Annals of St. Ann's Hermitage: 1906

Arrival of the first Juniors.

The house had been just about made habitable when Brother Angelicus, Provincial following Bro. Felix Eugene, came with 13 Juniors from St-Hyacinthe, Canada, to occupy the new premises.

It was 21 February 1906, one year after we had acquired the title to the property.

Brother Felix Eugene was named director of the new beehive.

The first months were very difficult. The Juniors had not only to bear the inconveniences inherent to a precarious installation, but their small number caused from the beginning a monotony which was a hard ordeal for them.

Better days soon followed, new recruits showed up and, the organization being finished, we all rejoiced deeply to feel that the Good Lord and the Blessed Mother must be satisfied.

The first exercises of the general retreat made in this cradle of the future province took place in the month of July. These were followed by the Brothers of the community and by a few Brothers who came from New York and New England. Piety and recollection marked this first retreat. The good Marist spirit reigned supreme.

In order to accommodate the Brothers during this retreat the Juniors had to give up their quarters and were sent to New York to our school, St. Ann's Academy. They immensely enjoyed their trip which was made by boat and they spent their time in the city pleasantly.

Meanwhile the necessary repairs and improvements were continued, and despite the fact that the community had increased in numbers, there was enough place for everybody.

Besides Brother Director and the teachers in the Juniorate, there were Brothers in charge of the farm, the gardens, the tailoring and the laundry, and also the carpentry.

The first year produced many good results. In December of that year three Juniors were sent to St-Hyacinthe, Canada, to do their period of Novitiate; nevertheless, thanks to the arrival of several new recruits the community still numbered 20 members.

By the way, we should note that winter that year was long and worrisome and the heating system, somewhat primitive, was far from producing the needed temperature. However, holy joy never failed among the fervent community, ready to make all the little sacrifices imposed by the circumstances.

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