| Home to the Sisters of Ursuline established in 1894 |
1894 (December) Sister Maurice Albert and Sister Jerome Schaub left Kentucky and headed for Kansas 1895 (May) a 5 acre cornfield was purchased. People of Paola donated $725.00 to the Ursuline Sisters. 1895 (July) excavation for the Academy began at the cost of 12,000 dollars 1896 (March) the Academy was ready for occupancy 1886 (June) the Academy building was dedicated by Rt. Rev. Bishop Fink 1896 (September) school opened with 4 boarders and about 40 day scholars - Two of the first students were Indian Boys who were left by their mother to be educated - One of the first kindergarteners became Mother Cecilia Koehler, third superior of Paola order 1898 (January) the State Legislature of Kansas as the “Ursuline Academy of Our Lady of Lourdes” chartered the school 1901 the first class to graduate with 4 years of academic courses 1902 the Academy became exclusively a boarding school for girls with day school accommodations for the Academic grades 1902 a small chaplain’s residence was erected and Rev. Father Hippalite Topet, became the first spiritual director. The building is now a home for a group of adults with developmental disabilities from Lake Mary. 1903 The Ursuline Sisters taught at St. Patrick’s Holy Trinity Schools in Paola until 1995. 1904 (3.5) acres were added to the original 5 and a second building was started. It cost 22,000 dollars to build - This building is known today as the Mother House. This building contains the present chapel, dormitories, dinning and recreation halls. - The next decade was steady growth. - The Academy was one of the leading educational institutions of Eastern Kansas and even though the tuition was fair the sisters were paid with goods, such as produce and chickens or services in lieu of fees. 1913 the road dividing the Ursuline grounds was vacated by Mayor L.S. Smith. 1916 the Auditorium and Music Conservatory was completed at a cost of $100,000. Wilder and Wright of Kansas City drew the design and F.M. Spencer & Sons of Topeka secured the contract. The auditorium seats more than 300 people. 1919 a second house was purchased for the chaplain 1922 the Academy became a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. - Both buildings became outgrown and the grounds were extended to include (30) acres to the south and west 1924 a Jr. College was started- it offered associate degrees in a variety of fields and courses for the certification of teachers. Approximately 80% of the teachers in the rural and elementary schools of Miami County were trained at Ursuline College. Six superintendents received their college training at Ursuline. 1926 the first class to graduate from the Jr. College had only 4 students 1935 the largest class to graduate from the Jr. College had 21 students 1941 the Ursuline Camp was opened, offering hundreds of boys and girls the opportunity for outdoor fun, sports and recreation every summer. Sisters who were on break from teaching would be counselors. 1947 Ursuline College adopted the new American College concept whereby a Jr. College was considered a 4-year college by including grades 11 and 12. 1957 Ursuline College closed 1965 Mother Charles McGrath, with the cooperation of other Paola citizens, spear headed the effort that obtained a grant under the Older Americans Act of 1965 to start The Senior Center, with Ursuline Academy as grantee. 1966 Five-acre tract of land valued at $25,000.00 was donated by Ursuline to the Assembly of God Church ministers to construct a nursing home, which is now Medicalodge. 1969 One of Ursuline greatest accomplishments was the founding of Lake Mary. It all began with Sister Mary Charles McGrath, superior of the Ursuline Sisters. - The sisters contributed 34 acres of land and $50,000 to get the building started. 1971 the teaching operation ended with over 50,000 students being educated 1972 The lower level of the auditorium became the Happy Seniors Center where older adults enjoyed art, ceramics, games, films and parties. - The PACA Food Pantry began in the Ursuline Mother house under the direction of Sister Eugene Reynolds. 1977 Sister Elizabeth Dye helped organize and became the first project director of the Foster Grandparents Program. 1978 Sister Charles McGrath and Sister Frances served on the Advisory Board of Poala United, whose aim was to develop a community education program. 1985 Ursuline sold the auditorium to the City of Paola for $1.00. It is now known as the Paola Community Center. 1986 The original Ursuline Academy building and its adjoining Brescia Hall directly to the west were torn down. The building served as the original home to the sisters and as classrooms for the academy itself. - The cupola from the Brescia Hall finds a new home upon the Wilson Funeral Home lawn. It sits over a natural spring with a stone and concrete basin that collects water from the spring. 1998 Builders for Christ, a group of volunteers for the Pearl Street Baptist Church, stayed at the Mother House for a summer during construction of the Baptist Church. 2000 Friends of Ursuline Gardens was established to enhance, preserve, protect and restore the historic Ursuline Academy Campus Gardens utilizing local community volunteers. |
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| Miami County Historical Museum - 12 E. Peoria, - Paola, KS 66071 Phone: 913-294-4940 |
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