The Council of Independent Colleges: Historic Campus Architecture Project

Stone Cottage

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Stone Cottage (three-quarter view), Saint Joseph's College of Maine

Stone Cottage (detail), Saint Joseph's College of Maine

Institution Name: Saint Joseph's College of Maine
Original/Historic Place Name: Stone Chapel
Location on Campus: 278 Whites Bridge Rd.
Date(s) of Construction and Designer(s):

1930	original construction Unknown

Type of Place: Individual building
Style(s): (Glossary)
Materials:

Foundation: concrete slab on grade

Walls: wood frame; field stone (facing for most exterior walls)

Roof: slate; flat-tab shingle

Function:

ca. 1930	chapel (for meditation)
ca. 2004-present (2007)	faculty offices

Significance: education
Landmark designation:

none

Narrative: see below
References: see below

Narrative:
Mrs. Harry Verrill was a pious non-Catholic who would spend many hours in solitary prayer in this oasis on the estate, which also served as the burial repository for her young son's ashes, discovered by College personnel and given over to one of the Verrill's sons residing in Portland. In the1970s, an inquiry was made regarding a section in the will of another of the Verrill sons. It stated that he wished his ashes to be brought to Maine and placed in the family mortuary, The Stone Chapel. Given the several uses that had been made of the Chapel since it was purchased by the College, the request, of course, could not be honored.

For the College, this building has great significance because the stained glass windows, one of St. Edward, the other of St. John the Evangelist, communicated to the Sisters of Mercy--who were investigating the possibility of purchasing the property--that it was more than mere coincidence that these two Saints who were depicted in the windows; for the names of the sisters were Sister Mary Evangelist and Sister Mary Edwina (a form of Edward). They took this as the sign that the College should be located nowhere else but here.

References:

I. Bibliographic sources:

Higgins, Mary Raymond. For Love of Mercy: Missioned in Maine and Andros Island, Bahamas. Portland, ME: Sisters of Mercy, 1995.

II. Location of other data:

University: Facilities Management Office