Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1904-10-21
Celebrates Its Forty
Fifth AnniYer-
Sary
Historical Event In the Con-
duct of This Historic
Institution

The pupils Of Sacred Heart Acade.
my in this city were given a holiday
on Friday. It is an important day in
the history of the order of Sisters of
the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary,
who own and control the school. For
ty-ive years ago today--October 21,
1S59-the first delegation of these
plous sisters-12 in number-arrived
in Oregon from Montreal. having
made the voyage by the way of the
Isthmus of Panama, with many trials
and dangers,
bishop F. N. Blanchet the pioneer
prelate of the great Pacific North
west, that the brave little company
of teaching sisters was procured, and
he accompanied them on their voyage
to the Far West In the same YES
sci with them General Winfield Scott,
then an idolized hero, was also pas.
senger, and in their annals of the
journey the sisters record with great
gratitude his remarkable kindness and
consideration to them. An account OF
the landing at Portland, written few
years ago closes with this paragraph;
AN expectant throng of spectators
lined one of Portlands wharfs on
the morning Of October 21, 1859. The
arrival of General Scott and his stan
was an auspicious event tha' called
forth hundreds. in whose hearts the
great American general held his place
as an ideal hero; the return of Ore
CONS apostolic prelate to his flock
was joyously welcomed by the few
devoted priests and the pioneer Cath
Iolics of Portland. whose gratitude
was bound'ess on beholding his eff
forts to procure an educational sis
terhood rewarded"
The ~ sisters composing the devot'
ed and unse.hsn band were Sisters
Mary Alphonse, Mary of Mercy, Mary
Margaret, Marie de la Visitation
Francis Xavier, Mary du Calvaire
Febronia, Florence Perpetua. Arsen-
ius, Julia and Agatha, and a remark
able tribute to the climate of Oregon
is that after 45 years of unceasing and
laborious toll six OF these, or 80 per
cent, are still alive and in active ser
vice viz: Sisters NJ. Margaret, Fran
els Xavier, Perpetua Agatha and Fe-
bronia. the last named being one OF
those in barge of Sared Heart Aad-
emy In this lty, the others being at
ST. Mary's college and academy in
Portland.
Their coming to Portland found
very cherries Surroundings. Where
now stands the magnificent brick
structure between Fourth, Fifth,
Market and Mill streets there was a
small wooden building with none OF
the comforts OF life. Their first nights
were speut with their satchels for pill
lows and the available contents OF
satchels for bed covering. The ineon'
yeniences. and, one might say, hard.
ships OF the early days for them were
many, but they were consecrated TO
a cause, and they bore all with pa
tenec.
-Four years later-in 1S63--a few OF
those sisters came TO Salem and start.
ed their first school in the old Ma
sonic hall at the corner OF Chemeketa
and church streets where Dr. Rich
ardson's residence now stands, later
securing the property watch they now
occupy. and where they have built up
an education Institution that Is a
source OF pride to this city
Al the Portland college and acade'
my there Is also holiday today and
a celebration OF the anniversary, IN
which Sister Febronia has joined her
Ave remaining fello~-pioneeFs IN look
ing back over this long lifetime and
rehearsing the scenes and experiences
Incident thereto II certainly forms
an event in Oregon history well worth
remembering and hOnoring.