Treasures from Archives

The local Terre Haute newspaper on Sept. 25, 1958, announces
the groundbreaking of the new novitiate building.

For the past 13 years, I have walked into Owens Hall almost every day of my life. I’ve often wondered about the women who called this building home during their postulant and novitiate days. I’ve also wondered about the women who made the decision to build this structure.

Mother Gertrude Clare Owens, general superior from 1954 to 1960, was dedicated to the formation of young women in religious life, and it was under her administration that Providence Novitiate, the former name of Owens Hall, was built. Sacrifices had to be made by all the sisters in order to build this more than $2 million facility. In his sermon during the blessing and dedication of the hall on April 19, 1960, in front of sisters and guests, the Very Rev. Joseph Brokhage, STD, said, “Your Mother [Mother Gertrude Clare] saw a further need, the need of a new Novitiate. Again she appealed to you, her daughters, to save here and skimp there to bear the heavy cost. Again, as loyal daughters, you all said: ‘Mother, we are behind you.’”

In addition to the sacrifices made by the Congregation, generous friends, schools and parishes donated funds for the building project. However, no official capital campaign was undertaken to build the new novitiate building.

Sacrifices were also made for the purchase and installation of a new organ in the hall’s St. Joseph Chapel located on the first floor. According to documents in Archives, sisters who were music teachers “gave extra lessons and taught on free days, during vacation time, etc., and realized over $7,000 in a period of three years. The talent of the music teachers in our own Community was utilized for the summer school in 1960 instead of bringing in outside educators and the money thus saved was added to the amount.”

The pipe organ in St. Joseph Chapel was blessed on Dec. 18, 1960, by the Rev. William Stineman.

During the April 19 blessing and dedication, the Rev. Brokhage touched upon a sad note about the completion of the novitiate. Mother Gertrude Clare was in poor health and did not realize that her dream of a new building had been achieved. The Rev. Brokhage said, “By design of God, your Mother has not been permitted to share your joy in this great day. Were she conscious, she would rejoice for two reasons: first, that she could make the additional sacrifice of not being in the limelight on this great day; secondly, she would rejoice that her beloved novices will now have suitable quarters in this beautiful new building.”

In 1968, Mother Mary Pius Regnier, general superior from 1966 to 1976, and her General Council renamed Providence Novitiate Owens Hall, in honor of Mother Gertrude Clare, who died in 1963. In the resolution for the new name, it was written, “Whereas, No other name could be more fittingly given to the building erected with so much confidence and trust in God than that of Mother Gertrude Clare.”

Now when I walk into Owens Hall I have a greater appreciation for all the women, especially Mother Gertrude Clare, who made it a reality.

This image of Owens Hall graces the cover of a 1960s brochure printed by the Congregation.

Treasures from Archives

Sister Cecile Morse ministered as a printer from 1938 to 1979.

The Sisters of Providence have a long history of printing and publishing. Take, for example, “Lest We Forget: The Sisters of Providence of St. Mary-of-the-Woods in Civil War Service,” by the late Sister Mary Theodosia Mug. It was printed in 1931 by Providence Press of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods. Yes, indeed, having a print shop to help not only share information about the Congregation and its many schools, but also to evangelize has always been of great importance to the Congregation.

According to information gathered by Sister Mary Roger Madden, Congregation historian, there was a small printing office established in the old novitiate in 1898. Six years later, a new novitiate was built and the office was moved there to the first floor and a Gordon Press was added in 1905. By 1913, the printing office was moved to the second floor of the cannery building. (Note: the cannery building was razed in June.) Four years later, an improved Linotype was purchased.

What, exactly, did Providence Press print? Well, there were always exams for the schools, including the old Academy, the predecessor to today’s Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College. There were prayers, death notices, place cards, menus and much larger jobs including Les Bois, the college’s annual; Fagots, the college newspaper; the Aurora, the college magazine; Alumnae News; and The Bugle Call, the missionary magazine of the Congregation.

Mr. W. H. Niccum was hired in 1931.

By the late 1920s and early 1930s Congregation leadership questioned the wisdom of having a printing office. The sisters began researching the possibility of contracting the work and also investigating more modern equipment. They also turned to St. Joseph and intercessory prayer. St. Joseph and the sisters’ research came through and soon money became available to begin purchasing new equipment. In 1931, Mr. W.H. Niccum was hired as a printer. By 1938, two sisters were working full time in the print shop, and Mr. Niccum employed four men to assist in the office. One of the sisters who was assigned to the print shop was Sister Cecile Morse, who died in 2006.

Sister Cecile had printer’s ink in her blood. Her father owned his own print shop and she and her siblings learned the ropes of printing at an early age. When Sister Cecile graduated from high school in 1926, she joined the International Typographical Union and worked in the printing industry until she joined the Congregation in 1935. In 1938, Sister Cecile was assigned to Providence Press, a position she maintained until 1979.

From 1979 to 1982, Sister Mary Lee Mettler took over Providence Press. New equipment was purchased allowing for offset printing. The shop was also moved to the first floor of the laundry building. In 1983, the leadership of the print shop was transferred to Sister David Ellen Van Dyke, who died in 2011. She ran the office until 1988. It was on May 1, 1988, that Providence Press ceased operations, and Providence Printery, as the office is now known, was opened June 7 on the first floor of Owens Hall. Today, the Printery is managed by the very capable Roberta King, a staff member of the Congregation since 1987. Roberta is also a Providence Associate.

In the stacks in Archives there is a plethora of information about Providence Press/Printery. Included in the files are invoices for several jobs. The following shows the price for some publications in 1931:

• The Bugle Call: 8,800 copies with 16 pages including cover — $345
• Aurora: 400 copies with 76 pages including cover — $184.50
• Alumnae News: 850 copies with 24 pages including cover — $153.25

Treasures from Archives

Back in the far recesses of Archives is a wonderful archival box filled with tantalizing details about the convent cemetery. One of the items that caught my attention was the bill for the wrought iron gate at the entrance of the cemetery. The invoice is dated Oct. 14, 1940, and is from the Marleau-Hercules Fence Co. of Toledo, Ohio. The cost for the gate is $800.

Another invoice tied with the cemetery is for the stonework for the entrance. Provided by the Lindley Ornamental Stone Company of Bloomington, Ind., and dated Oct. 19, 1940, the invoice totaled $900.

Also in this archival box are the blueprints for the gate as well as the stone gateposts. The prints are dated July 10 and July 12, 1940, respectively. On the gate blueprint is printed, “Gates to have latch no locks.” Both sets of blueprints were drawn by architects of D.A. Bohlen and Son of Indianapolis. This was the same company used for the Church of the Immaculate Conception.

Look closely at the wrought iron invoice. In the sold to box is the name Mr. Bisch, which has been crossed out. The Bisch family has a long and wonderful history with the Congregation. Joseph N. Bisch served as the superintendent of grounds from 1893 until his death in 1939. He was encouraged to come to Saint Mary-of-the-Woods by his sisters, Sisters St. Bernardine and Mary Anthony Bisch. Joseph’s son Bernard took over upon his father’s death. Bernard remained superintendent until his death in 1958. This invoice was sent in care of Bernard.

What other connections are there between the Bisch family and the Congregation? Sister Marian Celeste Bisch (RIP), a daughter of Joseph N., also was a Sister of Providence! In other words, she and Bernard were sister and brother.

Bernard was succeeded by his son Joseph L., who served as superintendent from 1958 to 1988. Joseph’s son, Stephen, was employed to assist his father on Sept. 17, 1984! He left the employment of the Congregation in 1988.