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This Civil War-era
girls’ school was established by an order of nuns that abandoned
monastic life in favor of public service. The original 1867 building, a
three-story brick Italianate, was constructed by Raglan & Myers and
housed both the convent and classrooms. Later additions of a chapel
(1895) and music hall (1908) were designed by William Conway,
Springfield’s first certified architect.
The music hall
hosted poet Vachel Lindsay and the Von Trapp children, along with 150
years of graduating classes. The property was purchased by Lisle’s
Benedictine University in 2003 to serve as a satellite campus. Four
years later, Benedictine closed the academy with little notice and
vacated the three historic buildings. Plans have been drafted for a new
college facility, and the president has not ruled out demolition of
existing structures.
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HOW CAN I HELP?
To assist the Ursuline alumni group in its local advocacy efforts, contact
1400northfifth@gmail.com.
To encourage the preservation and reuse of the historic Main Building,
Ursula Hall and Chapel in the university’s future expansion plans, please
send letters of support to:
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Dr. William Carroll
President
Benedictine University
Scholl Hall
5700 College Road
Lisle, IL 60532 |
The Honorable Timothy J. Davlin
Mayor of Springfield
800 E. Monroe, Rm. 300
Springfield, IL 62701
www.springfield.il.us/mayor
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