What secrets hide behind the simple facade of Saint Anthony’s Convent? Here, at the corner of 166th Street and Prospect Avenue in the Bronx, stands Saint Anthony’s Convent, a building woven into the vibrant tapestry of New York City. Saint Anthony’s Convent began not as a convent, but as part of a combined church, school, and convent structure built in 1904. This Italianate style building originally housed the church on the ground floor. A church hall occupied the basement. Five classrooms filled the second floor, while the third floor housed more classrooms and convent rooms. The original church complex was built for a German-speaking congregation in the then-mostly German neighborhood of Morrisania. Can you imagine the mix of languages and cultures swirling around Saint Anthony’s Convent in those early days? The nearby pastor of St. John of Chrysostom Church initially opposed the new parish. He argued most of the Germans already spoke English. The German-American community however, persevered in their desire for their own church. The construction of this initial building only cost $70,000, including a separate rectory. The ambitious Father Joseph Rummel later spearheaded the construction of the present church building between 1927 and 1928. He raised an impressive $300,000 for this endeavor. Father Rummel dedicated the new Saint Anthony’s Church in 1928, the same year he became Bishop of Omaha. Over the decades, Saint Anthony’s Convent and Church witnessed a shift in the community’s demographics. The Great Migration brought a significant African American population to the area. More recently, the neighborhood has become predominantly Latino. The story of Saint Anthony’s Convent is not merely one of bricks and mortar, but of the changing faces and evolving spirit of a community finding its home within these walls. It stands as a quiet testament to the enduring power of faith and community in the heart of the Bronx.
Gould Family Mausoleum
Ever heard of a “Robber Baron?” Here at Woodlawn Cemetery stands the Gould Family Mausoleum. It is a testament to