Our Catlzolic Heritage in T exa.s
the students took everything cheerfully, in the spirit of Christian thank- fulness. Temporary frame buildings were put up until there were six shacks rather than buildings to meet the needs of the growing institution. But as an anonymous historian of St. Mary's Academy has said, "It is not fine buildings, excellent instruments, fine furnishings, apparatus, books and stationery which constitute an efficient educational institution.mi It was the spirit of the founding Sisters and their devotion and zeal that accounted for their phenomenal development of St. Mary's in the early days. Seven years of continued growth and development induced the Sisters to acquire a new site for the erection of a plant more suitable to St. Mary's Academy. They purchased from Mrs. F. T. Dafau the former home of Mirabeau B. Lamar, the second President ·of the Republic of Texas and founder of the present educational system of the State. It occupied an entire block in the most desirable portion of the State capital. With the approval of the Motherhouse, a beautiful, spacious building of Travis County limestone was erected that was until recently an ornament to Austin and a monument to the faith of the Sisters in Catholic education. Set up on a high hill that dominated the entire city and countryside, it rose four stories high. It was completed in 1885. In September of that year the Sisters moved into their new quarters, but the first Mass was not celebrated in its chapel until November 21, 1885, when it was finally made ready for the Holy Sacrifice. The Reverend Father Peter Lauth, C.S.C., said the first Mass and Sister Mildred placed in the niche over the front door her favorite statue of Our Lady, who smiled for generations upon the happy, carefree young girls that came seeking a Christian education. When it opened its doors in September, 1885, there were two hundred twenty-five students enrolled. Growth and Development. After the Academy was reopened in the new quarters, its growth was rapid. S. G. Sneed, State Superintendent of Education, gave his splendid scientific collection to strengthen the Academy's science department. "An educator by profession, with life- long experience, a passionate love for science, art, music [and] literature, he ... collected a most valuable assortment of everything pertaining to these various branches." Among his gifts were a fine telescope, a plan- etarium, and globes; complete chemical sets and equipment for mathe- ·matics and physics instruction; and a number of violins and other musical instruments. Under Sister M. De Pazzi cement walks and walls to enclose 71Cahlll, o,P. cit., 5.
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