Washington in Franklin County, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
1891 St. Francis Borgia School Building
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), March 19, 2021
1. 1891 St. Francis Borgia School Building Marker
When the School Sisters of Notre Dame arrived in Washington in 1859, they lived in a house built from the logs of the first St. Francis Borgia Church. In 1860, the Parish built a new convent and school for the Sisters, known as St. Mary's Academy. While the students moved to a newly constructed school building at the corner of Main and Cedar Streets. 1884, the Sisters occupied St. Mary's Academy for several more years. In 1890, the decision was made to construct a building that would provide a new residence for the Sisters as well as future classrooms. The building was blessed and opened in January of 1891. At different times throughout its history, this building has served as a convent, grade school, parish center, middle school, and preschool.
1891 The new Convent is built, blessed and opened.
1916 The Sisters move across the street into the Hibbeler House. This allows renovations of the 1891 building to accommodate grade school school students.
1917 In April, St. Francis Borgia Grade School students move into the newly renovated and extended building.
1972 The third floor of the building is removed,and a new roof is built.
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1982 Grade school students leave this building and move into the 1935 School Building. The 1891 School Building then becomes the Parish Center.
1985 The Food Pantry begins and is housed on the northern end of the first floor.
1998 The southern end of the firs floor is renovated.
1999 St. Francis Borgia Preschool is established and moved into the newly renovated space on the first floor.
2003 The second floor of the building is remodeled to be used as a middle school for students in 6th, 7th and 8th grades.
Erected by Washington Historical Society, Incorporated.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Religion & Religious Structures • Women. A significant historical month for this entry is January 1891.
Location. 38° 33.64′ N, 91° 0.886′ W. Marker is in Washington, Missouri, in Franklin County. It is at the intersection of Cedar Street and West 2nd Street, on the right when traveling south on Cedar Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 115 Cedar St, Washington MO 63090, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Missouri River Corridor and in Greater St. Louis. It is also in the American Midwest, in the Lewis & Clark Corridor, in the Corn Belt, and on the Santa Fe Trail Corridor. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, the Louisiana Purchase, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: 1935 St. Francis Borgia School Building (here, next to this marker); Notre Dame Hall (here, next to this marker); Church, Rectory, and Jesuit Hall (here, next to this marker); St. Francis Borgia Convent & School (within shouting distance of this marker); St. Francis Borgia Rectory (within shouting distance of this marker); Hibbeler Building (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); St. Francis Borgia Church (about 300 feet away); Bleckman Building (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Washington.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 9, 2022. It was originally submitted on March 24, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 506 times since then and 31 times this year. Photo 1. submitted on March 24, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
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