Villa St. Joseph, in its many stages, reflects Cobourg's past

Tucked in among the large fir trees at the very end of Tremaine St. south, sits a house whose past is as varied as the history of Cobourg itself. Once the home of wealthy American socialites and prominent Canadian citizens, the 146-year-old structure was named “The Hill" because of its majestic location above the sandy shores of Lake Ontario.

Sister Vincentia of St. Joseph's Convent, Cobourg, is quite familiar with the home of such historic names as William Weller, the famous stagecoach operator, and Nellie Sartoris, daughter of American General and one-time president Ulysses Grant. This beautiful old mansion with its large verandah and lush, green landscaping and gardens, was once the sister's home too. She moved there in April, 1922, when, after The Hill had been purchased by the Sisters of St. Joseph, Peter- borough, it opened its doors to homeless young girls from across Ontario.

She remembers how, in 1921, at the overcrowded orphanage in Peterborough, the children were told that some would be tran- sferred to this new location. At the time, nobody knew which group, boys or girls, would be chosen to move.

"We argued back and forth with our brothers over who would be the lucky ones," Sister recalls. However, when the girls first discovered they had been chosen to leave for this unknown place, "we weren't all that crazy about it " she says.

Fifteen girls aged 3 to 11, as well as the Superior and three other nuns, were given the royal welcome on April 16, 1922, when they finally arrived in Cobourg. The Knights of Columbus and local residents met the group at the train station. They were escorted to their new residence in a carpeted bus, until then used exclusively for patrons of the posh British Hotel. Once at the orphanage, Sister Vincentia remembers how she and her playmates marveled at the long, shaded driveway and fine-cut lawns. How first glimpse of the beach and waves sent them run- ning to Mother Superior, pleading for permission to go down to the water. And how, once they opened the doors of the house, it appeared as though they were walking into a perfect castle which for years had been left untouched.

"It seemed like whoever was there last had walked out, locked the door, and left the furniture and every accessory behind," Sister says now.

On that first day, Mother Superior had gathered the girls around the fireplace and told them about General Grant: that he had actually visited the house when it belonged to his daughter, Nellie. They were particularly thrilled when, later, they were given a tour of their new home and shown the generals very own carved ivory table and mahogany bed. The 28- room house contained eight fireplaces and was beautifully, furnished: each bedroom con- tained a large floor mirror, and a bigger, magnificent wall Mirror reflected the lake in the ballroom on the main floor. This same room had once been a stable for Miss Allen; a previous owner who loved to ride her horses across the spacious 10-acre property.

The home, then named the St. Joseph's orphanage for girls, Underwent some changes to its new tenants. The ballroom was converted into a chapel. The Stations of the Cross were erected and an organ donated. And on May 15,1922, The Hill held its first Mass.

The orphanage was really quite self-sufficient, Sister Vincentia recalls. With two Holstein cows and hen-house, there was never a shortage of milk and eggs. There was also a large vegetable garden to the east of the house.

"We always thought we were hard done by, having to eat fresh vegetables," Sister says.

The Mother Superior during those years was Sister Perpetua.

"They couldn't have chosen a better person to run the or- phanage," Sister Vincentia says today.

A nurse and a seamstress, Sister Perpetua was well trained to care for and clothe the children. Although most of the clothing was second-hand, given to the or- phanage by mothers throughout the community, the, girls did not wear it until it had been taken apart by the Mother Superior and several local seamstresses, and redesigned to a new, colorful pattern.

The children were taught in- dependence as well. If they needed new shoes, Mother Perpetua would send them on their own to the store. She would call ahead and have the shoemaker set up a little table containing comfortable shoes at a good price. The girls would arrive and each select and purchase their own.

There were duties for the older children, including Sister Vin- centia, who was 11 years. She was responsible for getting the little ones to school and back each day. Years later, neighbors told her what a treat it had been to watch the whole group marching towards school, hand in hand.

"I would be late for classes every day, and would have to stay after school," she laughs.

In the years that followed, the orphanage grew. Sister Vincentia left to attend high school in Lind- say, and when she returned to visit in the 1930s, St. Joseph's housed 34 children. It was not as pleasant as it had been when less than half that many had the run of the house Sister says.

"But it was always home, and I was always welcome to come back."

In 1945, St. Joseph's closed as an orphanage. With the advent of government baby bonuses, there were no longer as many mothers who felt unable to care for their children as there had been during the Depression. The young girls who had not left the old house were either placed in homes or tran- sferred back to Peterborough.

The property became the Villa St. Joseph, and for many years after, was used throughout the warmer months as a summer home for the Sisters of St. Joseph. However, the building and grounds required a lot of maintenance work. They were no longer as beautiful as when the house was lived in year-round.

But in 1972, it was renovated and converted into a peaceful resort- style home, providing spiritually- oriented retreats for both the Sisters of St. Joseph and lay people. Today, the Villa stands as proud as it did when, in 1922, Sister Vincentia first drove through the gates. Its grounds and shrubs are trimmed, and the house is well kept. There are still a few rem-- nants of its former owners; fur- niture belonging to General Grant; and a wedding picture of his daughter Nellie.

Sister Margaret Shannon, co- ordmator of the now Villa St: Joseph retreat house and Sister Mary Agnes are there to welcome people looking for friendship, quiet reflection, or just a place to pray or be. Sister Vincentia frequently comes up from the convent on Havelock St. to visit her old home. "It will always hold a thousand memories." she smiles.