| East Dubuque Local Area History Project | |
|
|
 |
Visitation by J. J.
|
| One hundred and twenty-five years ago a group of Visitation Sisters came up the Mississippi on a barge to Dubuque. Bishop John Hennsey invited them to begin and Academy for girls in the city. They came from St. Louis in August of 1871. They lived in a rectory of St. Patrick's church for a short while. In October they moved closer to the Cathedral. They began a school there for fifty students. | |
| In January of 1879 Bishop John Hennsey purchased Gen. Jones Mansion at Alta Vista at University street. He gave this property to the sisters who a few days later opened the " Academy on the Hill. "As enrollment was increased more room was needed in 1889 more wings were added to the building. | |
| When the Nativity grade school opened in 1924. the Visitation Sisters were ask to teach there. Then in 1936 during the night a fire broke out which was devastating to the Academy. That summer a Mr. Murphy from Chicago donated $280,000.00 for a new Convent to be built. | |
| The Convent and remaining buildings that survived the fire and a new building that was built in 1963 housed young women and sisters. The Visitation Sisters educated young girls to form strong faith and moral values. For 99 years they served this community but because of economic costs they sold these buildings to Loras College. The Sisters built a home on land offered by the Presentation Sisters and this is were they remain today. | |
| An Interview and material provided by Sr. Ruth Jackson S.V. | |
