Intern Insights

Marian Hall Celebrates 125 Years
By Jackie Lewis, Communications Office intern

July 2011 marked the 125th anniversary of the completion of Marian Hall, the west wing of the Sisters of Charity Motherhouse in Mount St. Joseph, Ohio. To truly appreciate the significance of the occasion, it is important to take a look back at the history of both the Motherhouse and Marian Hall.

In 1869, the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati purchased Biggs Farm in Delhi Township, located west of Cincinnati, Ohio. Thirteen years later, construction began on the new Motherhouse on the newly acquired property.

The great flood of the Ohio River in February 1883 caused the construction of the new Motherhouse to have many delays. Construction was finally complete in May 1884. The new Mount St. Joseph Motherhouse and the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception were ready for use.

In 1885, one year later, construction on the east wing of the Motherhouse was to begin. This wing would house the new St. Vincent Academy boarding school for girls.

July 6 through July 14 of that year featured a planned retreat and joyous celebration for the Sisters of Charity, some of whom were meeting at the Motherhouse for the first time. Many of the Sisters were scheduled to leave on July 15 to start their missions and some to participate in a retreat at St Vincent’s Academy at Cedar Grove, which would later become Seton High School.

Around noon on July 16, smoke was seen coming from the roof of the newly constructed west wing of the Motherhouse. When the fire was first spotted, Father Byrne, the chaplain at the Motherhouse, broke openings in the walls to see if the fire was spreading through the air chambers in the building. Unfortunately, his fears were confirmed. He ordered all remaining Sisters to leave the building immediately.

After vacating the building the Congregation learned there would be no fire protection. The fire trucks could not make it up the hill to the burning Motherhouse. There would be no water to douse the flames. Nothing could be done to save the building, but they tried to save as many valuables as possible before the falling debris managed to keep everyone out.

Workers gather at the site of the demolished Mount St. Joseph Motherhouse. Fire destroyed the newly built Motherhouse on July 16, 1885.

The only surviving portion of the Ohio limestone building was the brick walls and the fireproof vault that contained many valuables and the archives of the Sisters of Charity. The vault still stands today. There was no loss of life.

The devastating fire did not defeat the great morale of the remaining Sisters. They rallied together and construction of the new wing of the Motherhouse began the next day, July 17. The materials that were to be used for the construction of the east wing were used to rebuild the new west wing.

According to “The History of Mother Seton’s Daughters, Volume III,” by S. Mary Agnes McCann, the community, builders and supply houses also came together to help rebuild the new Motherhouse complex.

The Chapel of the Immaculate Conception is home to many joyous celebrations.

In July 1886 the first building of the new Motherhouse complex was complete and named Marian Hall. Currently, Marian Hall has a multitude of purposes. The first floor is home to the post office, the beauty salon, the Spirituality Center, Congregational offices and the Arts and Crafts Room. The second floor contains more offices, the Rose Room and the McCann Room. It also is home to the Art Room, where many treasures of the Sisters of Charity are on display, the Resource Center/Library, the Computer Room and the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception. The third and fourth floors of Marian Hall are bedrooms for the Sisters of Charity and the fifth floor is now used for maintenance purposes.

The Art Room, located on the second floor of Marian Hall, displays treasured artwork by and for the Sisters of Charity.		One of the many cozy bedrooms located in Marian Hall.

 

 

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