Convent In 1940’s.

It was in September, 1940, that the home of Mrs. Simon Pineau was bought by the Congregation of Notre Dame. This house had been built on a beautiful location overlooking the river and it was a heartache to realize that it must be moved. It was too far from the school, particularly in winter. Therefore, on October 2, feast of the Holy Angels, the transportation of the building was begun. It took six days of very careful manoeuvering to land it on its prepared foundation, on land donated by Cornelius Pineau.

On January 2, 1941, the Sisters entered their new home for the first time. Most of the rooms had not been used for years so considerable renovations had to be made, some occasioned by the moving of the building when plaster was damaged, etc. Many Sisters from Notre Dame and South Rustico convents came to help. Sister Provincial remained to help for the first two weeks and she was ever an example of Christlike kindness and zeal. From Charlottetown, Sister St. John of Meda (Mary Margaret Hughes) sent one after another of her household to assist with housekeeping through those first six moths.

Early in January, 1941, Father McNeill asked Sister Provincial if the Sisters might take on two months of night classes. This would include sewing and different kinds of handiwork for interested women, and general classwork for another group of men and women who had not been privileged to attend school for more than very few years in their youth, and who now wished to avail themselves of such an opportunity. Each of the two Sisters would teach three

nights per week.

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