Catlwlic Educational Emle,mors
Profane History, Chronology, Mythology, Rhetoric, Poetry, Arithmetic, Ancient and Modern Geography, the use of Maps and Globes, the Prin- ciples of Natural Philosophy, Chemistry and Astronomy, Music and Drawing, Plain and Ornamental Needlework."' The Academy admitted students of all denominations, making no distinction of faith, but all were required to attend Divine worship for the sake of discipline. The olcl building was in sad need of repairs after its two years of vacancy. There was also need for additional space to accommodate the boarding students that came almost daily from beyond Galveston. While making the neces- ~ary repairs, a wing to serve as a dormitory and refectory was added at a cost of $377.70, a large sum for those days obtained by Bishop Odin. The progress made is all the more astonishing when the adverse condi- tions they faced are considered. A terrible drought parched the land in c848 and drinking water had to be purchased at exorbitant prices. The drought was followed by a severe epidemic of yellow fever that fall that caused hundreds of families to flee to the country. The courageous Sisters of St. Ursula carried on with grim determination and prayer, consoled by a visit from Bishop Antoine Blanc of New Orleans. 7 In spite of troubles and difficulties that sound fantastic, the Academy steadily grew and developed. More teachers were added. Bishop Odin, after attending the Council of Baltimore in 1849, went to Quebec and secured two volun- teers from the historic Ursuline Convent of the old French Canadian capital. Sister St. Jane de Chantal and Sister St. Thomas were thus added to the staff of the Academy in Galveston. The Ursuline Community in Texas was growing too. The two Sisters from Canada brought two postu- lates from the Northern states. Others had entered the Community in Texas. The founders of the Academy and the new convent rejoiced.• The physical plant grew also. The frame wing added in 1848 served until 1854, when it was destroyed by fire. This misfortune led to its re- placement by a larger brick building. Designed by architect de Young and built under the supervision of Bishop Odin and his able Vicar Gen- eral, Father Chambodut, it became one of the first permanent units and is still being used as the Convent. In r86r, under the vigorous leadership of Mother St. Pierre, another, more commodious wing had to be added
6 Tlie Metropolitan Catholic Almanac, Baltimore, 1848, p. 119. 7 Ursuline Academy of Galveston, Cent,:n11k1l 1847-1947 (6).
'Ursuline Academy of Galveston, Centennial 1847-19-17 [8]. The names of the two Sisters are not given by Sister Friesenhahn, op. cit., 16-1 i : the Golde11 /ubilu, 1847-1922. The Academy souvenir pamphlet, page 4, refers to the Sisters as Mothers.
Powered by FlippingBook