St. Gertrude's Convent and Chapel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Monastery of St. Gertrude
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 Location in Idaho
Location in the United States
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| Location | West of Cottonwood, Idaho |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1919 |
| Architect | Englebert Gier |
| Architectural style | Romanesque |
| NRHP reference No. | 79000790 |
| Added to NRHP | June 18, 1979 |
The Monastery of Saint Gertrude is a special home for Benedictine nuns. It's located near Cottonwood, in Idaho, USA. This monastery was started by three Benedictine nuns who came all the way from St. Andrew's Abbey, Sarnen, Switzerland in 1882. In 1909, it became the main center for their group. The main building and its chapel are so important that they were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.
Contents
History of the Monastery
The story of the Monastery of Saint Gertrude began with three nuns: Mother Johanna Zumstein, Sister Magdalene Suter, and Sister Rosalia Ruebli. They left Sarnen, Switzerland, on September 26, 1882. After a long journey, they arrived in Gervais, Oregon.
Early Days and New Schools
These nuns worked hard to set up convents and schools. They opened places in Uniontown and Colton, Washington. They also taught in schools in Cottonwood and Genesee, Idaho. The sisters helped with other missions in eastern Washington and northern Idaho.
Moving to Cottonwood
In 1909, a man named John Uhlenkott invited the sisters to move to Cottonwood. His two daughters had joined the convent. He wanted the nuns to start a school there. Mr. Uhlenkott gave them 10 acres of land. This land was on a hill overlooking the town.
Building the Monastery
The nuns hired Jakob Engelbert Gier from Mt. Angel, Oregon to design their new chapel and convent. Gier was a German immigrant. He had designed another important church in Mount Angel. The nuns might have known him from their time in Oregon.
Construction started in 1919. The building was finished in 1924. After World War I, there weren't many workers available. So, some of the nuns living there helped. They even helped quarry (dig out) and move the stone to the building site.
Schools and Celebrations
For the next 50 years, the nuns continued to run schools across Idaho. This included St. Gertrude's Academy in Cottonwood. That school closed in 1970. Today, the old campus is home to Prairie Junior/Senior High School. In 2009, the community celebrated 100 years since it was founded.
What Does the Monastery Look Like?
The historic building has two main parts. There's a chapel that is about 50 by 127 feet (15 m × 39 m) big. It looks like an old church style called a basilica. The other part is a convent wing, which is about 127 by 164 feet (39 m × 50 m) in size. This is where the nuns live.
Chapel Features
The chapel has two tall towers, each about 97 feet (30 m) high. These towers have special roofs made of red shingle tiles and golden crosses on top. Inside the towers are bells. These bells honor the Sacred Heart and saints like Joseph, Michael (archangel), and Gabriel. There is a statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in a special spot between the towers.
Building Materials and Style
The walls of the monastery are very thick, about two feet! They are made from a local blue stone called porphyry. This stone gives the building its unique look. The style is called Romanesque Revival. It's a type of architecture that brings back older Romanesque designs.
The building sits on a stone foundation. A grand staircase leads up to the front entrance. This entrance has a fancy railing called a balustrade, making the building look very grand. The chapel has seven sections along its length. Each section has a tall, arched window and an oval window above it. These windows have frames made from local bricks. A statue of Saint Gertrude of Helfta is in a niche above the chapel's back entrance. The nunnery is named after her.
Inside the Chapel
The inside of the chapel is beautifully decorated. Many pieces are carved by hand. The main altar is a special gift. It was built in 1928 in Sigmaringen, Germany. The company that made it was famous for its religious art.
Some side shrines were kept from the original wooden building. These were bought in 1909. The paintings on the chapel's ceilings and walls are also very detailed. They show symbols from the Apostles' Creed and other religious scenes. These were painted in 1947 by Alex Linenberger and Associates.
