BY VERONICA STIENBURG, ARCHIVIST
When 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 Motherhouse it shows? If you are confused at what you are seeing – let’s break it down in relation to what we know of the Motherhouse now!
This photo was taken between 1932 and 1952 and the photographer was standing roughly where the Marian Wing is now, looking west. The wing in the background (circled in red) is the northern portion of what we now call the West Wing. (The southern portion of the West Wing was not built until 1963-64). The low building in the middle ground (circled in blue) is a sun room that was built as part of the original 1932 complex and was torn down in 1963. The portion of the building in the far right of the photo (circled in green) was where the original chapel wing ended at the time (we know the 1932 chapel as the Auditorium), but is now where the Marian Wing connects to the rest of the building.
The sun room was used for recreation (down-time) by the Sisters when the weather didn’t encourage going outside, and to hold large meetings. There are also many mentions in the Congregational Annals of the sunroom being used to host dinners for outside guests, especially groups of priests after a special mass. The exterior steps to the sunroom were also used for group photographs.
Postulants in 1933 standing on the stairs by the sunroom.
