HOME OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD

HOME OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD. The land on which this building was located was originally the Robert BONSON mansion and estate. On July 2, 1915, the Sisters of the House of the Good Shepard purchased the estate when their building, Hennessy Hall at LORAS COLLEGE, became too small.

This order of Sisters operated Mt. St. Rose School to help the “rehabilitation and restoration of delinquent or neglected girls.” These girls were referred to this vocational school by social agencies, parents, relatives, parish priests, and juvenile courts. The goal of the school was to enable the girls from the ages of 13-21 to become self-sufficient in society.

The four-story dormitory building was erected in 1916. In 2011 it was known as the Springs Building, an office complex, in Fountain Park. The original dormitory housed girls, classrooms and included a large area on the second floor that served as their chapel.

As the school grew, space became a scarce. In July 1929, permission was given to the sisters to build a chapel. It was completed in November 1930. The unique “L” shape of the chapel served the purpose of separating the Sisters from the girls during worship services. The Sisters were allowed to sit in the wing that faced the front of the altar. The girls sat in the wing with the arches due to the fact they were only allowed to view the side of the altar. Additionally, the building was built to include a 300-seat theater in the lower level.

The Sisters ran Mt. St. Rose School at this location for 35 years. As attendance of the school decreased, the maintenance of the facility became difficult. In 1950, with the approval from Rome, the property was to be given to the Dominican Fathers for a seminary.