The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-10-22

ST. ]OSEPHS CONVENT.
New Building Of Monsignor
Seton's Parish Rapidly
Nearing Completion.
THE STRUCTURE DESCRIBED
Sketch of the Parish Under
Two Pastors \ Among
the Churches.

st. Joseph's parish. on the Heights,
H. r -@
hportant parishes or the city. or. In fact, III
the county, and well may it enjoy that
distinction, for there is none more pros
porous. Under its pastor. Monsignor
Robert Seton, the parish has made Won
derful strides, and the prosperous condi-
ton in which it is now is the result of
years Of interchangeable labor.
In about two weeks, an addition Will be
made to the parish buildings, which win
fill a long felt want. 1t is the Sisters
Convent. which has been in the course of
erection since about the middle of last
June The building is situated on a piece
of property bounded by Magnolia and
Baldwin avenues, and which was former
" used as a playground for the children
of the parish school, which building adj
joins the new convent. This piece of
| property was almost of solid rock and
much blasting was required before a
sufficient depth was reached for the
| basement. The present convent on Mag
nolia avenue, which has been used by the
Sisters for years past, has long been too
small for them. The house is a small
wooden one surrounded by shade trees
and flower beds. 1t contains about six
| small rooms, and is two stories high. The
new building is fully three times as large
| as the old structure.
1t is now just five months since the
blasting began on the rock in the prop
erty where the new home for the Sisters
stands. The structure is of red brick,
and the front. which faces Baldwin ave-
nue., is beautiful in design. 1t is Of
Romanesque style, and the brick settings
give it a very handsome appearances. From
the basement for a distance of six feet.
brownstone has been used. When work
on the building began, Monsignor Seton.
said that no cornerstone would be laid,
and hat no ceremonies of any kind
would take place. However, he changed
his mind, and a cornerstone was laid, but
without the customary celebration. The
basement is composed of two cellars,
each by thirty-four feet, and a
laundry and boiler room. There is an
area in the rear of the building eight by
forty feet. The building is t1fty-four feet
deep, and has a frontage of forty feet.
On the first floor, there is the chapel and
sacristy on the northeast side, and the
kitchen, dining room and the room of the
Mother Superior On the southwest side.
On the second floor. there are nine rooms
including the community room. There
are also eight rooms on the third floor.
The specifications call for the completion
of the structure by the first of November,
and it will undoubtedly be finished before
the contract time expires. There remains
little work to be lone on the building,
and that is now being rapidly finished on
the interior. In all the convent will cost
in the neighborhood of $40, 900. The con-
tractors are John Whelihan & Sons.
John Whelihans has been a resident of
this city for the biggest part of mis- life,
and he has done mason work on many of
the Jersey City churches. In 1859. when
st. Joseph's parish was in its youth, Mr..
Whelihan built the first church for the
parish. IT was a small building of brick
and occupied part of the ground where st.
Joseph's stately ediffce now stands.
Father yanuta was the restor of that
parish. being the first priest to labor n
that field. The late Archbishop Bailey of
Baltimore, who, at that time was Bishop
of the Newark diocese, laid the corner
stone. After Father Vanuta had passed
away, Monsignor Seton took charge of
the parish. A short time ago, an adj
ditionaI wing was built on the southern
corner of the rectory as the priests were
cramped for room. There are five rooms
in the wing. On the first floor there are
two rooms for guests; on the second the
Monsignor's reading room and on the
third floor, two spare rooms.