History

The Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary was founded by the Priests of the Sacred Heart in 1961. Formerly, it was the estate of Giraud Foster who built the building in 1901 under the title Bellefontaine. In 1947, the Society of the Fathers of Mercy, purchased the property for a minor Seminary. In 1960, the Priests of the Sacred Heart acquired the Seminary from the Fathers of Mercy and opened in the fall of 1961 as a minor Seminary, dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The Seminary served as a minor Seminary for the East. In the fall of 1963, a new wing was completed. The added facility enables Immaculate Heart of Mary to accommodate two hundred students. The last class graduated in the spring of 1979.

Bellefontaine Yesterday

Reproduced from articles titled “Bellefontaine Yesterday”, taken from four consecutive issues of Bellefontaine, the school’s newspaper.

Volume 10 Number 1 – Autumn, 1971

This issue of the Bellefontaine marks our tenth anniversary as a prep seminary. During these ten years, the paper has reported many changes in the buildings, staff, and programs here at the seminary. Our readers have read about the people who live here, what they are doing, and what they plan to do in the future.

But many of our present readers may not realize the full extent of the changes that have taken place at Bellefontaine not the paper, but the building – since it was named in 1901. In that era, it was one of the most ornate of the many mansions that were built in this area by our country’s new aristocracy. Later, it became a seminary for the Fathers of Mercy, and in 1960, it was purchased by the Priests of the Sacred Heart.

To inform our readers about some of the rich history that is part of Bellefontaine, we will devote a series of articles, during this tenth anniversary year of the paper, to some of the most interesting aspects of the former estate, and how it was transformed into the seminary of today.

Volume 10 Number 2 – Winter, 1971

As each school year opens here at Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary, and all become accustomed to their new surroundings, many of the Freshmen still find an air of home-life on the property. The reason for this is that Bellefontaine, as the estate was formerly called, was once the home of Girard Foster.

In 1896, after many years of business success, Girard Foster purchased 200 acres of land from a Probate judge in Lenox, Massachusetts. A mansion was built in the middle of the 200 acres in a period of three years. It was designed after the famous Petit Trianon at Versailles in France, by Carrere & Hastings, of New York.

There were formal gardens on the east and west sides of the house, with borders planted in the informal manner of English cottage gardens. The inner court was planted on either side with rare evergreens, and in the center was a large beautiful Roman Verona marble fountain; part of which still stands. A marble balustrade once bounded the lawn and the driveway on the south, and was ornamented by the statues of two goats and eight little cupids, four centuries old.

In 1943, eleven years after Mrs. Foster’s death, Mr. Foster attempted to sell the house, but because of complications, was unable to. Be died on September 24, 1945, at the age of 95, and left almost everything to his son.

On March 1, 1946, the estate was sold in four sections to the Louchar company; to a Doctor Hunter Cohen of New York; to Edward E. Jenkins; and to a Mr. Cook. Mr. Cook bought the main house, ninety-six acres of land, the gate-house, the stables, and a green-house for a summer estate.

In our next issue of BELLEFONTAINE, we will continue the story of the estate, and how once again the building exchanged hands.

(NEXT ISSUE: The Church and Bellefontaine)

Volume 10 Number 3 – Spring, 1972

In the last issue of the Bellefontaine newspaper, we explained to you a bit of tile long history of the Giraud Foster estate, presently known as Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary. In continuing the story of tile estate we find ourselves back in November of 1947, when Bellefontaine once again changed hands; this time it became Our Lady of Mercy Seminary, property of the Fathers of Mercy. They, too, ran the building as a minor seminary.

On February 14, 1949 at 3 a.m., smoke was detected pouring through the hallways. Father Rector gave the alarm to the other four priests, twelve students, and four sisters, to flee the building. Attempts to call the fire department were in vain because the wires were burnt. By the time the firemen had finally reached the building, and had begun to fight the huge blaze, all of the interior, except the library, was enveloped in flames.

Ceilings crashed to the floor, and walls collapsed as the fire continued. Marble fireplaces were reduced to powder, and two Corinthian pillars were completely destroyed. The entire chapel, including the altar, Crucifix, chalices, and pews were lost when the room collapsed into the floor.

It took three years to build Bellefontaine, “the beautiful fountain”, but in two hours it was destroyed by fire.

On October 29, 1949, the Fathers of Mercy contacted the Bethelt Construction Company of Holyoke. It took one year to rebuild Bellefontaine and at its completion, it consisted of forty-five rooms.

Volume 10 Number 4 – Graduation, 1972

In 1960, the Priests of the Sacred Heart, acquired Bellefontaine from the Mercy Fathers and they continue to utilize the buildings as a minor seminary for young men interested in the Priesthood and Brotherhood.

September, 1961, saw the arrival of the first two classes at Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary. Soon, however, it became evident that space would be a big problem of the future. Later in the spring of 1962, preliminary bulldozing was begun for the addition of a new wing consisting of classrooms, recreation rooms, dormitories, a gymnasium, and a new chapel to the existing building.

In September of 1963, the new building was completed and Bellefontaine increased its capacity and stature as a seminary. Since the completion of the new wing, the seminary has continued to improve over the years. Many new programs have been initiated and the faculty has continued to change in the hope of keeping the school in a modern fashion.

Immaculate Heart has seen eight classes enter and leave the halls of the seminary. As they continue to come and go, “they still must become accustomed to their new surroundings. Many still find an air of home life on the property,” the reason for this as you have read throughout the year in Bellefontaine Yesterday is, “that Bellefontaine, as the estate was formerly called, was once the home of Girard Foster.”