The Belle Prairie Story after the Fire of 1889

A major setback for the Foundress, Elizabeth Hayes.

The convent was deliberately set on fire at night. Sisters and Boarders were asleep at the time. The buildings were destroyed. A monument was built on the spot where the Blessed Sacrament was burnt. The Sisters were sent to Georgia until plans could be made for the rebuilding. The Insurance money had to be collected to make a new beginning.

However, early 1891 sixteen of Elizabeth Hayes Community separated to commence their own Diocesan Congregation at Little Falls, Minnesota a few miles south of Belle Prairie. This was their first convent Hurrle Hall built and opened on 23rd August, 1891.

Mother Columba Doucette bought back the land and  built a new convent and school which were opened in 1911. The buildings are to the right of the Church. The Sisters owned around 100 acres of land right back to the Mississippi River in the background of this picture. There were many pine trees on the property.

Below is a photo taken during my Pilgrimage to Belle Prairie.

The Convent and corner stone, with Franciscan Coat of Arms. The new buildings were called Our Lady of the Angels Academy.

 The Convent Bell was installed in 1915

Statue of St Francis in the alcove toward the top of the Convent.

The story of the closure of this convent and school will follow in my next BLOG.