Convent of Mercy historic school
Introduction
Text-to-speech Audio
Images
Street view of the Convent of Mercy
Picture of the Convent as it appeared in 1990
Backstory and Context
Text-to-speech Audio
After the Civil War, in 1895, the Sisters of Mercy founded a girl’s school to teach local children within the St. Joseph’s Parish. This school served as a primary grade school, educating younger children in the area.
In 1908 the main building that stands today was finished, built by New Orleans architect A.H. Downy. Standing at 3 ½ stories tall, the building features classical/baroque structure in its parapet roof and it’s lower level windows. By the year 1927, the school’s new building was a success and served as host to 250 students, which prompted the construction of an additional school building in 1928.
The convent continued to use the schoolhouse until the school was fully closed in 1968. In the wake of the closing, the school became merged with Bishop Toolen High, and the sisters relocated to Spring Hill. After the school was closed, the buildings were sold.
During the 1970s the buildings served as a chandelier factory for several years. Eventually, the buildings became unused once more and were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1992. After the turn of the century in 2002, the buildings were converted into condos by Dauphin Reality
Sources
Russell, Celeste. The History of the Sisters of Mercy, St. Francis Place Luxury Condominiums Homes. March 9th 2008. Accessed October 12th 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20080309063046/http://www.dauphinrealty.com/StFrancisPlace/history.shtml.
Sledge, John. Historic Roman Catholic Properties in Mobile, Alabama, 1849-1928, National Register of Historic Places. September 14th 1990. Accessed October 12th 2020. https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/AssetDetail?assetID=64e0a0d0-e8d3-4891-87e3-a5078a37599c.
Sledge, John. Convent of Mercy, National Register of Historic Places. April 24th 1992. Accessed October 12th 2020. https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/AssetDetail?assetID=27692481-16a8-423f-8860-0b7e91aabba0.
Ericson, Sally Pearsall. Coming Sunday: Mobile's former Convent of Mercy building marks centennial, AL.com. December 19th 2008. Accessed October 12th 2020. https://www.al.com/live/2008/12/mobiles_former_convent_of_merc.html.
Google Maps Street View
National Register of Historic Places