October 1997 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

N" Foran 10-0044 OW AMM%W ft 1024-WIS United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet E 7 East Bank Multiple Property Listing Section number Page St. Joseph .County, Indiana Father Edward Sorin first arrived in November of 1842 on the snow covered land that the veteran missionary, Stephen Badin had amassed a decade before. A French priest in the wilderness, he'was a member of a religious- community which would eventually be known as the Congregation of Holy Cross (C.S.C.) Like so many before him, he (and seven religious brothers) came with hope.and dedication to build institutions which would endure. But twenty=eight year old Father Sorin was unique in the extraordinary energy -and spirit which he displayed. He had attempted to build a college Iirst at a location in southern Indiana, but without the permission of the Bishop in Vincennes. This permission did not materialize and the project was stopped, but the wily Breton Bishop, Celestine de la Hailandi6re, offered Sorin the property in northern Indiana -- with this tough proviso: that he would reopen a mission station, establish a brothers' novitiate and build his projected college, all within two years time. In addition, Sorin and his band would be expected to meet the spiritual needs of approximately 200 local Indian Catholics, the (mostly French Canadian) families in South Bend as well as those located in neighboring northern Indiana and southern Michigan settlements. The brothers arrived at their new post after an arduous 250 -mile overland journey with about $300, a letter of credit and the determination to meet the challenge which had been offered. 1' Two years later, the 524 acre property had five buildings, including a men's college, a preparatory high school, an'apprentices' vocational school and a religious novitiate as well as eight faculty and twenty five students. Sorin had changed the name to Notre Dame du Lac (later to be shortened to Notre Dame) and installed a regime which was, according to a local historian, "French in conception, nomenclature, personnel, methods, ideas and aims." Ties between Notre Dame and South Bend were strong from the beginning. Although Sorin's colony, immediately began felling trees and constructing log and frame dwellings, when plans for a more permanent college building did not arrive as promised, he built a modest structure on his own plans, with bricks generously donated by Benjamin Coquillard (a local merchant and Alexis' brother.) 19 As early as 1843, Father Sorin initiated brick production at Notre Dame, using rich marl deposits present on site. A year later lime kilns were also in operation. The brothers were assisted by hired men who lived on the property. By 1858, one half million distinctive, 18 Schlereth, pp. 3 - 8. • 19 Ibid.