Perhaps the first record bearing on the history of what now is known as St. Joseph's Hill --situated in the La Barque Hills of Jefferson County -- is believed to be contained in the minutes of the old Council meetings of the Sisters of Mercy of St. Louis. There it is recorded that "in January, 1879, it was decided to buy a farm of 222 acres some miles from St. Louis to raise produce for the institution and the hospital. The farm was bought at once."
An additional reason for the purchase of this farm was found in A Sheaf of Golden Years, a book by Mary Constance Smith. It was published in 1906 to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of the Sisters of Mercy in St. Louis. On pages 72-73, it says:
"The community increasing in numbers, sufficient space and quietude were not available for training of the novices at the Mother-house, and when the Sisters were offered a suitable location in the country, they at once considered it, and sought the Archbishop's advice in the matter. He responded in a letter.
"The place was bought, and a 35-mile drive from St. Louis brings one to this novitiate at 'Josephville' in the La Barque Hills, which is today [1906] in a very flourishing condition."
According to the Recorder of Deeds for Jefferson County, considerably more property than 222 acres was eventually purchased. Indeed, it seems there were two purchases. The first piece of property was conveyed to St. Joseph's Convent of Mercy by Ethelbert and Gilbert Chapman on April 21, 1879. The second piece was conveyed by Peter M. Brown on March 27, 1880. According to the deeds, these two pieces of land total 419.38 acres.
According to the book previously cited, there were some interesting sidelights on life at the property known as Josephville: "At first there were only a few log cabins ready for the Sisters, but their willing hands rapidly transformed them into chapel and convent. On February 2, 1879, the priest from St. Patrick's Church at Catawissa, three miles away, came on foot and celebrated the first Mass in the new establishment.
"Like all similar works undertaken for the glory of God, the early days of Josephville were passed amid struggle and hardship. But, following the example of the 'Mother,' the Sisters exhibited heroic, if not superhuman courage in overcoming difficulties and deprivations. And today [1906], behold the result! A handsome structure of solid stone, three stories in height and 80 feet in length, in this St. Michael's Novitiate out at Josephville.
"The cornerstone was laid in 1884 with Archbishop Kenrick's sanction; but it took some years of work and prayer before the crown of all, the beautiful stone chapel, was completed. This was dedicated in 1890, the sermon of the day being preached by the eloquent priest-editor, the Rev. D. S. Phelan, pastor of the Church of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel."
The book's general description of life in the early days of Josephville was embellished by bits of information gathered from Sisters who actually lived there. One declares that on the property was "a long log-house with four rooms and an attic. It was raised from the ground by log pillars.
According to this 1906 book, "The mistress of novices and six novices moved to the Log convent in the early part of the summer of 1879. The novices slept in the attic. It was what one would find in the early pioneer days. Later a small frame chapel was built, and the priest from Byrnesville came twice a week to say Mass.
"There was a little frame house built for the priest, and in 1882 the Rev. G. Watson came as our resident chaplain and remained with us for seven years. In 1883, they began to quarry the rock for the present convent. We moved into it in January, 1886. The present chapel and house were finished in the last of 1888."
According to historical records, all of the Sisters spoke of the heavy manual labor they did in these pioneer days such as working in the fields, cultivating the grounds, planting trees, carrying material, and helping with the building and finishing the convent. Some could still point out the window casing they painted; others the summer house they helped to build. Likewise, they all spoke of the wonderful health of the Sisters in these years, in spite of the hard life and frugal diet, including black bread and "coffee" made from corn. They attributed this to pure air and exercise.
St. Michael's Novitiate at Josephville was used by the Sisters of Mercy until 1912, when the Novitiate was transferred to St. Joseph's Convent of Mercy at Webster Groves. Many silent reminders -- material, living and dead -- still bear testimony to their stay at Josephville.
Earlier documents note that the beautiful and substantial convent and chapel would for years be a monument to their labor and zeal. "The sturdy cedar trees, planted by them, have long since grown to maturity and still shelter 11 graves marking the end of the earthly careers of some of these heroic pioneers."
The Sisters had no way of knowing that, years later in 1927, their efforts would result in the creation of St. Joseph's Hill as a nursing home operated by the Franciscan Missionary Brothers.
Return to Main History