage were the only means of transportation for the sisters and the academy students in the early 1900s (Saint Benedict's Monastery Archives).
Preparing the cornerstone of the Sacred Heart Chapel in October 1912. With the completion of the chapel floor, the Butler Brothers construction crew prepared for the laying of the cornerstone in the area that would place it in the wall near the north side altar. The cornerstone has remained in the same position since 1912 and can be seen in today's chapel to the left of the baptismal font as you enter the great doors from the Gathering Place. On it is engraved: "AD" and "MCMXII" and a cross.
First 50 years of the College of Saint Benedict (CSB). Conveniently located near the gym and amply supplied with sweets and goodies from the convent bakery, the candy store provides an informal gathering place for students. A piece of chocolate cake with a generous scoop of ice cream cost a nickel!
Expansion of Monastery (1880-1909). The carriage used by the sisters around 1900 was very likely the vehicle that met students and candidates at the St. Joseph train depot. It had first belonged to the administrator of the St. Cloud Diocese and is still preserved in St. Benedict's Monastery Museum (Saint Benedict's Monastery Archives).
Schools in St. Cloud (1869-1909). In 1902, when Sister Eleanor Irving was the principal of Holy Angels Grade School in St. Cloud, she opened a ninth grade for 25 students with the help of Sisters Basilia Cosgrove and Adelia Schmitt. This was the beginning of what would become Cathedral High School. With the addition of tenth through twelfth grade and new buildings, Cathedral High School would reach a peak enrollment of 1,621. A total of 225 Benedictine sisters served on the faculty and staff of Cathedral High School during its first 100 years. Records of the early graduates show that the first student who persevered to graduate from the high school was Emily Ladner; in 1905 three graduated: Anna Doyle, Charles Lauermann and Theodore Stember; and in 1907, seven graduated: Magdaline Burns, Irene Cannon, Mary Denery, Joseph Doyle, Mary Libert, Margaret Moriarity and Louise Stember (Saint Benedict's Monastery Archives; Voigt, page 41).
Schools in north-central Minnesota (1871-1909). New Munich began with a few small buildings built by two men, Burns and Sutton, in 1855. They also ran a small "wayside" inn for the stagecoach that ran north-south through this part of the county. The town gradually settled around the church built by the German Catholics. In 1879 three sisters came to New Munich to teach in the district school at the request of the pastor. The trustees and the people did not agree with this decision and hired a lay teacher. The pastor then opened a parochial school in the church basement, but attendance was very small and leaders of the antagonism made it almost impossible for the sisters to live there. Despite the set-backs, the sisters won the good will of the people so that the following year the school opened with over 100 children enrolled (Saint Benedict's Monastery Archives, Olsenius, page 120; Jaakkola and Frericks, page 77).
Schools in north-central Minnesota (1871-1909). In 1882, three Benedictine sisters opened a mission in Millerville and began teaching in the district school; 88 pupils were registered. However, after ten years of working in crowded and undesirable conditions, the sisters closed the mission. When the parish school, St. Mary's, was built in 1914, the sisters returned. High school classes were added for some time (Saint Benedict's Monastery Archives).
Sacred Heart Chapel interior. The baldachin over the main altar was a crown studded with jewels and supported by six, life-size angels. Because of their distance from the floor, the uniqueness and delicate details of each angel figure could not be discerned. It was only when they were removed during the renovations of the 1980s, that the sisters had an opportunity to get a closer view.
Construction of Sacred Heart Chapel, St. Benedict's Monastery (April 21, 1913). This close-up view of construction on the dome gives some insights into the dangers of working at such heights on an open scaffolding.
Construction of Sacred Heart Chapel, St. Benedict's Monastery (December 16, 1912). An intricate maze of support was necessary to support the roof of such a large building as the chapel. The supports allowed ample room under the roof for a "crawl space" for maintenance work.
The Board of lay advisors includes (left to right:) Mother Rosamond Pratschner, Mrs. Rose Reilly, Ed Callahan, Dr. Joseph B. Gaida, Sister Claire Lynch, Joseph Matt, Dr. R. N. Jones, Francis Gross and Mrs. Robert Burns. It advised that the college to develop a 100-year plan which initiated the concept of a CSB building program.
The advisors listed in the 1938 College Bulletin for the years from 1934 to 1940 are: Francis Gross, chairman and former president of the North American Bank, Minneapolis, Minnesota; Frank Mulcahy, secretary of the Northwestern National Bank and Trust Company, Minneapolis, Minnesota; Joseph Matt, president of the Wanderer Printing Company, St. Paul, Minnesota; and Edward Callahan (not pictured), member of the Law Office of Smith and Callahan, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Early ventures in St. Joseph, Minnesota (1880-1890). In 1882 Cecilia Hall was completed as a combination convent-academy; the north half became St. Benedict's Convent and the south half housed St. Benedict's Academy. That same fall, the academy catalogue was issued and St. Benedict's Academy took its place with the best schools of the day. It was the only finishing school in the vast territory between St. Paul and the Rocky Mountains and drew students mainly from western Minnesota, the Dakotas, Montana, Utah, Idaho and some from Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, and Iowa. The pupils coming from a distance were always chaperoned by sisters as the Northwestern Chronicle, a Catholic newspaper published in St. Paul, announced in its August 23, 1883 issue, "The female Academy of the Benedictine Sisters at St. Joseph, MN, opens on September 5. Pupils will find a sister to accompany them to school." (McDonald, page102) That year 12 ladies were accompanied by Sister Alexia Kerst on the train from St. Paul to St. Joseph. Though in the 1890s St. Benedict's Academy lost its position as the only finishing school in its territory, by 1910 plans were already underway to add college courses to the curriculum. Thus, the academy planted the seed that would sprout into the College of Saint Benedict which today is unique in its cooperation with the men's university at St. John's in Collegeville (Saint Benedict's Monastery Archives; McDonald, pages 100-108; Sister Grace McDonald, OSB, "A Finishing School in the 1880s," Minnesota History, June 1946).
Construction of Sacred Heart Chapel, St. Benedict's Monastery (July 23, 1912). With the completion of the pouring of the concrete for the floor of the chapel, steam-powered pulley towers were built for lifting building materials to the next levels, an ingenious labor-saving in this early period.
Construction of Sacred Heart Chapel, St. Benedict's Monastery (October 21, 1912). The curvature of the outer walls provided a circular "cloister walk" around the chapel proper and around the sacristies in the foreground.
Construction of Sacred Heart Chapel, St. Benedict's Monastery (November 18, 1912). Three separate scaffoldings of varying heights were necessary to hoist materials for the completion of the three levels of Sacred Heart Chapel.
Construction of Sacred Heart Chapel, St. Benedict's Monastery, St. Joseph, Minnesota (May 5, 1913). The closed-in porch link on the first and second level and the open porch of the third level (roof of link) made the chapel an integral part of the convent.
Construction of Sacred Heart Chapel, St. Benedict's Monastery (May 21, 1912). The outline of the foundation in this photo shows the extent of this new chapel. The extreme length of the chapel is 157 feet; the width of the nave 60 feet; the transept 110 feet. This view from the west also shows the proximity to Marmion Hall (upper right) and the infirmary (upper left).
Construction of Sacred Heart Chapel, St. Benedict's Monastery (June 14, 1912). The final contract for construction was made with the Butler Brothers from St. Paul.
Construction of Sacred Heart Chapel and Teresa Hall, St. Benedict's Monastery (June 17, 1912). Teresa Hall, the addition to the college, was constructed simultaneously with the chapel. Because it was located less that 100 feet from the site of the chapel, the same type of construction work could take place in both sites. However, because it was architecturally less complicated, the work on Teresa Hall progressed much more rapidly as can be noted in this photo where the walls of five levels have been completed while only the first level walls of the chapel were completed during the same period of time.
First 50 years of the College of Saint Benedict (CSB). The convent-college joint facilities engendered a joint relationship that has mutually shaped these two entities. Even the daily schedule of the two was alike. The Sisters lives were intimately bound up with the academy and college students. The chief ministry of most of the Sisters living at the Motherhouse was devoted to student services. During the first fifty years of the college, 175 faculty members were Sisters--many of whom served on the faculty for 30-40 years. The convent/college facilities, and the management thereof, were shared as one until the college expanded southwestward and was physically separated from the convent. It is understandable that the public has a difficult time comprehending the reality of St. Benedict's Monastery and the College of Saint Benedict as two separate and independent corporations.
Schools in north-central Minnesota (1871-1909). In 1873, Mother Antonia Herman, OSB, arranged to have the Sisters of St. Benedict purchase 10 acres near the church in Pierz intending to begin an independent Benedictine community there. When the new community did not materialize, the building was used for some years as an orphanage for girls because the convents in St. Joseph and St. Cloud were no longer able to house all 63 orphans (Saint Benedict's Monastery Archives).
Schools in north-central Minnesota (1871-1909). In 1886, St. Benedict's Convent built a small residence for sisters teaching at St. Mary's School in St. Augusta and by 1903, it required an addition. Fifty years later the parish voted to change the district school to a parochial school, but it took another 10 years before a new parochial school was built. Sisters still serve in the St. Mary's School and parish, having given this settlement over 120 years of service (Saint Benedict's Monastery Archives).
Schools in north-central Minnesota (1871-1909). Sisters first taught in a one-room parish/district school in Buckman in 1887. Later the district built a four-room school (which was also to serve as the parochial school) and St. Michael's parish built a convent (see photo) for the sisters teaching at this school. The parish's arrangement of sharing the public school, which occupied one or two rooms of the building, did not pose the usual problem for the Buckman community. The combined enrollment of public/parochial students rose to 150 and for some time included high school classes. The Benedictine sisters continued teaching there for next 100 years (Saint Benedict's Monastery Archives).
Laying of the Sacred Heart Chapel's cornerstone in October, 1912. Bishop James Trobec and celebrants bless the cornerstone. The cow barn, seen in close proximity to the chapel, was moved farther west 35 years later in 1958 along with the entire farm area.
Schools in north-central Minnesota (1871-1909). The small village of St. Augusta was settled by Germans in 1854. It was first named Berlin, then Neenah, and in 1856 named St. Augusta by Father Francis Xavier Pierz. Father Pierz was a well-known Indian missionary at Crow Wing who made the rounds on foot to St. Cloud and the neighboring German settlements, carrying only a knapsack containing everything needed for church services. In 1886 Father Pierz organized a parish and a school in St. Augusta, and Benedictine sisters from St. Joseph were invited to teach in that parish/district school. The public versus parochial school controversy did not plague the St. Augusta parishioners (Saint Benedict's Monastery Archives, Olsenius, page 118).
St. Benedict's Academy (1883-1909). Some of the class of 1886-87 have been identified as left to right: 1. Pauline Roesler, 2. Edith Cowing, 3. Julia Kinck, 4. Lizzie Zapp, 5. Margaret Kerst, 6. Alta Letson, 7. Christina Schultz. Standing: 1. Sang, 2. Hammond, 3. Wright, 4. Irene Reed, 5. Sister Amata Macket, 6. Mary Rhodes, 7. Lizzie Wagner, 8. Amme Maurin, 9. Nellie Schultz, 10. L. Mutschleckner, 13. Cecilia Northman, 16. Sara Mercer, 17. Nellie McCabe. The academy was geared toward a liberal arts education. While there was no thought of training girls for a career, the intellectual, aesthetic, and moral training did include the practical. The home arts of cooking and baking were considered important in the training of young ladies (Saint Benedict's Monastery Archives; McDonald, page 102).
Schools in south-central Minnesota (1876-1909). St. Bernard's Grade School had many activities, such as a Drama Club, much like a high school would have. For a period of time the curriculum also included a 2-year commercial school program (Saint Benedict's Monastery Archives).
Schools in St. Cloud (1869-1909). This Cathedral High School play has an interesting all male cast of characters identified (left to right) as follows: Robert Gans, Albert Schmidt, Francis Bernick, Claude Schoener, Wesley Danneker, John Kropp, Herbert Kern, Urban Seibert, Gerald Kinsella, William Murphy, Sylvester Scharenbroich, Edward Gliszinski (Saint Benedict's Monastery Archives).
Sacred Heart Chapel interior, St. Benedict's Monastery. There were four side altars dedicated to the Sacred Heart, the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Joseph, and the Pieta. The Way of the Cross was mounted on the south and north walls of the chapel (two stations are shown midway between the side altar to the left and the Pieta nave to the right). These stations from the old chapel, were painted to harmonize in color and transferred to the new chapel in 1914. These stations had been donated by Mr. and Mrs. Majerus of St. Cloud. (In the re-decorating process in 1958, they were replaced by new stations sculpted by Peter Lupori.) The base of the corner granite pilaster to the left of the Blessed Virgin Mary side altar is the cornerstone. On its south side are engraved: "AD;" "MCMXII;" and a cross, and on its east side: "U.I.O.G.D." "Ut In Omnibus Glorificetur Deus" -- That in all things God may be glorified (Chronicles, pages 144, 146).
Schools in St. Cloud (1869-1909). The twenty-five eighth grade graduates of St. Mary's School, St. Cloud, MN, in 1909 are identified as follows: (Top row): Martha Franke, Hyacinth Libert, Eleanor Hall, Olivia Peffer, Victoria Majerus, Veronica Heitzmann, Isabelle Kuck, Mary Zierden, Sybilla Dietrich; (Middle row): Leo Schmidt, Carl Rosenberger, John Hiemenz, Walter Schmidt, Anthony Hunstiger, Floyd McConnell, Leo Heinen, Gretsch, Bernard Schepers; (Bottom row): Appolonia Huf, Rose Danzl, Mary Nickols, Alma Bernauer, Father Alfred Mayer, O.S.B., Hilda Wampach, Hilda Knopp, Magdalen Braun, Sister Chrysostom Sanz, O.S.B. (Saint Benedict's Monastery Archives).
Construction of Sacred Heart Chapel, St. Benedict's Monastery. This photo seems to point to a previous taking down of the south cloister walk which connected the chapel to Teresa Hall (See photo SBM.11b21). The pile of bricks to the right seem to have come from the dismantled cloister walk, while there is a pile of new bricks to the left. There are marks on both Teresa Hall and the chapel from which the cloister walk bricks may have been removed. Note that the pillars on which the cloister walk rested are still in place. Presumably, the cloister walks were added immediately upon the completion of construction of the chapel.
Construction of Sacred Heart Chapel, St. Benedict's Monastery. The brick used for the chapel and cloister walks is white sandlime with terra-cotta trimmings and the foundation is Buff Kansas Brick. Other than the Cathedral in St. Paul and the Pro-Cathedral (Basilica) in Minneapolis, there are probably no other churches in Minnesota with large domes, although many have large and costly steeples. There is no wood in the entire structure, except the floors under the pews and choir stalls (which are lying on concrete). There are 10 exits on the chapel main floor and one in the choir loft (Chronicles, pages 142-143).
Schools in St. Cloud (1869-1909). The sister-faculty of Holy Angels Grade School in St. Cloud at the turn of the century are identified as follows: (seated left to right): Sisters Ignatia Huntsinger, Eleanor Irving, Ursula Hoffmann, Pauline Heller, Sybilla Vogel; (standing): Sisters Edwina Noessen, Basilia Cosgrove, Sophia Zimmer, Louise Walz. The parish records of the monthly tuition payments for the year 1897-98 list the following number of pupils for each teacher: (listed by room number; the word "grade" is not used; at first there were simply the upper and lower levels): Room 1, Sister Sybilla Vogel, 122; Room 2, Sister Pauline Heller, 78; Room 3, Sister Bonaventure Theisen, 77; Room 4, Sister Sophia Zimmer, 73; Room 5, Sister Louise Walz, 65; Room 6, Sister Eleanor Irving, 58; Room 7, Sister Ursula Hoffmann, 31; Room 8 (George Stelzle), 33. Judging by this record of the size of classes, one can surmise that the lower-level classes had half-day sessions and that in those early years, less than half of the students went beyond a sixth grade education (Saint Benedict's Monastery Archives ; McDonald, page 116; Voigt, page 39).
Schools in St. Cloud (1869-1909).The sister-faculty of St. Mary's Parochial School in 1900 are identified as follows: (seated from left to right): Sisters Chrysostom Sanz, Wilhelmina Kahl, Cornelia Berg, Raymond Otto, Dionysia Meinhardt; (Standing): Sisters Carmel Fruth, Cleta Kurth, Evarista Stenzenberger, Loyola Kapsner, Rosebia Sieverding. The following summarizes the background of the sisters' presence in St. Mary's Parish, St. Cloud, MN: 1. Although the sisters left St. Cloud in 1863 because of the public versus parochial school controversy, it is not surprising that they accepted the invitation in 1869 to return to St. Mary's Parish which had been their first home when they came to Minnesota in 1857. This time they were specifically invited to teach in the District/Independent School which was located in the former St. Mary's Church adjacent to the convent. This school served as the parochial school for the growing St. Mary's Parish, but it was becoming inadequate. 2. When in 1875 the state legislature endorsed the concept that both the "District" and "Independent" Schools would be supported by local taxation, influential citizens spearheaded the building of a district school near St. Mary's Church. This new school continued its unique position as the district/parochial school and employed some sisters as teachers; the sisters also continued teaching in the original school adjacent to the convent--it became known as the "sisters' school." 3. However, despite the 1875 legislation, school conflicts continued to rage. So the sisters decided to withdraw from their teaching positions in the district school and put all of their energies into the convent school. Because of the rapid growth of the parish, the sisters could not accommodate all the children who wished to attend the convent school. It was at that point (1886-1887) that St. Mary's parishioners, after 25 years of conflict, built their first real parochial school ([Saint Benedict's Monastery Archives Witte, pages 77-78).
Early ventures in St. Joseph, Minnesota (1880-1890). About half of the student body of the academy in 1882-1883 (those in the photograph wearing medals) were prospective candidates applying for membership in the Benedictine community. Some members of this class who became sisters are identified as follows: Top row: 3. Susan (Sister Rose) Kilduff, 5. Josephine (Sister Adalberta) Gerard. Second row: 2. Margaret (Sister Eleanor) Irving. Fourth row: 1. Mary (Sister Felicitas) Knapp, 2. Margaret (Sister Ethelburga ) Farrell. Second from bottom row seated on steps: 3. Sophia (S. Ehrentrude) Wessel, 4. Mary Magdalen (S. Ursula) Hoffmann. Bottom row seated on steps: 2. Emily (Sister) Cherrier, 3. Bridget (Sister Magdalen) Walker (Saint Benedict's Monastery Archives).
Early ventures in St. Joseph, Minnesota (1880-1890). Students and faculty of the first academy class in the Haarman Building (1880-1881) are identified as follows. Faculty upper row: Sisters 1. Flavia Pokowsky, 2. Magdelen Enste, 3. Elizabeth Will (who later became Sister Julia), 4. Bede Linnemann. Faculty - 2nd row: Sister Anotolia Langsford. Faculty - 3rd row: Sister Irminia Kretzer. Students - 2nd row: Anna Burrell, Cecilia Beck, S. Farrell, Katie Rovischer, Emma Otto, Aggie Zingerly, Rose Weiner, Carrie Capser, Iona Owens, Lilly Miller, Katherine Riesgraf, Anna Kapsner. Students - lower 3 rows: Antonette Jennings, Virgina Gerard (later Sister Anastasia), Lena Schlick, Anna Waschenberger, Mary Phillip, Ella Egan, Jennie Kennedy, Katie Loso, Aloysia Zingerly, Adela Jennings, Clara Pottgieser, Lorrina Maurin, Tillie Maurin, Lizzie Beck, Josie Kapser. Because St. Agnes Academy was not flourishing in St. Cloud, Mother Aloysia Bath and the community decided in 1879 to build a new boarding academy at St. Joseph. When the basement walls were nearly completed, the cold weather halted construction; lack of funds prevented more building for another 2 years. The next prioress, Mother Scholastica Kerst, closed the St. Agnes Academy in St. Cloud and rented the Haarman Building across from the church and convent in St. Joseph to open a select boarding academy, St. Joseph's Academy. The Haarman Building was rented for only one year. Because the school was so successful, the earlier plans for a new academy building were immediately resumed and Cecilia Hall was rapidly completed for use in 1882. When the building was blessed, St. Joseph's Academy was renamed St. Benedict's Academy (Saint Benedict's Monastery Archives ; McDonald, pages 70-71, 99-100).
Schools in St. Cloud (1869-1909); St. Benedict's Monastery (convent), St. Joseph, Minnesota. The exact location of the convent in this photograph is not recorded, but the Holy Angels Parish records show that it took 25 years for the parish to build a convent for the sisters who taught in Holy Angels Grade School in St. Cloud. "The sisters moved around like nomads. For the first 11 or 12 years, they lived in St. Mary's Convent near the site of the old post office. Then they lived in Captain Taylor's house on Seventh Avenue North for one year; next the Grundman house on Eighth Avenue North and in the (St. Clotilde's) Music Academy. They also lived for a while in the Munsinger Hotel" (Saint Benedict's Monastery Archives, Voigt, page 54).
St. Benedict's Academy (1883-1909). The library became a vital part of the academy. It was one of the most inviting places on the campus -- one that encouraged the Benedictine tradition of love for learning. In the next addition to the academy/college (Teresa Hall in 1914), an entire floor was devoted to the library. Eventually, as the college expanded to the western portion of the campus, a separate building was constructed as the campus library (Saint Benedict's Monastery Archives).
St. Benedict's Academy (1883-1909). In boarding schools where living quarters were crowded, it was imperative to have a place where students could study in quiet. The study hall was supervised by one of the sisters in order to maintain quiet and to be of assistance to students doing their homework. This study hall in Cecilia Hall also served as the chapel until other wings were added to the convent to provide for larger chapels (Saint Benedict's Monastery Archives).
Early years in St. Cloud (1857-1863). The six Benedictine women (4 sisters and 2 candidates) arrived in St. Cloud from St. Marys, Pennsylvania, earlier than expected; no convent had been prepared for them. John Tenvoorde's boarding house and entertainment hall (on the far left) was rented for ten months as the first convent in the Midwest frontier. Describing this convent, Prior Demetrius di Marogna, OSB, pastor of the German settlers in St. Cloud, wrote: "The house has two rooms and a spacious refectory with a built-on kitchen and above the refectory, a long attic room where ten or twelve school children's beds can easily be placed. Well, garden, and cellar are in the enclosure. But the rent for the year is $250.00...that price is cheap for here." (McDonald, page29) ..In this temporary abode, the sisters took in 6 boarders, and taught music, art, needlework, English, German, and religion to Catholics and non-Catholics in the neighborhood. The following year they were able to move to the renovated St. Mary's Church and Convent (Saint Benedict's Monastery Archives; McDonald, pages 27-34).
Early years in St. Cloud (1857-1863). In 1863 when the number of sisters in St. Cloud had increased to fourteen, they began to look for a more congenial environment. Seven of the sisters responded to an invitation to establish a Benedictine convent in Atchison, KS. Five of these founders of the Atchison group are identified on the photograph, taken in 1888, as follows: (seated:) Sisters Gertrude Kapser, Evangelista Kremeter, Gregoria Moser; (Standing:) Sisters Armanda Meier, Boniface Bantle;.The remaining sisters in St. Cloud chose to move to nearby Clinton (St. Joseph), a flourishing German community, where three of the sisters had already established a mission and two were teaching in the district school there. The main reasons for seeking a more congenial environment was the controversy of public versus parochial schools. The sisters were caught between the American bishops'/pastors' ideal of establishing a parochial school system and the parishioners' resistance to supporting two school systems. The parishioners also resisted the loss of the kind of control over their parishes and schools that they were accustomed to having in Germany. Besides the school controversy, there was the undeniable fact that the sisters needed time to adjust to their new environment. They had not yet mastered the English language or the school discipline needed in America so different from that of their girls' boarding school in Bavaria. Also some citizens viewed the sisters' appearance in religious dress and teaching religion in the district school as violations of the American ideal of separation of church and state (Saint Benedict's Monastery Archives; McDonald, pages 53-55; Terry Jaakkola and Julia Lambert Frericks, Shadows Illuminated, pages75-79).
St. Benedict's Academy (1883-1909). By the end of the 19th century, another large wing (Gertrude Hall) was added to St. Benedict's Academy. The academy had been incorporated with the Sisters of the Order of St. Benedict in 1887. It was one of the oldest secondary schools in Minnesota and one of the few Catholic "finishing schools" in the 1880s unique in its contribution to education in Minnesota's rural areas. The academy was well accepted because the concept of a convent boarding school was familiar to the early pioneers from Germany where the Benedictine sisters taught schools within the confines of their convent enclosures. The academy courses outlined in the catalogue, very similar to those offered in today's secondary schools, included Elocution, Algebra, Church History, Religion, Physical Geography, Ancient History, Hygiene, Rhetoric, Music and Art. Some textbooks used, still preserved in St. Benedict's Archives, include: Dr. Joseph Martindale's, First Lessons in Natural Philosophy, published by Elredge Brother of Philadelphia in 1879 (for science classes); J. C. Smith's history book published by J. B. Lippincott and Co., Philadelphia; and A. S. Barnes' GENERAL HISTORY, 1883. St. Benedict's Academy lost its position as the only finishing school in its territory in the 1890s. However, the academy can take credit for giving birth to the College of St. Benedict. By 1909 plans were underway to add college courses to the academy curriculum. In 1914 the College of St. Benedict was established -- one of the few women's colleges in Minnesota. It is unique in its cooperation with the men's St. John's University in Collegeville located a few miles from St. Joseph (Saint Benedict's Monastery Archives; McDonald pages 100-108; Sister Grace McDonald, "A Finishing School in the 1880s," Minnesota History, June 1946).
Schools in south-central Minnesota (1876-1909). The twenty-three graduates of the year 1906-1907 proudly display their diplomas. While there is no record of the total enrollment for the year 1906-1907, there are records of 14 sisters who lived at St. Joseph Convent that year. This likely included 9 teachers for the grades and kindergarten, the music teacher, cook and housekeepers. Among the teachers was Mother Aloysia Bath, OSB, who served at St. Joseph's School in 1876 and 1884-86 (before and after her term as prioress) and again for a 24-year period from 1901-1924 (Saint Benedict's Monastery Archives).
Schools in south-central Minnesota (1876-1909). By 1850, Stillwater, which owes its existence to the building of Fort Snelling in 1819, became the lumbering capital of the St. Croix River region. This soon brought pioneer settlers to the area. Though not the first white settlement in Minnesota, Stillwater claims the title, "Birthplace of Minnesota," because it was at this site that a convention was held to organize the Territory of Minnesota in 1848. The wealthy lumbermen built lavish homes such as those they had built before in the New England States. To this day, Stillwater maintains a characteristic historical atmosphere. One of these historic buildings was purchased by St. Mary's Parish in 1907 to be used as the convent for the four Benedictine sisters from St. Joseph, MN, who were teaching in the German parish school, St. Mary's (Saint Benedict's Monastery Archives; Shifra Stein's Day Trips: Gas-saving Getaways Less Than Two Hours from Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul, page 105
Schools in St. Cloud (1869-1909); St. Benedict's Monastery (convent), St. Joseph, Minnesota. Holy Angels Grade School opened in 1887 with an enrollment of 160 pupils; by 1894, it had an enrollment of 400. By 1880, St. Cloud's population had risen to 2,464 and included other nationalities, such as the Scots, Swedes and Poles. Holy Angels became the parish for all English-speaking Catholics; the German Catholics preferred St. Mary's and at the turn of the century, the Polish-speaking Catholics established their own parish, St. John Cantius (Saint Benedict's Monastery Archives; Robert J. Voigt, Holy Angels in St. Cloud, pages 21-24).
First 50 years of the College of Saint Benedict (CSB). The 1926 College Bulletin makes special mention of the bright sunny sewing room adjoining the library and similar in construction to the Art Studio across the hall. The 1938 College Bulletin describes in detail the career opportunities for which the home economics department prepares the students, such as teachers, dieticians, institutional managers, nutrition consultants, and civil service positions.
First 50 years of the College of Saint Benedict (CSB). The academic dean, registrar, heads of departments and other faculty members advise students concerning their courses, academic progress and future plans. (Gable, OSB; Saint Benedict's Monastery Archives).
Construction of Sacred Heart Chapel, St. Benedict's Monastery (November 11, 1912). With the inner walls of the chapel nearly completed, this view from the roof of Teresa Hall shows the size of the chapel proper.
Sacred Heart Chapel interior, St. Benedict's Monastery. The lovely gumwood pews in the east nave were on a wood floor which was bulit on an incline of 18 inches from the dome to the east entrance. The crossing transept under the dome was occupied by 144 choir stalls for members of the community (forefront). The entrance to the east was the main entrance of the chapel but it entered immediately into the convent corridor. There was no public main entrance. The choir loft railing was terra-cotta. Organs have played an important role in the liturgical celebrations of the community and, in keeping with the tradition of the time, the organ was situated in a choir loft. Sister Imogene Blatz, in an article entitled, "A Century of Chapels and Organs," in Community News, February 1986 (page 4) describes that history from 1914 to 1958: "In January 1914, the Schaefer organ was moved (from the Scholastica Hall chapel) to the choir loft of the new Sacred Heart Chapel by representatives of the Schaefer Organ Company at a cost of $184.25. By 1951, this Schaefer organ, which was purchased in 1904, was in a state of deterioration and beyond repair. On January 6, 1951, the Chapter agreed to purchase a part of a direct electric Wicks organ for $8,600. Plans by some members of the community to place the organ in the north transept where the Pieta formerly stood did not materialize. With advice from the representatives of the Wicks Organ Company, the organ was placed in the choir loft. On August 2, 1958, as the chapel renovation was nearing completion, the Chapter voted to complete the Wicks organ with additional stops at a cost of $9,485 . . . the organ had 1,257 pipes, 29 ranks, 3 manuals (keyboards) and full concave pedal board" (Blatz, page 4).
First 50 years of the College of Saint Benedict (CSB). The College Bulletin of 1930 describes the library as follows: "A library of 16,700 volumes provides adequate supplementary reading for the departments of science, literature and the arts. . . Besides the main library, a magazine annex has been recently equipped in which there are bound volumes of the best magazines. At least fifty current magazines may be found on the desks in the reading room. The first purpose of the library is to meet the needs of the students of the various departments, but the utilitarian has not been allowed to exclude the aesthetic. The reading room is surrounded by low oak book cases and settees. A fire-place, decorated with hand-painted tiles, numerous sofa cushions, and statuary, contributes to the culture and comfort of the students who frequent the library."
Sacred Heart Chapel interior. The beautifully carved marble entrance, with its columns of white Italian marble was imposing, but it was not a public entrance. It opened to the convent corridor on the first floor of the main building. The doors were plush leather-covered as were all the side doors leading to chapel.
Schools in north-central Minnesota (1871-1909). Melrose was settled at a ford in the river on the stagecoach trail between the Red River Valley and St. Cloud. It got its spurt of growth in 1871 as the terminus of the west-bound railroad, making it a marketing center. Melrose (named after Melissa Rose, the daughter of one of the early settlers) soon developed into a strong Catholic community eager to establish its own parish. In 1880, St. Boniface School (parish/district) was built and the Benedictine sisters responded to the pastor's invitation to teach there. By 1894, four sisters were teaching 170 pupils, despite the fact that at first they suffered from the usual prejudice of German communities regarding public versus parochial schools. In subsequent years, the enrollment peaked at 325 pupils even though the Irish parishioners established their own grade/high school and enrolled as many as 166 pupils. When St. Boniface and St. Patrick parishes merged in 1958, the parish and school were renamed St. Mary's School which reached a peak enrollment of 481 (Saint Benedict's Monastery Archives).
Early ventures in St. Joseph, Minnesota (1880-1890). In the early years, an academy was geared to primary school education and only gradually developed into a secondary school. This photo shows the wide age-range of students attending St. Benedict's Academy before the 1900s. This range of ages may account for the family (community) spirit that developed in the school. It was customary to refer to the younger girls as "minims." The prefect with this group is Sister Ernesta Kranz; the child in the sailor suit is identified as Alice O'Niel (Saint Benedict's Monastery Archives).
Early years in St. Joseph, Minnesota (1863-1880). Mother Aloysia (Helen) Bath, the first American-born prioress of St. Benedict's Convent, was born in Addison, WI in 1849. Helen entered the community of the Sisters of St. Agnes in Baron, WI, in 1864 and was given the name Sister Agatha. She transferred to the community in St. Joseph, MN in 1871, changed her name to Aloysia, and professed vows there in 1875. Two years later, she was appointed prioress of the community in St. Joseph by Abbot Rupert Seidenbusch, to fill out Mother Antonia Herman's term. Mother Aloysia resigned shortly before her term ended. However, nine years later, she was elected by the community to serve another term as prioress. Though of frail health, Mother Aloysia led the community in beginning the construction of a new convent and academy building in St. Joseph, in accepting four new schools in Minnesota, the American Indian mission in White Earth, MN, and a school in Bismarck. ND. She was an experienced teacher who had been in charge of several schools, including the large school in St. Joseph's Parish in Minneapolis. Mother Aloysia's greatest efforts were spent staffing schools in the face of school controversies and in developing a teacher-training program in the community so that young sisters would be sent out as certified teachers. Her contemplative spirit inspired the sisters to work for a balance in their work and prayer (Saint Benedict's Monastery Archives; McDonald, pages 73-78, 89).
Early years in St. Joseph, Minnesota (1863-1880). Soon after Mother Antonia (Margarethe) Hermann was born in Baden, Germany, her family immigrated to America. In 1857, Margarethe joined the Benedictine Convent in Erie, Pennsylvania. Four years later, 1861, she was sent to found a new convent in Chicago and was appointed prioress there in 1862. In 1868 Abbot Rupert Seidenbusch, without consulting the sisters in St. Joseph, brought Mother Antonia to St. Benedict's Convent and appointed her as prioress of that community. However, after the completion of her first term as prioress, she was elected by the community in St. Joseph for a second term. Mother Antonia, an able leader, helped the community face the challenges of the early years in St. Joseph. She introduced record and bookkeeping practices which are included in the community's archival collection. Mother Antonia lost the favor of Abbot Alexius Edelbrock when she negotiated to have the sisters discontinue doing the laundry and sewing for the monks at St. John's Abbey. She chose to resign as prioress and returned to her former community in Chicago. Later, she transferred to the Benedictine community in Yankton, SD, where she volunteered her services in the Dakota missions (Saint Benedict's Monastery Archives; McDonald, pages 65-73).
Expansion of Monastery (1880-1909). Mother Cecilia (Mary) Kapsner born in Prussia in 1859, came to America at age 15 with her family who settled in Pierz. Two years later, Mary entered St. Benedict's Convent and professed vows in 1878. In 1901 she was elected to serve as prioress, a position she held for three consecutive terms. Mother Cecilia was the first prioress whose background was similar to the majority of the members of St. Benedict's Convent as well as the people in the St. Joseph area. With keen perception and ready judgment she led the community through considerable building expansion. Especially noteworthy is the construction of the Sacred Heart Chapel and the Teresa Hall addition to the college, both having been in the planning stages as early as 1909 (Saint Benedict's Monastery Archives).
Besides fostering the mission of education, especially the academy, in which the sisters of St. Benedict's Convent were engaged by 1880, Mother Scholastica Kerst is best known for fearlessly launching the community into the new field of health care. Under her leadership, St. Benedict's Convent flourished as did the hospitals in Bismarck, Duluth and St. Cloud. During her administration of nine years, the membership of the community increased from 57 to 164; the number of parochial schools staffed by the sisters had grown from 10 to 28; the orphanages, schools and hospitals became monuments of her enterprise and executive ability. Mother Scholastica had the spirit of the American frontier in her blood. Mother Scholastica (Catherine) Kerst was born in Prussia in 1847 and came to St. Paul, MN, with her parents in her infancy. She entered St. Gertrude's Convent, Shakopee, MN, in 1862, two days after its establishment. Bishop Thomas Grace, O.P., of St. Paul, required that she spend some of her formation period at St. Gertrude's founding motherhouse in St. Marys, PA. This experience in a well-established, older convent and her own flair for leadership and good business, gave her the impetus to request permission to establish a convent in St. Paul with four other sisters. Instead, church authorities advised her to transfer to St. Benedict's Convent, St. Joseph, MN, which she did in 1877. Three years later Abbot Alexius Edelbrock appointed her prioress of St. Benedict's Convent. [Saint Benedict's Monastery Archives ; McDonald, ppage93-95]
Orgins of St. Benedict's Monastery (convent), St. Joseph, Minnesota. Mother Willibalda Scherbauer, OSB, led four sisters and two candidates, ranging in age from 18 to 26, from St. Marys, Pennslyvania, to the Midwest frontier (St. Cloud, Minnesota) in 1857. Mother Willibalda (Franciska) was born in Kastel, Bavaria in 1831. At an early age, her family took her to St. Walburg Convent in Eichstätt to be educated. There she professed her vows in 1851; four years later, she volunteered to join the sisters in America. Then in 1857, she volunteered to venture to the Northwest Territory and was appointed prioress of the St. Cloud community by Boniface Wimmer, OSB. Mother Willibalda was an accomplished musician of whom Jane Swisshelm, editor of a local newspaper, wrote, "The Lady Abbess is small, slight, delicate, graceful, and as accomplished a lady as you could meet in any circle...waking the first echoes of those broad prairies in a call (daily ringing of the church bell) to bow regularly at an altar of Christian worship..." (McDonald, page41). Mother Willibalda's able administration as leader gave the Benedictine sisters a firm monastic foundation, not only in St. Cloud, but also in St. Joseph, the nucleus of St. Benedict's Monastery. She is lovingly remembered for accepting Mother Benedicta Riepp into the St. Cloud community when she was misunderstood by authorities and some community members for upholding the rights of the sisters in America (Saint Benedict's Monastery Archives; McDonald, pages 12, 15-16, 19).
St. Benedict's Academy (1883-1909). The tradition of preserving records and items of historical importance is passed on from one generation to the next -- from the Benedictine community in EichstÃtt, Bavaria, to the Sisters of St. Benedict in St. Joseph. Now a large archives and a museum, "Art and Heritage Place," preserve the records and objects which have been collected over the years by the Benedictine Sisters of St. Joseph, MN, to depict their life and work here and abroad (Saint Benedict's Monastery Archives).
St. Benedict's Academy (1883-1909); St. Benedict's Monastery (convent), St. Joseph, Minnesota. The students and teachers have been identified as follows. Standing left to right: Kitten Marshall, Margaret Sanz, Bertha Fisher, Adelaide Stumpf, Pauline Roesaler, Augusta Kenek, Catherine Paulissen, Pauline Wieland, Alta Letson, Emma Engesser, Gertrude Wiemann, Eleonore Carmon, Anna Kepper, Nellie Marshall, Minnie Fehrenbacher, Clara Otto, Sister Josephine McLean. Sitting: .Sister Ulric Beck, Lizzie Zapp, Edith Cowing, Nan Marshall, Margaret Claesgens, Margaret Geissel, Josephine Hafner, Anna Alzheimer. Music has always been an important part of the sisters' religious and professional lives. Wherever the sisters opened schools, a music teacher was provided for music instructions in the classrooms and in private lessons; the academy was no exception. Besides the Choral Group, courses were offered in playing the piano, organ, harp, guitar, and zither. For the regular courses and board and room, students paid $80.00 a term. Extra fees ranging from $5.00 to $25,00 were charged for instructions in such courses as music and art; materials were purchased by the students. Records show that some of these accounts were paid in produce: cows, meat, or grain. Because the convent's schedule and discipline, though adapted, prevailed in the boarding school as well, students were given daily charges. These charges, such as cleaning the chimneys of the lamps, starting the fires and keeping them going in the chapel, study hall, dormitories, classrooms and the infirmary, were considered as part of their payment for room and board (Saint Benedict's Monastery Archives; McDonald, pages 104-105).
Drama held a significant role in the curriculum of the academy. Performances drew large audiences, not only from the surrounding areas, but from as far as Milwaukee, WI. The Delsarle Tableaux performance, honoring Bishop Otto Zardetti, was presented at the Village Hall in St. Joseph on February 10, 1893 (Saint Benedict's Monastery Archives).
Early years in St. Cloud (1857-1863). Mother Willibalda Scherbauer and her companions traveled from St. Marys, Pennsylvania by rail and wagon to Pittsburgh; by river boats on the Ohio River to St. Louis and on the Mississippi River with a stop-over in St. Paul; finally reaching St. Cloud. However, the riverboat, "North Star" was stranded on a sand bar two miles from St. Cloud. After two days, on July 4, 1857, the sisters were taken ashore in small boats. They stopped at the Benedictine monks' college in St. Cloud to enjoy their first meal after three days on the boat without food as they could not afford the price of a meal (50 cents). Then the monks took the sisters to their destination, St. Mary's Parish in the German settlement of Middle St. Cloud. The whole area was desolate having been ravaged by a grasshopper plague. The resulting food shortage and the extreme cold tested the endurance of the sisters during their first years in St. Cloud (Saint Benedict's Monastery Archives; McDonald, pages 20-27).
Expansion of Monastery (1880-1909). To enhance the solemnity of community worship, the sisters invested in pipe organs from 1904, when this organ was purchased for the chapel in Scholastica Hall, to the present time. Along with the restoration of Gregorian Chant, the Liturgical Movement became a primary focus of the community. For some of its members, in particular Sisters Urban, Cecile, and Gemma Gertken, it became their life's work (Saint Benedict's Monastery Archives).
Early ventures in St. Joseph, Minnesota (1880-1890). As early as 1875, the sisters had begun to care for orphans in an informal way, but in 1884 the orphanage was incorporated under the laws of the State. Overcrowded conditions forced the sisters to transfer them from St. Cloud to St. Joseph and back again until it was decided to move the girls to the sisters' quarters in Pierz, Minnesota, and the boys were moved back to the old log church and school in St. Joseph. When the fire of 1886 destroyed the orphan home in St. Joseph, the sisters made room for the 23 orphan boys in other buildings on the premises. Finally, at the request of Bishop Otto Zardetti in 1893, the orphans were given to the care of the newly-founded community of Sisters of St. Francis in Little Falls. The Sisters at St. Benedict's, however, retained the familial atmosphere effected by the presence of the orphan children by opening the Bethlehem School for Little Boys as a department of St. Benedict's Academy; little girls,"minims," were housed with the academy students (Saint Benedict's Monastery Archives; McDonald, pages 122-123).
Schools in south-central Minnesota (1876-1909). In 1877, the sisters of St. Gertrude's Convent in Shakopee* were asked to care for orphan children in temporary quarters on Ninth and Robert Streets in St. Paul. Sisters Benedicta Klein and Agatha Nachbar assumed the responsibility for six orphans. For this they received a salary of $10.00 a month. When this photograph was taken in 1880, Sister Placida Heine had replaced Sister Agatha Nachbar. Because the number of orphans grew to 17 by 1879, a new building was constructed near the Assumption parochial school so that the orphans could be educated there. After St. Gertrude's Convent was amalgamated with St. Benedict's in 1880, the orphanage came under the jurisdiction of St. Benedict's Convent, St. Joseph, MN. For information about St. Gertrude's Convent, see SBM.03e or sbm00016 (Saint Benedict's Monastery Archives).
Construction of Sacred Heart Chapel, St. Benedict's Monastery (June 24, 1912). Pouring the concrete ceiling of the first level of the chapel created the floor of the new chapel and prepared for the next step of erecting the walls on the second level (which is the main chapel). The two buildings in the center background are the power house and laundry (Loretto Hall). They remained in place for another seventy years and served multiple purposes.
Expansion of Monastery (1880-1909). As was the custom of Benedictine houses in the Old World, the sisters, from their beginnings in America, tried to be self-supporting. They maintained a farm, gardens, orchard, vineyard, chickens, turkeys, and bees. The laundry was an important service, not only for the sisters, orphans, and academy, but also for the monks of St. John's Abbey for whom the sisters did the washing and sewing. The first water works, a wooden water tank built in 1892, was a great boon to sisters who worked in the laundry. In 1899 an underground sewer was dug. New developments were soon added to meet the needs of the growing population on St. Benedict's campus and to help supply the village of St. Joseph. These developments included the first power plant and electric light plant (1906), a 60,000 gallon water tower (1907), and a large well in 1909 (Saint Benedict's Monastery Archives).
Sisters Albina and Pretrina Hoeft, who learned this craft as girls in Bavaria, are shown "scutching" the flax to get rid of the chaff that remained on the fine fiber inside the stem after pounding away the coarse straw.
After the removal of all the chaff from the fiber inside the straws of flax, the fiber was combed through nails on a board in order to divide the strips of fiber into single strands. This process was known as "hackling." The flax fiber was then passed through hot water so that it would break while being twisted in the final step of "hand spinning."
Schools in south-central Minnesota (1876-1909). In 1900, two sisters and a candidate opened a school in the German parish (Assumption) in Richfield (originally Bloomfield). In spite of the fact that two other parishes had been established in Richfield, the Assumption School could boast of an enrollment of 202 students and 6 sisters teaching in subsequent years. By 1909, the Benedictine sisters from St. Joseph, MN, had staffed 20 schools in the Twin Cities and south-central Minnesota -- mainly in the German communities but also in the Montgomery-New Prague area, a stronghold of Czechoslovakian culture and heritage. For most of these 20 schools, St. Benedict's Monastery archives has no early photographs (Saint Benedict's Monastery Archives).
Schools in north-central Minnesota (1871-1909). When St. Paul's School first opened on February 17, 1897, the Benedictine sisters from St. Joseph began their 104-year teaching service there. The enrollment on that day was 49 pupils but by the end of that spring term, it increased to 85 pupils. By the size of Sister Catherine Siefner's class around 1904, it appears that the enrollment was well over 100 by then. Over the years, the school reached a peak enrollment of 534 pupils (Saint Benedict's Monastery Archives).
Schools in south-central Minnesota (1876-1909); St. Benedict's Monastery (convent), St. Joseph, Minnesota. Known for its bee-keeping industry, St. Bonifacius became a typical small town German settlement with its own church and school. In 1885, sisters opened a school there which in time reached an enrollment of 180 (Saint Benedict's Monastery Archives, Richard Olsenius, Minnesota Travel Companio, A Guide to the History Along Minnesota's Highways, page 154).
Construction of Sacred Heart Chapel, St. Benedict's Monastery, (December 9, 1912). The supports for the roof were inserted into the inner walls of the chapel. Of special note is the huge circular support for the dome on the left of the photograph.
Construction of Sacred Heart Chapel, St. Benedict's Monastery (June 10, 1912). Within a month of the laying of the foundation, the walls of the lower level of the chapel were raised. This view from the northeast shows some of the farm buildings at the left of the water tower that still needed to be razed or moved farther west.
Schools in north-central Minnesota (1871-1909). Father Francis Xavier Pierz, an early missionary and friend to the American Indians and the white settlers of the Northwest Territory, chose Rich Prairie (later named "Pierz" in his honor) as his place of retirement in the late 1860's. He had come to Minnesota in 1852 and established missions and parish communities throughout the Northwest Territory. With luring descriptions of the rich soil and a moderate climate he invited German Catholics living in eastern states to venture moving to this western frontier. A small church, which he built in Rich Prairie, is preserved on the Kapsner farm. Accustomed as he was to living in tents or camping out in his travels throughout the Territory, Father Pierz would describe his little dirt-floor log chapels as beautiful churches. By 1871, the small rural parish he founded in Pierz (Rich Prairie) was ready to welcome the Benedictine sisters as teachers in their log school house. This photo was likely given to the archives by one of the eight Kapsner family members of the Pierz area who joined the Benedictine community in St. Joseph (Saint Benedict's Monastery Archives).