Cornelia Connelly Hall 100th Anniversary Celebration Nov. 14, 2025

We stand beneath this giant oak today – a witness to the building of Connelly Hall. Plans had been underway for two years before Mother Mary Ignatius arrived as Rosemont’s 2nd President in 1924.

Most students were living in Main while others lived in Mayfield Hall -that is the OLD Mayfield that was the converted barn and stable.

The much-needed residence hall for students was first noted on October 17, 1923. Seven months later the local council of sisters voted unanimously to ask permission to borrow $90,000 ($1,700,000 today) for the building of the Hall and $25,000 ($475,000) for furniture and equipment and construction of a sewer and heating plant with connections to all the buildings.The contract was signed on April 30,1925 with Grosvenor Atterbury, architect and William Steele and Sons, contractor. You’ll hear more about this noted architect later in the program.

Ground was broken by Cardinal Dougherty and on May 17, 1925 the cornerstone was laid by Msgr. Henry Drumgoole. He noted in his sermon that “The world is looking for women as leaders. Higher education should be open to all and it is indeed gratifying to see the college making such great strides.”

There were small single and double rooms (small being an understatement) built to accommodate 70 students, but Connelly wasn’t ready for the beginning of the academic year. Finally, a note in the community journal on November 25,1925 says “Cornelia Connelly Hall is open at last!

It would be a home with a spacious living room that was the scene of many of the college’s extracurricular activities, club meetings, entertainment of guests, and often the place for greeting dates. Interesting to note is that as Connelly opened, Kistler was being constructed with a projected completion date of January 1926.

Disaster struck the living room at approximately 4:30 on the morning of March 20, 1987. The fire alarm was sounded as the living room was in flames due to a smoldering cigarette in a sofa. All 59 students were evacuated in 2 minutes and there were no injuries. Eventually the living room was restored. Photos show the extent of the destruction that included the piano.

Some of us were here 20 years ago next month to witness the rebirth of Connelly after its closure for several years. The front of the building still has the same façade, with clean new windows in place along with a new terrace. The back of the building underwent a major change to accommodate an elevator and enlarge the core of the building.

Today, 100 years later we stand here near the ancient oak tree that shelters Connelly. We are reminded of Cornelia whose name graces this home. She wanted her schools to be homes for the young people entrusted to her care.

So we pray for the students who call Connelly home today.

We remember the hundreds of women who lived here.

We remember the Holy Child sisters- the house mothers- who watched over the students.

We remember the workers who built Connelly and those who keep it functioning.

We remember our Rosegrow students who planted native species on the side.

Now we ask our gracious God to shower thanksgiving blessings on all whom we remember.

A special thanks today to John Doyle who graced our courtyard with a plaque in memory of his wife, Nancy. John met Nancy, class of ’86, in Kelly’s and walked her home to Connelly – the beginning of their rich life together.

As we end this part of the program let’s look again at our stately oak tree.

We are told that oaks support more life forms than other North American tree genus.

Their long life, durable wood and deep roots make them a symbol of strength, wisdom and endurance.

They speak of growth and continuity even when the world they shade begins to change.

So maybe in Rosemont’s case our oak is a symbol of something that will endure in us and all those who have looked on or stood under this tree.