On top of the World… at Providence Manor
BY VERONICA STIENBURG, ARCHIVISTWhen looking at old photographs of Providence Manor or the House of Providence, as it was known before 1970, I came across several photographs of a balcony from the early 1900s. I incorrectly assumed that this was the same rooftop...
The House of Providence gets Electric Light in 1894
BY VERONICA STIENBURG, ARCHIVISTElectricity didn’t come to Kingston until the Kingston Electric Light Company was incorporated in 1886, and it built the first electric light plant in 1888 at the foot of Brock Street. But when did the Sisters of Providence first get...
Bishop Cleary and Our Mother of Sorrows Chapel
Present day interior of Our Mother of Sorrows Chapel, Providence Manor, Kingston.BY VERONICA STIENBURG, ARCHIVISTThe history of the Archdiocese of Kingston and that of the Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul is very much intertwined. Not only did the Sisters...
St. Patrick’s Day
BY VERONICA STIENBURG, ARCHIVIST The Sisters of Providence celebrated St. Patrick’s Day throughout the years and across Canada as documented in the annals from the various missions. March 17, 1916 – Congregational Annals, Kingston ONSt. Patrick’s Day. Masses as usual....
St. John’s Convent Perth
BY VERONICA STIENBURG, ARCHIVISTThe Sisters of Providence started teaching at St. John’s school in Perth, Ontario in September 1892. Their first convent was a house which served them for over 10 years until they needed more space. In 1904 the congregation commissioned...
The sun-room
BY VERONICA STIENBURG, ARCHIVISTWhen we think of major changes to the Motherhouse over the years, we generally think of additions, not the parts of the Motherhouse that have been demolished. Can you figure out where this photo was taken? And what parts of the...
Hand-tinted Postcards
BY VERONICA STIENBURG, ARCHIVIST The Archives of the Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul collects postcards as well as photographs. One of my favourite things in the postcard collection are the hand-tinted post cards. Hand tinted postcards became popular at...
St. Joseph’s School Kingston
BY VERONICA STIENBURG, ARCHIVISTThe Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul taught at St. Joseph’s School in Kingston from its beginnings as the Union Street School. The Union Street School opened in 1946 and was located in temporary military buildings on Union...
Two construction crews … 94 years apart
BY VERONICA STIENBURG, ARCHIVISTOn November 9th, 1931, a photograph was taken of the construction crew, hired by general contractor Angus Robertson Limited, who built the original wing of Providence Motherhouse. In the photograph, the workmen are standing in front of...
Summer at the Cottage
Marillac Villa, Howe Island in the early 2000s.BY VERONICA STIENBURG, ARCHIVISTOne of the Sisters’ favourite places is somewhere that rarely gets mentioned in the ‘official’ history of the congregation: Marillac Villa, the congregation’s cottage on Howe Island. This...