The Villa de Chantal pictured in this circa 1912 postcard served as a
Catholic boarding and day school from 1901 to 1978. It was the vision of an
order of cloistered nuns known as the Sisters of the Visitation who came to
Rock Island from Kentucky, bringing with them a convent bell that would
become a recognizable feature to the residents of central Rock Island for
decades.
The Sisters of Visitation came to Rock Island in 1898 and opened an academy
on 5th Avenue. The school was very successful and within two years it was
clear that more space was needed. A bluff top piece of property was
purchased and the process of raising funds for a new school began.
The Gothic Revival style building pictured here was actually built in two
sections. The oldest section is to the far left of the picture. It housed
classrooms and living quarters for both the students and the Sisters.
Within five years the enrollment at the school had grown to 60 boarders and
it was time for the large second section of the building to be built. It
contains the ornate central entrance to the building along with a chapel,
library, classrooms and private rooms for the boarders. Now the original
structure would serve as the living quarters for the Sisters. In future
years there would be further expansion adding an additional classroom wing
and a chaplain's bungalow.
The first two buildings of the Villa de Chantal were designed by Rock Island
architect, George P. Stauduhar. Stauduhar is known for his eclectic designs
of homes, business structures and even steamboat interiors in the Quad
Cities area. But he gained his wider midwest reputation through his design
of Gothic churches. Over two hundred were constructed in the upper
Mississippi River valley.
The Sisters of the Visitation continued to operate the Villa de Chantal as a
boarding school until 1958 and a day school until 1978. In the early 1990's
the complex was sold and a private school was again established. The building
at 2000 16th Avenue became the home of Morningstar Academy. It was also
available for parties or receptions. The school continued until 2005, when
developer Chris Ales purchased the villa. His intent was to convert the
villa and the attached school addition (on the east side of the villa, not
shown on our postcard) into elderly appartments.
Sadly, in the early morning hours on July 14, 2005, a ferocious fire consumed
the villa. The cause was never determined, but was thought to be arson. No
charges were ever filed. The only structures spared by the fire were
the school addition and the caretaker's home to the east. Today, only the brick
shell of the structure shown in the postcard remains. The exquisite stained glass
windows and the beautiful interior are gone.
The Villa de Chantal is a designated Rock Island local landmark. Many people who
had attended school here still drive slowly by, viewing the shell of the building,
and mourning the loss of a place that represented a happy time in their young lives.
The most recent plans for the Villa property are being laid by the Rock Island - Milan
School District. Their plan is to tear down what remains of the Villa de Chantal and
build a new elementary school on its site. The new school would be a "magnet school"
specializing in math and science. This school would be open to all students in the district
who wish to attend. Continuing in the tradition of education begun by the sisters, this
seems to be an appropriate fate for this historic property.
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