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Sixty years ago, 25 Jersey cows, 10 pigs, a chicken coop, a sugar house, two barns and 150 acres of rolling farmland in Geauga County were purchased by the Sisters of Notre Dame of Chardon, Ohio. Sister Margaret Hess These women, committed to the mission of Jesus and dedicated to Our Lady, were visionaries. They believed God had a plan for this land and their lives. Today, God’s plan is apparent as one scans the landscape: the SND Provincial Center, a state-ofthe-art extended care facility, Notre Dame Elementary School and Preschool, Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin School, and Bethany Retreat Center call this scenic land home. What a tremendous testimony to God’s goodness and providential care! Sr. Margaret Hess, former treasurer of the Sisters of Notre Dame for 35 years, provides the historical perspective for this article. Entering the Sisters of Notre Dame in 1946, Sr. Margaret earned her B.A. degree at Notre Dame College and her MBA at the University of Notre Dame. Sr. Margaret graciously takes us back through the history of their land. The Sisters of Notre Dame purchase a 150 acre dairy farm called “Shamrock Farm” in Geauga County 150 acres Ivanhoe Farm purchased Notre Dame Elementary School founded Notre Dame Elementary School expands to include grade 4 First Chicken Barbeque held The sisters purchase additional land stretching from Auburn Rd. to Bass Lake Rd. and build Lake Treadmore Sister Mary St. Edward Kuderer 1948 1957 1962 4 <strong>Seasons</strong> Spring 2008 Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin
1948 to1955 In 1948, Mother Vera, Superior General of the Sisters of Notre Dame, decided to purchase a 150-acre dairy farm called “Shamrock Farm” in Geauga County. Several reasons provoked this decision. Mother Vera had recently returned from Germany where she met with several Sisters of Notre Dame who were fortunate to survive World War II. They insisted their survival was due, in part, to their move during the war from the city to the neighboring countryside in Germany. Mother Vera saw the wisdom of a move like this for the Sisters of Notre Dame in Cleveland – in case of retaliation during wartime. She also believed the sisters could use this land to establish the first Catholic school in Geauga County. While many Geauga County residents were Christian, few were Catholic. She believed a strong presence in this County might bring more into the Catholic faith. Lastly, Mother Vera recognized that as a bustling, growing province, the Sisters of Notre Dame were understandably feeling the pinch of ever-tightening quarters in their Provincial Center, located at 1325 Ansel Road in Cleveland. Simply put, they needed more room in which to live! With the purchase of this land, the full-fledged dairy farm became known as “Shamrock Acres.” Fun and work brought frequent visits by the sisters to the farm. They rolled up the sleeves of their rather cumbersome habits to feed the dairy cows and, yes, clean the barns! In 1949, the small building, housing the chicken coop and pig pen, was renovated into a two-room cottage for the sisters during their visits to the farm. This cottage was named Julie Billiart Cottage. The sisters also gathered sap in buckets from the many maple trees on the property, converting the sweet syrup to maple sugar at the sugar house, located on the property. “I remember putting newspaper in my boots to help my feet stay warm as I collected the sap with the other sisters,” laughs Sr. Margaret. “I also recall how great it tasted on my pancakes the next morning. Many of the sisters also helped with the haying and digging thistle from the pastures.” From 1950 to 1955, vocations to the Sisters of Notre Dame were increasing rapidly. Ansel Road could not accommodate the growth; consequently, the sisters purchased additional land stretching from Auburn Road east to Bass Lake Road. This land was earmarked for the new Provincial Center. A fence was built to enclose the property on the south side of Bean Road to Beaver Creek. Within this space, the State of Ohio designed and the sisters built Lake Treadmore. “Sister Jeanita Sister Mary Daniel Buescher named the lake after Their Quiet Tread, a recently published book in 1950 on the history of the Sisters of Notre Dame,” recalls Sr. Margaret. The Sisters of Notre Dame now owned 300 scenic acres in Geauga County. Fifty percent was utilized to grow corn and oats and to serve as a cow pastures; leaving the remaining land wooded. 1956 to 1965 Because of the increased number of sisters who visited the farm, a second barn was renovated, called Villa Agnes. Grateful for the beautiful land east of Auburn Road, the sisters had their sights on the property across from Shamrock Acres on the west side of Auburn Road. Sr. Margaret remembers, “Many of the sisters even planted medals in the field, praying this land would become available for purchase.” God heard their prayers! “In 1957, with the sudden death of Dr. Weidlein, who owned the farm across the street, the Sisters of Notre Dame were able to purchase the 150 acres known as Ivanhoe Farm. Because of greater access to the water supply, this land was more suitable for the new provincial house rather than the Bean Road property,” continues Sr. Margaret. An apple orchard; a sizeable, working barn; and two homes built in the 1930’s resided on the new site. The Tudor house, nestled in the woods, was the original home of the Weidlein family. Today, this house is called, “Nazareth.” Sisters purchase 212-acre property on Butternut Road 18 teachers and 100 students at Notre Dame Academy say good-bye to the beloved “Castle Ansel” Students moved desks, chairs, books and more from the Temporaries to the newly completed high school buidling January 4, 1965: first day of classes in the building now known as NDCL 1963 1964 1965 Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin <strong>Seasons</strong> Spring 2008 5
Page 1 and 2: Discover NDCL’s Summer LEAD Progr
Page 3 and 4: A Publication for Alumni, Parents &
Page 5: MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL Joseph A
Page 9 and 10: 1966 to 1979 Increasing enrollment
Page 11 and 12: NDCL Marks 20-Year Anniversary NDCL
Page 13 and 14: family, relationships and dogma. At
Page 15 and 16: In the Notre Dame- Cathedral Latin
Page 17 and 18: who is neat and organized by nature
Page 19 and 20: NEWS Flash Art Students Garner Awar
Page 21 and 22: NDCL accepts 225 incoming freshmen
Page 23 and 24: Doug Pilawa THE DIVIN’ LION Can y
Page 25 and 26: The Lion’s Mane Event Captured on
Page 27 and 28: REUNION NEWS Central All Notre Dame
Page 29 and 30: Class News continued 1978 Peggy Vol
Page 31 and 32: Next ISSUE THE TOAST OF CLEVELAND O

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