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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 Seasons Spring 2008 5