Historic Convent Restoration Project Progresses
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St. Mary's Convent, an historic, two-story, 28-room brick building at 701 E. S. Union Street , is in the process of being restored in a $250,000 project.
Tuckpointing the fine brickwork of the rear of the St. Mary Convent is in progress as part of a $250,000 renovation being conducted by a private fund-raising firm, the Ramona Group.
St. Mary's Convent, dating to 1916, which was in danger of demolition a few years ago, has been rescued by a private fund-raising company and is in the process of being restored in a $250,000 project.
The historic, two-story, 28-room brick building at 701 E. S. Union Street, is a neoclassical fortress style building typical of communal living structures of the early 20th century. It once housed more than a dozen Sisters of Mercy who served the parish as schoolteachers and assistants to the pastors.
The property on which the church, convent, rectory and school are situated was purchased in 1873 from Elizabeth Birney, widow of James Gillespie Birney, one of the nation's leading anti-slavery politicians who was a pioneer developer of Bay City. Birney had died in 1857 but Mrs. Birney remained in the community and sold the more than 400 acres within the city limits that the couple had acquired and platted. The Birney family made a substantial contribution so the church could buy the property.
The convent was built under direction of Fr. Thomas J. Delanty at a cost of $19,130. Fr. Delanty, who also directed construction of the rectory, served St. Mary 1915-1923.
Margaret Ray McAlear, who wrote a history of St. Mary'son the centennial of the parish in 1973, recalled the convent: "Many of us remember walking the sisters home to the convent after school at night and if we had been especially good that day we might be treated to a cookie. Going through the front door ofthe convent on music lesson day could be quite another thing unless you were really gifted or had practiced well."The Sisters of Mercy occupied the convent for 57 years before departing in 1973 as the numbers of sisters was falling off and St. Mary School was closed. During much of their stay at St. Mary the nuns used the convent as a center for music lessons for children as well as living quarters for themselves.
Workers recently completed tuckpointing half the exterior of the convent under a $25,000 challenge grant from the Gerstacker Foundation of Midland. Another grant will be sought to complete the remainder of tuckpointing, according to Lori Perreault, CEO of the Ramona Group. Kitchen and pantry flooring has been installed and renovations of most rooms is complete. The project also has received a $10,000 grant from the Herbert and Grace A. Dow Foundation, also of Midland.
"We really couldn't sink money into the convent building," said Fr. Jim Heller, pastor of St. Mary's. "We came very, very close to demolishing the building because it is surplus to us. We even got demolition bids. The pleasing thing to me is that I am a person who appreciates the history of this city and I think our old buildings add a lot to this neighborhood. I really excited about it."
The Ramona Group needed to expand its office and the 14,000 square foot convent was needed to accommodate the growing firm's 16 employees, according to Ms. Perreault. The firm has an agreement with the church for an offset against future rents for the costs of construction and funds contributed. No church funds are being used for the renovation, Fr. Heller said. The parish approved the project so the community can once again be served by private businesses and social service agencies leasing the building.
"The historical significance of convents persists," wrote Ms. Perreault in an application to the State of Michigan for an historical marker for the convent. "Serving as links not only to an earlier way of Catholic life, but also as connections to regional history, convents offer many intangible benefits to the communities in which they are located. Revitalization of St. Mary's Convent and its inclusion in the State Register of Historic Sites will contribute to the value of Bay City's west side historic district by allowing the convent to serve as a resource. By visiting the convent, people can experience the history of the community in a way that is not possible through books or lectures."
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