St. Charles Seminary facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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St. Charles Seminary and Chapel
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The former Seminary in 2010
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 Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Carthagena, Ohio |
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| Area | 150 acres (61 ha) |
| Built | 1906 |
| Architectural style | Gothic, Romanesque |
| MPS | Cross-Tipped Churches of Ohio TR |
| NRHP reference No. | 79002840 |
| Added to NRHP | July 26, 1979 |
St. Charles Seminary was once a special school for people who wanted to become Catholic priests. It was started by a group called the Missionaries of the Precious Blood in 1861 in a town called Carthagena, Ohio. The school closed its doors in 1969. Today, the buildings are used as a retirement home for priests and other people. The seminary, its chapel, and five other buildings were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. This means they are important historical sites.
Contents
History of St. Charles Seminary
The very first buildings on the land where St. Charles Seminary now stands were part of a different school. This school was called the Emlen Institute. It was a boarding school for young African-American students. A kind person named Samuel Emline, Jr., who was a Quaker, left money in his will to start this school.
In 1857, the Emlen Institute sold its property in Ohio. They then moved their school to Pennsylvania.
Founding the Seminary
A group of religious people called the Missionaries of the Precious Blood came to Ohio in 1844. They came to help German-speaking settlers who lived there. In 1861, this group bought 200 acres of land. They also bought the old Emlen Institute buildings. They wanted to use this place as a school for people who wished to join their religious group. They named the seminary after St. Charles Borromeo, who was a very important saint.
Building the Seminary
The main seminary building you see today was built over six years in the 1920s. It is a large, three-story building. It has a long front section, about 371 feet wide. On each side, there are two wings that stretch out 140 feet. The beautiful chapel was built by the sons of Anton De Curtins. He was famous for designing churches with tall steeples in Ohio.
Why the Seminary Closed
The seminary stopped being a school in 1969. This happened because fewer students were joining. Today, students who want to become priests in this group study at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.
St. Charles Seminary Today
The former seminary buildings have found a new purpose. They were changed into the St. Charles Center. This center became a retirement home for priests and Religious Brothers from the Missionaries of the Precious Blood.
In the 1980s and 1990s, more and more priests needed a place to retire. So, the center also started to welcome other people. Now, it is a senior living center for both religious people and others.
