|
Nauvoo Monastery Purchased by LDS Church will be Torn Down
NAUVOO, ILLINOIS -- Officials from the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints say they have little use for the former St. Mary
Monastery and have decided to tear it down. The structure is located
literally in the shadow of the new Nauvoo Temple.
The building has most recently been used to house the Brigham Young
University Semester in Nauvoo program and administrative offices for
church-affiliated Nauvoo Restoration Inc. It had been renamed the
Joseph Smith Academy.
The church bought the five-building complex that included the
monastery and the former St. Mary's Academy, a former Catholic school
for girls, in 1998. The last of the Benedictine Sisters moved out in
December for their new home in Rock Island, Ill. They served there
for 127 years.
The church has obtained a demolition permit and plans to proceed as
soon as a contractor is hired. Demolition will cost an estimated
$750,000.
Source:
Former monastery will be torn down
Burlington IA Hawk Eye 13Jan02 D1
By Stephen A. Martin
|