San Rafael in Marin County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

St. Vincent's School for Boys

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, March 27, 2017

1. St. Vincent's School for Boys Marker

Inscription. In 1853, Timothy Murphy, Irish born pioneer of Marin County, gave 317 acres of land to Archbishop Alemany for educational purposes. Here the Sister of Charity in 1855 founded a school now called St. Vincent's School for Boys. It has been maintained and enlarged by successive Archbishops of San Francisco.

Erected 1958 by California State Park Commission in cooperation with the Marin Committee on History and Landmarks of the of the Native Sons ad Native Daughters of the Golden West. (Marker Number 630.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the California Historical Landmarks, and the Native Sons/Daughters of the Golden West series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1853.

Location. 38° 2.086′ N, 122° 31.617′ W. Marker is in San Rafael, California, in Marin County. It is on St. Vincents Drive near Highway 101, in the median. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1 St Vincents Drive, San Rafael CA 94903, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s San Francisco Bay Area,

in the North Coast,

and specifically on the Coast Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Dixie Schoolhouse (approx. 1.1 miles away); Lloyd Andrews Hamilton (approx. 1.6 miles

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away); F6F Hellcat (approx. 1.7 miles away); Hamilton Field Aircraft Hangers (approx. 1.7 miles away); a different marker also named Hamilton Field Aircraft Hangers (approx. 1.7 miles away); a different marker also named Hamilton Field Aircraft Hangers (approx. 1.7 miles away); a different marker also named Hamilton Field Aircraft Hangers (approx. 1.8 miles away); a different marker also named Hamilton Field Aircraft Hangers (approx. 1.8 miles away).

Also see . . . St. Vincent's Then and Now The school in today's headlines dates back 150 years - Marin Magazine. Here’s the story: on his deathbed, San Rafael land grantee Timothy Murphy promised 317 acres of land to Joseph Alemany, the first Archbishop of San Francisco. But as with any good Irishman, there was a catch to Murphy’s offer: the acreage would revert back to Murphy’s heirs unless a school was operating on the premises within two years. And as often happens, the best man for the job was . . . a woman. At the time, however, Sister Frances McEnnis was living with the Sisters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul in Emmitsburg, Maryland. (Submitted on April 2, 2017, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.)

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, March 27, 2017

2. St. Vincent's School for Boys Marker

St. Vincent's Church image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, March 27, 2017

3. St. Vincent's Church

St. Vincent's School for Boys image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, March 27, 2017

4. St. Vincent's School for Boys

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, March 27, 2017

5. St. Vincent's School for Boys

Credits. This page was last revised on December 11, 2019. It was originally submitted on April 2, 2017, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 1,048 times since then and 45 times this year. Last updated on December 11, 2019, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on April 2, 2017, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.