Page:History of Goodhue County, Minnesota.djvu/353

 HISTOEY OF GOODHUE COUNTY 293 Israel Garrard, who spent a fortune and a great part of his life in improving and beautifying the already naturally beautiful vil- lage of Frontenac, to the attractions of which the villa now con- tributes in no small degree. Noticing the rapid growth of the school conducted at Lake City by the Ursulines, and appreciat- ing the difficulty for them of accomplishing in crowded quarters the work at which they aimed, the general offered in 1885 a tract of land for a more commodious institution. The offer was ac- cepted with gratitude, and, thanks to the noble generosity of Mother Kostha Bowman, the project was soon realized, and the construction of the largest educational building of the time, in the Northwest, was begun. The foundations were laid in 1888, and under the able superintendence of F. J. Evans and the assistance of 0. D. Prescott, the work progressed rapidly, the main build- ing being completed and dedicated in 1890. The building is cruciform in shape, with a length of 301 feet, and a width of 90 feet, exclusive of porches. It is four stories high, and is surmounted at the north end by a tower lifting a golden cross 150 feet above the ground. The main entrance is at the northeast corner, and opens into a spacious hall, extending to the opposite side, where a broad stairway of polished oak gives access to the floors above. The hall is lighted by large stained glass windows, and is crowned by a dome. On the left of the hall, on the ground floor, are the parlors, and from the right leads a corridor 200 feet long, out of which open the dormitory, the refectory,- and. at the farther end, the kitchen. The convent proper, for the nuns occupy the entire four stories of the west wing. Besides the many windows, there is a ventilating chimney, and the rooms are noticeably airy and com- fortable. On the second floor are the library, the museum, and the laboratories for physics and chemistry. Above the dormitory are a large, sunny study hall, music rooms and recitation rooms, and adjoining these are the gymnasium and recreation hall. On the third floor, the art rooms occupy the east end. and the greater part of the remainder of the space is given up to the chapel, a lovely devotional apartment, with high arched ceiling, frescoed walls and stained glass windows. In a vaulted recess at one end is the altar, an artistic piece of workmanship of pol- ished w r ood, carved and gilded. Framed into it above is a magnifi- cent painting of the Blessed Virgin, the work of one of the old masters, presented to one of the nuns by King Louis II. of Ba- varia. The fourth floor contains an immense water tank which sup- plies the numerous bath and toilel rooms in various parts of the