Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1886-07-05
COMMENCEMENT AT ST. CLARA'S
ACADEMY.
Commencement Exercises held at st.
Clara's Academy, SiIsinaWa Mound,
Thursday, July /, 1886.

1SlnSlnaWa Mound, was celebrated last
Thursday, July 1. The scenery along
the route from Lancaster to the Mound
was in itself sufficient to repay one for
the drive, and the HERALD editor and
his companions enjoyed it to the fullest
extent. The mound, on the southern
slope of which St. Clara's is built, is
situated in the extreme southern part of
Grant County, ON the line between the
townships of Hazel Green and James
town. 1t rises $50 feet above the level
of the surrounding country, and COM
mands view of the neighboring states
of Illinois and Iowa for a distance of
many miles. The site is one of the
most beautiful and picturesque in the
country. The academy is built about
$50 feet below the summit, where a
circular road of mile and half makes
belt around the mound. The plan of
the buildings, their size, and arrange
ment, the light and ventilation, leave
nothing to be desired.
The institution was founded in 1S48
through the labors of Father Mazzu-
chelli as Roman Catholic college for
boys, and after doing successful work,
was closed about the beginning of the
late rebellion. In 1867 St. Clara's
Academy was opened in the same
buildings. The principal building at
this time was three-story structure,
now occupied by the Sisters. In the
first story are the kitchen, sisters re-
fectory and reception room. The Sec
ond and third stories are used as dormi-
tories. The new part, which is of brick
and stone, is much larger and finer than
the old. 1t is three stories with base
ment, and is surmounted by tower
from which the cities of Dubuque and
Galena are plainly visible, as well as
wide circle of country dotted by farm
houses and villages. In the basement
are the cellar and laundry. On the
first floor the parlor, dining-room,
MUSHROOM, girls refectory and tele-
phone room. (The Academy has tele-
phonic communication with Dubuque,
Galena, Plattevile and intermediate
villages) On the second floor are the
class-rooms, the study hall, the art
room, and recreation-room. In the third
story are the chapel and girls dormi-
tory. The spacious lawn fronting the
Academy is beautifully laid out and
carefully tended, while to the west is
large grove of native trees.
About half mile 10 the northeast of
the mound is fine brick church, not
fully compl eted, which was erected
few years ago by the people of that
parish, but which did not receive the
sanction of the Bishop and was for a
long time unoccupied Readers of the
HERALD will remember the litigation
which arose concerning this church a
few years ago. The comfortable priests
house near by seems now to be occu-
pied, and services are held in the
church Another church similar in
structure is situated on the grounds of
st. Clara's in which services are con-
Quoted by Father Baker, the chaplain
of the academy. Between the church
and the academy is the large hall in
which the commencement exercises
were held.
The invitations named half-past nine
as the hour for the exercises to COM
mence, but long before that hour hun
dreds of people had arrived and were
strolling about the grounds. st. Clara's
commencement had become so popular
and the crowds attending them were
so great, that it became necessary a
few years ago to adopt the. present sys-
tenn of issuing invitations. The doors
were not opened till the time for COM
mencing had arrived, but representa-
tives of the press and some specially
invited guests were admitted at the rear
door and had obtained comforta BILE
seats before the doors were thrown
open TO the other fortunate holders of
invitation cards.
The stage was tastefully decorated
with flowers and evergreens. Over the
archway at the back was a Tyre above
which. in gilt letters were the words
''Relgion and Science" Upon the