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Brownell Hall


 
BROWNELL HALL
91

Diocese. As long as his health permitted, he was a frequent visitor at the school, as was also his wife, Mrs. Worthington. Both contributed to the building fund, and at his death Bishop Worthington left nearly $80,000 for scholarship endowment at Brownell Hall.

Dr. Doherty spent much time and thought, and even his own money, in the erection of this new home for the school, and its final completion was the crowning triumph of his administration.

At Tenth and Worthington Streets the corner stone of the third building was laid Saturday evening, June 12, 1886, at seven o'clock. The following hymn was composed expressly for the occasion by Rev. H. B. Burgess, Plattsmouth, Neb.:

O corner stone of hearth and home,
On this auspicious day,
Prophetic tone resound alone,
Ring out thy round-de-lay.

A thousand thousand welcomes ring,
Where countless thousands come,
May words of love and music bring
New joys to every home.

Here shall the daughters of our land
Their choicest treasures find,
Of greater worth than golden sand,
True riches of the mind.

Here shall each polished shaft be wrought,
Each priceless gem be set;
In ways of wisdom early taught
Each virtue to protect.

Sweet corner stone of hearth and home,
Ring out the round-de-lay


92
BROWNELL HALL

What sweeter tone than "hearth and home"
For each Commencement Day!

Dedicated to Rev. R. H. Doherty, S. P. D.

The new building was occupied January 4, 1887. The building, furnishings, equipment and grounds were valued at $125,000. The building was heated by steam, lighted by gas, and equipped with modern plumbing and water system. It was built of brick and was very handsome and convenient. The suite of parlors, the long, wide hail and the grand stairway on the first floor were most elegant and imposing. The beautiful suite of rooms and spacious hail have been the scene of many a delightful gathering. The first gymnasium was located in the basement of the south wing, but for some years the general assembly room has been used for a gymnasium. A suite of rooms was set apart as an infirmary and all the sick were at once taken there and cared for specially.

In the old building at 16th and Jones Streets there had been no conveniences for the care of the sick, and once when scarlet fever broke out in the school, Mrs. James Van Nostrand, always a kind neighbor and faithful friend, took the sick students into her own home, nursed them carefully back to health and returned them in good condition to their school and studies.

The new Hall necessarily lost the home atmosphere and became a typical Boarding School, but an excellent one. "We die if we


Picture

BROWNELL HALL, 1887, TENTH AND WORTHINGTON STREETS


Picture

THE HALL


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