By Kris Leonhardt

As the Sisters of St. Joseph convent enters a new era, we take a look at the order’s formation and the creation of their facilities, along with their ongoing stewardship in the community.

Continued from previous week

Part II

The building of the Motherhouse was a community event, with people coming from all over the area to lend a hand, often after laboring with their own homesteads and occupations.

The sisters moved into the first floor and work continued on the first two floors into the spring of 1903. Mother Clara and the postulants took on interior work, such as cleaning, painting, and varnishing to decrease the workload and expenses.

By June, the chapel was done and the second floor was nearing completion. The third and fourth floors were unfinished, but under a roof.

Though incomplete, St. Joseph’s academy and convent was dedicated the morning of June 30. The gloomy, drizzling day put a damper on the event; however, 2,000 people showed for the ceremonies.

A procession made its way to the grounds, led by 10 altar boys carrying crosses and candles, six small girls in pink satin dresses and six little boys in blue velvet suits, flower bearers for recent communicants, 60 recent communicants, the Union band, the mayor and city officials, several local societies, followed by hundreds of citizens.

As work continued, water supply problems plagued the new convent. A well was dug close to the new building. Only a portion of the facilities had faucets, and in the areas with faucets, the water only came up into the building when someone pumped at the well; overpumping resulted in a mess.

In 1908, the order made the completion a priority and by year’s end, the convent was connected to the city’s water and sewer system. The following year, construction was completed on the convent, taking a total of seven years to finish.

By 1910, the order grew to 250 sisters. At the same time, the facilities were growing, with new buildings – a henhouse, bakery, laundry, garage, and stable – added as the numbers grew.

About two dozen dairy cattle, 300 chickens, and bees provided food for the convent, with surplus goods sold for income.

By 1915, there were 363 members, who would all crowd into the convent in the summer, after returning to Stevens Point from their teaching assignments.

That same year, the cornerstone was laid for a new wing of the Motherhouse, to serve as the St. Joseph Academy, a high school for postulants and aspirants.

Continued next week