Mount Saint Mary's Convent and Academy facts for kids
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Mount Saint Mary's Academy and Convent
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 Location in California
Location in the United States
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| Location | 410 South Church Street Grass Valley, California |
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| Built | 1865 or 1866 |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival-Renaissance Revival-Georgian Revival-Victorian |
| NRHP reference No. | 74000543 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | May 3, 1974 |
Mount Saint Mary's Convent and Academy is a very old and important building in Grass Valley, California. It was once known as the Sacred Heart Convent and Holy Angels Orphanage. This building is special because it is the only original orphanage still standing in California. It helps us remember the Sisters of Mercy, a group of nuns who helped people in need.
Today, this historic building is home to the Grass Valley Museum. You can find it at 410 South Church Street. The building itself is a mix of different styles, including Gothic Revival and Victorian.
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A Helping Hand in Grass Valley
The story of Mount Saint Mary's began with a kind group of nuns called the Sisters of Mercy. Mother Mary Baptist Russell led eight Sisters who arrived in San Francisco from Ireland in 1854. They came to help people in California.
In 1863, five Sisters, including Mother Baptist, came to Grass Valley. They wanted to help the children who had lost their parents during the California Gold Rush. A local priest, Father Thomas Dalton, helped them start a new home for these children.
The cornerstone for the new convent and orphanage was placed on May 2, 1865. The Sisters moved into the building on March 20, 1866. Just a few weeks later, on April 2, 1866, the first orphans were welcomed into their new home.
The orphanage helped many children until it closed in 1932. The building was no longer used as a religious site after 1968. However, in 1969, a group called the Grass Valley Historic Preservation Committee began working to fix and save the building. They even restored the Sisters' beautiful rose garden. Today, Mount Saint Mary's Academy still operates as a school.
Building the Convent and Orphanage
The building is three stories tall. It cost about $19,856 to build and furnish, which was a lot of money back then! Each floor had a special purpose:
- The first floor was built with stone. It held classrooms, a dining room, kitchen, laundry, and storage areas.
- The second floor was made of brick. This floor had a chapel, more classrooms, a library, and parlors (sitting rooms).
- The third floor was also made of brick. It was used for dormitories (sleeping areas), and an infirmary (a place for sick people).
Honoring a Historic Place
This important building in Nevada County, California is recognized as a special landmark. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is also a California Historical Landmark, number 855, registered on April 24, 1972.
A plaque on the building tells its story:
Mount Saint Mary's Convent and Academy
Built by Reverend Thomas J. Dalton, the Sacred Heart Convent and Holy Angels Orphanage was dedicated May 2, 1865 by Bishop Eugene O'Connell. Under the Sisters of Mercy, it served from 1866 to 1932 as the first orphanage of the Northern Mines. It functioned as an academy from 1868 to 1965 and as a convent from 1866 to 1968.
The California Department of Parks and Recreation placed this plaque on the building on October 28, 1972.
See also
