Loretto Academy (Kansas City, Missouri) facts for kids
The building in August 2015
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| Former names | Loretto Academy |
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| Address | 1111 W. 39th St. |
| Location | Kansas City, Missouri |
| Owner | Loretto Redevelopment Corp. |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1902 |
| Website | |
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Loretto Academy
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 Location in Missouri
Location in the United States
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| Built | 1902 |
| Architect | Barnett, Haynes & Barnett |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 83001009 |
| Added to NRHP | July 28, 1983 |
The Loretto is a cool place in Kansas City, Missouri. It's in the Westport neighborhood. This building used to be a school just for girls. It was called Loretto Academy. The school opened in 1904. It was a place where girls could live and learn. The building is named after the Sisters of Loretto. They are a group of nuns who came to Kansas City in 1899.
Contents
The Loretto's Story: A Look Back
The land for Loretto Academy was bought in September 1902. Mother M. Praxedes Carty made this purchase. The person who designed Loretto Academy was Thomas P. Barnett. He was part of a company called Barnett, Haynes & Barnett. Later, he also designed a very important church. This church was the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis.
A Sad Event in 1909
A sad event happened at the academy in 1909. It was during a Halloween party. Three students tragically lost their lives. This happened when their paper costumes caught fire. The fire started from a lit jack-o'-lantern.
A Step Forward: New Students
Loretto Academy made an important change in September 1947. This was when the school welcomed its first Black student. This was a big step for the academy.
Moving to a New Home
The Loretto Academy moved to a new location in 1966. It moved to 12411 Wornall Road.
What Happened Next?
After the academy moved, the building was sold. Calvary Bible College bought it in 1966. They owned it for 20 years. Then, it had a few different owners. In 1993, the building was taken over by a bank. This happens when owners can't pay their loans. This is called a foreclosure.
A Historic Landmark
The Loretto building became very important in 1983. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's a special building. It is important for its history and design.
The Loretto Today
Today, the building is known as The Loretto. It's a busy place! People can have weddings in the old chapel. Wedding parties can also use the ballroom. The building also has apartments where people live. Plus, there are offices for businesses.
Future Plans
The current owner is Loretto Redevelopment Corp. They have big plans for the building. They want to make it even better. They hope to turn parts of it into a hotel. They also plan to add small office spaces. And they want to build two small rental buildings. These plans were being worked on in 2011. The property is quite large, about 6 acres.
