Gruenwald Convent facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Gruenwald Convent
|
|
Front and side of the convent
|
|
 Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
|
|
| Nearest city | Cassella, Ohio |
|---|---|
| Area | 0 acres (0 ha) |
| Built | 1854 |
| MPS | Cross-Tipped Churches of Ohio TR |
| NRHP reference No. | 79002813 |
| Added to NRHP | July 26, 1979 |
The Gruenwald Convent is a historic building in Ohio, United States. It was once a Roman Catholic convent. A convent is a place where religious women, called nuns, live and work together.
This old building is found about half a mile south of Cassella, a small community in Mercer County. The Gruenwald Convent was built in 1854. It is one of only two convents from its time that still looks much like it did originally.
Contents
The Gruenwald Convent: A Historic Building
The Gruenwald Convent is an important part of Ohio's past. It shows how religious communities lived and built structures in the 1800s.
What is a Convent?
A convent is a special building where nuns live. Nuns are women who have dedicated their lives to God and the Catholic Church. They often pray, study, and do good works in their communities. Convents provide a home and a place for their spiritual life.
A Look Back: Its History
The Gruenwald Convent was built by a religious group called the Missionaries of the Precious Blood. Their leader, Francis de Sales Brunner, helped build six convents in this part of Ohio and nearby Indiana between 1846 and 1856.
These convents were very important buildings in the area. They were made of brick and looked strong, almost like fortresses. Most other buildings around them were small wooden houses.
Building Many Convents
Besides Gruenwald, five other convents were built:
- One was near St. Augustine's Church in Minster.
- Another was linked to St. Joseph's Church in Egypt.
- The Himmelgarten convent was close to St. Henry.
- The Maria Stein Convent was also built.
- And one was connected to Holy Trinity Church in Trinity, Indiana.
By the late 1970s, only the Gruenwald and Trinity convents still looked like their original selves. The Himmelgarten convent was sold long ago and later destroyed. The Minster convent is also gone. The Egypt and Maria Stein convents were changed a lot over time.
How It Was Built: Architecture
The Gruenwald Convent has two and a half stories. It stands on a strong stone foundation. Its walls are made of brick, and it has an asphalt roof.
This convent is smaller than some of the other convents built by the Missionaries. For example, the Maria Stein Convent is a huge complex with seventeen buildings. After the Gruenwald Convent was no longer used by nuns, it was changed into a regular home. Because of this, it is also known as the "McDowell House."
Why It's Important: Historic Status
In 1979, the Gruenwald Convent was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of buildings, sites, and objects in the United States that are important to history. The convent was part of a group of over thirty buildings added at the same time. This group was called the "Cross-Tipped Churches of Ohio Thematic Resources."
This collection included many important buildings in the area around Maria Stein. They were all connected to the Missionaries of the Precious Blood. Many of these buildings are large Gothic Revival churches. These churches gave the region its nickname: the "Land of the Cross-Tipped Churches."
The Gruenwald Convent was added to the Register for two main reasons. First, it played a role in the history of the region. Second, it is connected to Francis de Sales Brunner, the leader of the Missionaries.
