St. Francis Xavier Convent

Introduction

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Now home to the Southern Cultural Heritage Foundation, the former St. Francis Xavier Convent is considered one of the finest examples of Gothic Revival architecture in Vicksburg. Erected in 1868 for the Sisters of Mercy, notable features of the building include lancet windows, a double-leaf front door, and a three-bay porch. The Sisters have had a significant impact on Vicksburg in the areas of education and healthcare. Given its architectural significance and association with the Sisters of Mercy, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places 1977. It is part of a larger complex the Sisters owned that occupies the entire block and is located across the street from the historic Pemberton's Headquarter's house.

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Backstory and Context

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The Sister of Mercy arrived in Vicksburg in 1860 from Baltimore, Maryland. The bishop of Mississippi, Rev. William Henry Elden, and the pastor of St. Paul's Catholic Church, Rev. Francis Xavier Lerdy (his last name is also spelled as Leray), requested they come to establish the city's first school. They opened it days after arriving. It was located in the historic Cobb House, which was built c.1830 and still stands next to the 1886 convent building. During the Civil War, in 1862 the Sisters closed the school as Union armies closed in on the city. Between late 1862 to July 4, the city came under siege. During that time, the house was as a barracks to care for wounded troops—first for Confederate soldiers, then for Union soldiers. The Sisters traveled around the state and in Alabama and Louisiana, providing care for Confederate and Union troops. It appears that after about a month the Sisters returned to Vicksburg and treated wounded soldiers at the house. They reacquired the house in August 1864 and reopened the school with 200 students.

The new convent was designed by Rev. Jean Baptist Mouton, who designed other Gothic Revival buildings in Mississippi. In 1885, the Sisters built a two-story auditorium. In the coming decades, the Sisters owned a number of the surrounding buildings including the Balfour House and Pemberton's Headquarters. These buildings provided additional space for classrooms and student housing. A new gym was built in 1953. By this point, the Sisters occupied the entire block.

In addition to their educational work, the Sisters continued to serve the healthcare needs of the community. From 1878 to 1905, they operated the Vicksburg City Hospital. Then in 1943, they took over another hospital that they renamed Mercy Hospital, which grew and became the Mercy Regional Medical Center. The Sisters sold it to Quorum Health Care in 1991. It seems that the hospital closed since around 2002 and has remained vacant ever since.

In 1986, the Sisters auctioned parts of the entire convent complex as part of their plans to move to modern facilities. They sold the rest to the city in 1994. The Southern Cultural Heritage Foundation acquired the complex in 2001.

Sources

"A Brief History of the Cultural Center." Southern Cultural Heritage Foundation. Accessed February 1, 2021. http://www.southernculture.org/events/about_us%21.htm.

"Abandoned Mississippi: Vicksburg’s Mercy Hospital." Preservation Mississippi. Marc 28, 2012. https://misspreservation.com/2012/03/28/abandoned-mississippi-vicksburgs-mercy-hospital.

"The Complex." Southern Cultural Heritage Foundation. Accessed February 1, 2021. http://www.southernculture.org/the_complex.htm.

"Mississippi." Mercy. Accessed February 1, 2021. https://www.mercy.net/about/history/mississippi.

Surratt, John. "EPA awards city grant to assess Mercy Hospital, other property." The Vicksburg Post. May 7, 2020. https://www.vicksburgpost.com/2020/05/07/epa-awards-city-grant-to-assess-mercy-hospital-other-property.

Additional Information