St Francis College - Motus Yearbook (Biddeford, ME)

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Miles to G0 . . . Promises to Keep . . . Rev. Justinian Mercier, 0.F.Mv, founded a Franciscan monastery on Pool Road in 1933. Early cm-npus; H-rj barn, Flood House tFathers' residencct, Dccary Hall Sorligggally called the Barkor HouseL and high school building constructed 1n . 12 But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep. -Robert Frost Suppose we take a walk back in time. To be more precise, suppose we go back to 1933. Knowing what we do about St. Francis College, we would be astonished. We would see none of the buildings that stand today; we would hardly recognize the terrain. We could imagine the coldness in that year when three Franciscans ttwo priests and a brothert answered the call of Fathers Zenon and Arthur Decary of Saint Andrets Parish in Biddeford. Those Franciscan pioneers were sent to encour- age Catholic education in southern Maine by ministering to the spiritual needs of the nun-teachers, and helping Out in neighboring parishes on weekends. It was these dedicated men of God who started the chain of events Which led to the small, Catholic, liberal arts college that we know today. The Franciscans w Father Justinian, Father Dieudonne, and Brother Andre - established their residence in the Flood House, a small white structure purchased from the Huff family. This building, com- pletely lacking in modern conveniences, was located some two hundred feet from

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'Hu' L'mm' dominates the shieM mm mdir'rrrr'a nm' Can'mr'ir fm'th. The Cross s'prmel'iz-m' Hu' dvt'r'huum'nf Hf the College in NIH! i! ix r'mnfrmHg .s-h-iriugjur m'udemlc, physical, mu! .xpr'ri'rmd div fimhrm m- a Catholic institution.

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ghee? . 1- the Jordan Point twhich today is known as tithe Pointh The severe Maine winters proved to be too much for the residents of the Flood House and, as a result, Father Justinian took refuge in Stella Maris Boarding School while the others were housed in St. Andrek rectorv. Father Justinian died before any posi- tive measures were taken on the dream of a Franciscan school. In 1938 the Flood House was remodeled to serve as 3 mon- astery with a wooden chapel annex. In addition to such adjustments, a sturdy, four story, light tan brick structure was completed. Numerous construction delays put the Friars' perseverance to the test, but St. Francis High School welcomed its first class of fourteen students, in 1939. The Barbara House, immediately to the left of the Flood House, was purchased and served as a residence hall and furnished some classrooms and science laboratories. In 1943, this pioneering Class tamong whom was F ather Clarencei graduated, and Saint Francis High School expanded its Curriculum to include junior college courses. This expansion was especially intended for those who were candidates for the seminary. The students of the school showed their interest in the in- stitution and the grounds by constructing a kiosk at iithe point in this same year. Road, Saint Fra ncis This phutu, taken from the New Town shows School around 1941. High Conrad L'Ilemeux was the first stu- dent t0 retainer at Saint Francis in 1939. He was also in the first class to graduate from the high school in 1943 and the first class to graduate from the Junior college in 1945. The first faculty Iml xtluh-nl Imth ul lhr In' '1 -1 ' ' e - . . . , .k 1 H mul m IEMU. III III - 1; .x! mw t t- 1' r. Dunalld nu thk' fur lliil .uul MI. H'auuu' m 1hr u-ntt-r. h i I no In 13