St. Paul's Convent - Anaconda, MT
Posted by: Groundspeak Premium Member T0SHEA
N 46° 07.671 W 112° 57.445
12T E 348783 N 5110115
In 1923 construction on St. Paul’s Parochial School was commenced with this convent being built simultaneously. It housed the Ursuline Sisters, who were in charge of the school until the end of World War II, when the Benedictine Sisters took over.
Waymark Code: WMN05F
Location: Montana, United States
Date Posted: 12/01/2014
Published By:Groundspeak Premium Member ZenPanda
Views: 1

This 91 year old one time convent is a contributing building to the West Side Historic District in Anaconda, MT. After its closure in the mid 1970s, it became a private residence residence, which it remains today. Its history, from the National Register of Historic Places, follows.
St. Paul's Convent
On May 30, 1923, the Rt. Rev. John P. Carroll, bishop of Helena, laid the cornerstone for the St. Paul’s Parochial School. Built in the center of this block under the direction of Rev. A. R. Coopman, the school long served the children of St. Paul’s parish.

This building, completed at the same time, housed the Ursuline Sisters in charge of the school. The ground floor contained an office, living room, large dining room, kitchen, and chapel while the second floor was divided into ten sleeping rooms. The debt for the $115,000 school complex, built largely with pledges from parish members, was nearly three-fourths paid when Father Coopman passed away in 1927. After World War II, the Ursulines withdrew and the school came under the care of the Benedictine Sisters until it closed in the mid-1970s. The school building was razed in 1984.

The convent remains as it appeared in 1923. Classical columns, a copper-shingled roof, original plaster walls and ceilings, floors of Michigan maple, and Gothic arches marking the chapel complement the basic American foursquare form.
From the NRHP Plaque
Describe the area and history:
The school is gone, demolished in the 1970s, the Benedictine Sisters followed, but the convent is still with us, now as a private residence. An interesting facet of this building is its copper shingled roof. Low maintenance, copper shingles were a natural for this city, which actually produced the stuff. We find it strange that more buildings weren't roofed with copper in Anaconda.


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