Buildings
In 1946 Universe Mound school was located on Cambridge Street down in long dirt road directly across from a nursery. There were three buildings that were designed in the somewhat Italianate style. One was for the girls boarding and classes. Another held the chapels and the convent. The main six-story school building had a sizeable kitchen with staff and a large laundry facility.
An arcade joined the school to the chapels where there was a bell tower with a rope that hung down and was pulled so bells pealed out for prayers, Mass, and other occasions. Doors from the chapel lead into the five-story convent.
Later six cottages were added. Two of which were for the younger girls and four for the older girls. The cottages were each structured with a sitting room, shower rooms, bathrooms, small kitchen, plus a room for crafts, dining and homework. The top floors were where two dormitories were situated. Between the two dormitories was an entry way where the house mother could keep watch. She also had a separate room situated between the two dormitories. The four cottages that housed the older girls were set facing one another with a well groomed garden in the middle. The younger girl’s cottages had a small garden. There was a long arcade that led from the two younger girl’s cottages to a small dining room and to a separate chapel. The two groups of girls were kept separate on all times.
Also added was a well-designed lounge, an inner courtyard and a larger courtyard. There was also a swimming pool with private dressing rooms and a movie theater. The outer grounds were beautifully landscaped and in one section held the grotto. A cyclone fence was put up around the parameter.
And finally a Transition house was build on a corner of the property.
Mary Euphrasia Pelletier was a French nun who started the Sister's of Charity of the Good Shepherd to help women prisoners in France. The order grew and came to the United States where many convents were once established to help adolescent girls.
