compiled by Sister Martha Jacob, archivist
*= all quotes are from the Annals, unless otherwise indicated

Aug. 1, 1916
"Blessing of grounds on which are to be erected the new Chapel and Convent. Mother Angela Leininger removed the first shovel of soil for the foundation.*

Aug. 22, 1916
"first stone was laid for the foundation."

Dec. 8, 1917
"The new Central House of this Community on Cherokee Drive was dedicated by Rt. Rev. Dennis O'Donaghue, DD, assisted by Rev. George W. Schuhman, DD, Rev. Alexander, OSB; Rev. Seraphine Schlang, OMC, and Rev. J. Driscoll on the fair Feast of Mary's Immaculate Conception. Rev. George Schuhman celebrated the first Holy Mass in the new Chapel at nine o'clock. Ceremonies were private. The temperature that day was the lowest and the snow the deepest in Kentucky's history."

The Ursuline Chapel of the Immaculate Conception upon completion

From an account in Mother Angela Leininger's folder - "There is no doubt that the building when completed will be a monument to the genius and skill of Mr. Fred Ehrhart, the architect who was trained abroad."

From an account in THE RECORD -
"The new building when completed will be a handsome four-story brick and stone structure in the Renaissance style. It will face Cherokee Drive with a frontage of 300 feet and a depth of 150 feet. Three wings center about a large octagonal chapel, with a seating capacity of 600. Accommodations for 200 professed nuns will be located in the eastern or community wing, 30 infirm members will be taken care of in the hospital wing, while the western part of the building will accommodate 75 to 100 novices.

"The first floor will be taken up by parlors, reception rooms and a large community room. A kitchen, dining rooms and a steam laundry will occupy the basement. The new home will be modern in every respect, having electric elevators and steam heat."

Archivist's note -The laundry was in the space now occupied by the Social Room; the room has also been the postulancy, space for the Ursuline Child Development Center during construction of the current school building and office space for the offices of Finance, Ursuline Life, Ministry, Associate Call and Campus Services

The Annals for 1925 state - "An electric elevator was installed near the Infirmary. Provisions for it had been made at the time of the erection of the Motherhouse. The total cost reached the sum of $4,956.13. It was put into operation in February . . .. A Sun-Porch for the Infirmary cost $427.80."
Archivist note - The elevator mentioned above was the only one until 1988, when an elevator shaft was constructed and elevator mechanism installed on the east side of the Motherhouse.

June 19, 1918
For the first time, Sacred Heart Academy graduation ceremonies were held in the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception. There were eight graduates.
"The graduation of the girls of Sacred Heart Academy took place in the new Chapel of the Immaculate Conception, Cherokee Drive, Louisville. The exercises were unlike any other commencements of Sacred Heart Academy. Rev. Alphonse Kroupp, CP, addressed the graduates and their parents and friends."

1918-1926
Sacred Heart Academy boarding students lived in the Motherhouse (west wing) from the time the SHA building burned to the ground in 1918 until a second building on the same foundation was completed in May 1926.

1921-1925
Sacred Heart Junior College classes were conducted in the Motherhouse from 1921 until Ursula Hall was completed in 1925.

Over the years, the Ursuline Motherhouse has been-

• A residence for many sisters [this is the one continuous use]
  
• An infirmary for infirm and elderly (replaced by Marian Home in 1977)
  
• A residence for women in formation to be sisters
  
• Offices for the mother superior and her assistants until 1968
  

Past Motherhouse renovations -

1976 - A fire in the west wing on Jan. 11, 1976, resulted in:

• Closing the infirmary
  
• Gutting and converting Marian Hall (former college dorm) into Marian Home, a licensed, long term nursing facility for Ursuline Sisters
  
• Re-designing the west wing to meet changed needs of the sisters: more bedrooms for sisters rather than areas for sisters in formation, a guest area for overnight stays, space for a small, self-contained community in the space of the former infirmary
  sisters in the infirmary and some whose rooms were in the west wing were re-located at that time: some moved to Julianne Hall, other congregations of women religious opened rooms for those who had been in the motherhouse infirmary wing, especially the Sisters of Charity who delayed using rooms in their newly completed Nazareth Home on Newburg Road for their sisters until Marian Home opened in October 1977.
  

1995 - Renovations

• Installed a separate heating and air-conditioning unit in the Motherhouse. A boiler that served other buildings on campus had been the source of heat.
  
• Renovated the east wing for the first time since 1917, which included new plumbing
  
• Installed half-baths in each private room
  
• Removed of walls to make larger bedrooms
  
• Installed a new electrical system
  
• Renovated the first floor reception area and former priest's parlor

2003 - A small apartment was constructed in the back of the Motherhouse on the ground floor for use by a chaplain