The San Francisco call., 1909-11-07

first institution. called St Vincent's
seminary, was opened January l. 1855.
In those days the district now called
St. Vincents was known as Las Gallinas.
OF this beginning of the work the fol-
lowing official record was made:
St Nincent's seminary. Las Gal
linas, near San Rafael Marin
county. California, A. d. 1855. Jan
uary !.
The Sisters of Charity of the
city Of San Francisco, California,
are appointed to take charge of the
school at St Vincent's at Las Gal
linas, Marin county of California, to
carry out the intention of Mr.. Tim
othy Murphy.
JOSEPH ALEMANY.
Archbishop of San Francisco"
The other record among the archives
is from the beloved Sister Frances, who
founded the orphan asylum for girls in
San Francisco. 1t shows what this or
phanage was in the beginning, readings
The Sisters of Charity from ST.
Joseph's house in Emmetsburg,
Maryland. whose mother house is
in Paris. founded a branch of their
order in Las Gallinas, a tract of
land donated to the Most Rev.
Archbishop Alemany by Don Tim
othy Murphy. The sisters erected
amounted to $4,000. Sr NJ. Corsina
Mercy, Donna Barbara. Miss Glover
and four children took possession
of 1T January 5, 1855, and on the
same day opened a school for the
maintenance and education of chill
dren in the neighboring district.
The above institution we organ
lied under the name of st. Vincent's
seminary. Subsequent to the above
mentioned period we added other
improvements, viz, fencing, etc.
SISTER FRANCES McINNIS,
''Directress of st. Vincent's."
This meager. record does not tell that
the erection of this. first building
meant slow and laborious work. that
every stick and brick that went intolits
had to be hauled there
over endless miles by that most prim-
tive of all means-the OK team.
The seminary was ahead Of the times
and, did not prosper. so a change came
after a few years and the Sisters Of
Charity returned to San Francisco. In
heir place came the first pastor and
president of ST. Vincents, Rev. Father
an English convert. His first
charges were IA orphan boys from San
Francisco. These lads were shipped on
schooner owned by Captain Higgins
That memorable day they were re-
;eived by Father Maurice and Henry
diller OF Miller hall, who, for decade
Ipon decade, was a sort of fairy god
ather to the boys of the institution
The family at st. Vincents was small
n the earlier years.
The next change in the asylum came
n 1858 when Rev. Louis Lootens. a
Belgian priest, took charge. He was
nergetic and instituted many i'm
Being artistic as well as
ractical. he set out many Of the trees
nd shrubs that today add to the beau.
ad ss boys under his charge and In
reased the accomm odations of the
lace When Father Lootens left for
daho he had 146 boys to pass over to
is successor, Father Birmingham Of
an Francisco, who, in about two years,
ad 800 boys to look after. In 1874
.ev. Father Croke took charge and at
he close OF his administration there
rere $50 boys at the orphanage-too
lany, but every effort had to be made
} provide for the dependent children
nat were brought to the shelter.
But troublous time came in 1888 and
lere was a change in the system Of
administration. The late Rev. w. d.
cKinnon took charge and brought
ominican sisters into the work Their
liuence proved most benefcent.
ather McKinnon put the boys to
ork, with the best possible results.
he interest which was Immediately
anifested IN the farm work was sus-
lined and has been continued UP to
le present time. Under the direction
Father McKinnon more than 1000 !
-uit trees were planted, as well as
rape vines and berries which work
1ne 20 years ago, has provided the I,
1ys of st. vincent's with an abund- :
nee of fruit for the last Is years.
ather McKinnon's' hope that a can :
cry and dryer would be installed !
hen the trees had matured has not =
sen realized. because3 since the trees :