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.
Members of the choir for the Chapel of St. Thomas Aquinas at the College of St. Thomas. Front row (left to right): Paul O'Gorman, Professor Leo Bruenner (director), Thomas A. Welch and Mathiaas O'Laughlin. Second Row (left to right) unknown, James Griffin, Homer Hogan, James Bynes, Thomas Kerwick, James Curran, Edward Casey. Third Row (left to right): William Grace, Michael Powers, Maurice Ryan, and Martin Cullen. Back row (left to right): George Sullivan, Benjamin Kelly, James O'Hara, Michael Healy, Lawrence Ryan, James Nolan, Peter Tibesar, John Wagner.
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).
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.
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."
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.
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.
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.
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.