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).
Despite the fact that the new St. Benedict's Hospital boasted of a modern heating system, an operating room, two private rooms, wards, and a kitchen, only ten patients were received during the first two months. The sisters began to worry about their hospital project until a cyclone swept over St. Cloud and the neighboring towns killing 58 and injuring hundreds. It wrecked all in its wake but the hospital which became the center for rescue work. The sisters toiled for 48 hours before relief came from the Twin Cities and neighboring towns. The catastrophe broke down the prejudice against hospitals and, thereafter, St. Benedict's Hospital did not lack patients; at the close of the second year of service, the number of patients received reached 400. When over-crowded conditions forced the sisters to build a new hospital, St. Benedict's Hospital was converted to an academy of art and music (Saint Benedict's Monastery Archives , McDonald, page 254).
Group from the "Patriotic Pageant." View of women, wearing theatrical costumes, standing and sitting in rows, with some women holding trumpets to their mouths, river in background.
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).
Interior view of assembly hall in Old Main. Old main opened in 1874 as the main building of St. Cloud State. Old Main was demolished in 1950 after the completion of Stewart Hall.
Interior view of assembly hall in Old Main. Old main opened in 1874 as the main building of St. Cloud State. Old Main was demolished in 1950 after the completion of Stewart Hall.
Interior view, students using microscopes at Biological laboratory at Old Main. Display cases are against the wall in the background. George Hubbard, St. Cloud State faculty, sits in the foreground looking through a microscope. Old Main was constructed in 1874.
Interior view of a classroom in the Old Main Building; men and women wearing casual attire sitting on chairs, facing a woman wearing a dress standing in front of the room; woman wearing a dress looks on at the side of the room, blackboards on wall in background, desks in foreground. Old Main was constructed in 1874.
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).
Exterior view of the St. Cloud State campus before the extensive remodeling of the Old Main Building in 1902 and the destruction by fire of Lawrence Hall in 1905.
Exterior view of the St. Cloud State campus right after the extensive remodeling of the Old Main Building in 1902 and the destruction by fire of Lawrence Hall in 1905.
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).
View of women students exercising. They are wearing dresses, standing in rows and are raising their right arms above their heads. Trees without leaves are in foreground.
Primary Department Practice Class in Old Main. Old Main opened in 1874 as the main building of St. Cloud State. Old Main was demolished in 1950 after the completion of Stewart Hall.
Interior view of a classroom in Old Main with desks in rows, windows in background. Old Main opened in 1874 as the main building of St. Cloud State. Old Main was demolished in 1950 after the completion of Stewart Hall.
Interior view of "N" Room in Old Main, with student sitting in rows of desks, watching teachers at the front of the room. Isabel Lawrence, in white blouse, is looking on. Old Main was constructed in 1874.