The student nurses' orchestra performs for an appreciative crowd in the lobby of St. Mary's Hospital in 1928. Left to right, Helen Sparling, Cecile Cousineau, Arlene Peterman, Eloise LaLiberte, Lillian Eno, Clair Smith, Lucille McMahon, Adeline Belanger, Esther Flynn
1904 photo of the dam on Chester Creek forming a stock pond on the Benedictine Sisters' farm. In 1900, the Duluth Benedictine sisters purchased the first 80 acres of what would be their Kenwood campus. This parcel had been used as a farm for a number of years. Chester Creek, which runs through the property had been dammed to produce a stock pond. This photograph faces north, with what is now Niagara Street in the background.
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.
1912 elementary school dormitory, Villa Sancta Scholastica. Elementary school boarding students at Villa Sancta Scholastica slept in 12-bed dormitories. Each cubicle held a bed with privacy curtains, and a dresser-washstand. Closets were communal. The girls were supervised by a sister "prefect" in an adjacent private room.
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.
Planting trees at the newly-constructed Villa Sancta Scholastica in 1911. Soon after the completion of the first section of their building on the Kenwood site, the sisters brought in and transplanted fully grown trees for the front of the building.
A 1906 photo of Sacred Heart Institute. In 1904, the Duluth Benedictine sisters moved into their first motherhouse, Sacred Heart Institute, constructed on a two-lot site at Third Avenue East and Third Street. This building housed both the sisters and the girls' academy of the same name. In 1909, the Academy and many of the sisters moved to the new Kenwood site, and the building eventually became the residence for St. Mary's Hospital School of Nursing.
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.
The student body and faculty of Sacred Heart Academy in 1893. When the Benedictine Sisters came to Duluth to establish and independent foundation in 1892, they moved into two rented townhouses in the newly-completed Munger Terrace. They immediately established a school for girls, Sacred Heart Academy, which occupied one of the townhouses. The school enrolled students from elementary through secondary grades. The 1893 students are shown here. In the third row from bottom is Mother Scholastica Kerst, in the fourth row Sister Pauline Dunphy and Sister Florentine Cannon, and in the fifth row Sister Leonissa Sauber.
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.
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.