The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1915-06-19
Continued from page ID
FIFTY GOLDEN YEARS.

ceedeu at once TO their little NOME
located on the right bank of a pretty
little stream, called Straight River,
about one mile southeast of the pres
ent site of Bethlehem Academy. This
quiet home which was remodelled for
convent life was purchased from
Major Fowler. 1t was two-story
building having four rooms on the
| first fioor-parlor, dining room,
kitchen and school room-and three
on the second fioor-a chapel, and two
dormitories. The grounds were at
tractive and healthful, clothed as they
were in Natures artistic beauty. Be-
cause of its likeness to that place OF
sacred memories on the Judean plane,
with it's little houses, it's running
stream, its flowers and stable, Bishop
Grace named it Bethlehem
In this little convent home four
years we're spent in strenuous labor,
modification, hardship and privation.
Often in the bitter cold of winter,
the Sisters were without fuel; often
they were in want of bread and other
necessities of life; but far from
diminishing their courage, these priVa-
tions made them the more jealous and
devoted to duty.
There was scarcely a semblance of a
school in Faribault in those days. The
public school was a little wooden
building of one room near the site of
the present High School and was
touobt hu pavaropd T procE Tho
parochial school was in the basement
of the old church near the present
site of the Immaculate Conception
Church, dark and dingy place, con-
tanning three rooms Thither f1ocked
boys and girls of various creeds, ma
tionalities and color to be taught by
Sisters who had severed every tie
home, kindred and cherished convent
lin order to be among them, to enable
them to lead good and honorable
lives; and their efforts were amply
rewarded by the earnestness, good
will and genial disposition of pupils
who made bright and CHEEKY the
dreary school rooms and made life
happy for the nuns.
The convent school under the super
vision of Mother Josephine and
Mother Gertrude prospered. The beau
tiful grounds, healthful atmosphere
and CHEEKY rooms were appreciated in
those early days and caused a rapid
increase in the number of pupils.
The Second Convent.
The time, however, was close at
hand when change must be made.
The long and rough journeys in the
bitter cold of winter, through brambles
and thickets, to and from the parochial
school were found to be too strenuous
for the Sisters; for this part of Fari-
bault, now dotted with comfortable
homes, beautiful lawns and paved
walks, was at that time covered with
dense underground with not even a
pathway leading from the convent to
the school. This deplorable condition
was remedied by good Father Kellar,
the parish priest, man remarkable
| for kindness, charity and zeal, to-
gether with many Of the loyal friends
/ VI CHC OloLCAOJ WIZ lJ1OpOoCd IIuI IA1C
| nuns should have their convent more
convenient to the parochial school,
and suggested the purchase of Mr.. 10.
seph Berglehum's old home located on
what is now Division Street and Sec.
ond Avenue, for this purpose. The
proposition was accepted. Father
Kellar who resided there and who
never found sacrifice too great to be
made in the cause of education or re
ligion, vacated his rooms and found
shelter for himself in the basement oil
the old church.
In the summer of 1869, the Sisters
were installed in their new Convent
which they found more convenient
and spacious than their former home
The old house was abandoned, but the
happy memories enshrined in tha
sacred spot can never be forgotten
The remembrance of the dear ole
friends and pupils who aided the Com
immunity in those trying days, are still
kept fresh in the heart of ever!
Dominican Sister by the two pioneer
nuns, Sisters Benvenuta and Veronica
who still live to tell the story of The
first days in Bethlehem.
Six years, not uneventful, were
lpassed in this second convent. The
number of pupils increased yearly anC
greater demands were made for better
equipment in both the convent ant
parochial schools.
| Hinder fha sl1nnrvision of FathnI
Schafee, funds were raised and plan!
made for erecting the present paro
chial school of the Immaculate Con
ception parish, splendid structure TO
those days. The building was com
pleted in the summer of 1875 ant
opened in September with a large en-
rollment.
The future of the convent caused
no little anxiety to the Sisters
Means were lacking, and there seemed
but little hope of securing funds. Tht
little community needed someone tt
give an impetus to the work; ant
Providence gave it such a one in thu
person of Sister Gertrude who wa!
lappointed Superior at this critica
time. She had passed through man!
trying circumstances that would havt
been narrowing to a less noble nature
but those trials forced her to strive
the more in the cause of education
and religion. The little Communit.
we'll knew the ability of Mothel
Gertrude. They had seen her bring
/ - - Il, 110x