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Photo Album 1919-1997
Windsor Star
November 26, 1938
Retarded Children Getting New Home
Cornerstone Dedicated by Bishop Kidd:
Ursuline Sisters Expanding Work of
Guidance and Rehabilitation
Glengarda Academy, one of the most remarkable institutions in Canada, located on Riverside Drive at the easterly limits of Windsor, yesterday marked an important step forward in its brief but notable history.
Dedication Ceremonies
The cornerstone of Glengarda's new building was officially dedicated by Most Rev. John Thomas Kidd, Bishop of London.Brief impressive ceremonies marked the laying of the stone. The ritualistic service of the Roman Catholic Church, used on such occasions, was read by His Excellency. A workman slowly lowered the plain white stone into place on the soft mortar which His Excellency spread upon the corner of the building with a silver trowel.
Ursuline Sisters, under whose direction the academy is operated, chanted brief prayers prior to and immediately after the ceremonies. Students and members of the academy staff lined the platform. All stood throughout the brief service while a cold wind swept in from the Detroit River. The clergy, headed by a cross-bearer, moved slowly off the platform and the service was ended.
Mother M. Clare, vicar of the order in Canada, outside the Province of Quebec; her brother, Frank Gaukler, of Detroit, and Mrs. Frank Gaukler, his wife, stood among the audience, which included the student body and Mother Superior Kathleen. The beautiful estate upon which the building will stand was the gift of Mrs. Josephine Gaukler, mother of Frank Gaukler and of Mother Clare.
Others Taking Part
Besides His Excellency, the clergy taking part in the service included: Rev. Wilfrid J. Langlois and Rev. John A. Rooney, deacons: Rev. P. Mugan and Rev. E. Chevalier, sub-deacons: Rev. A. McNabb, cross-bearer: Rev. E. Noel and Rev. E. Coughlin, acolytes: Rev. W. Bordeau, master of ceremonies.
The only invited guests were the clergy, J.M. Piggott, contractor: J.C. Pennington, architect: Mr. and Mrs. Frank Gaukler: and representatives of The Windsor Star.
In the cornerstone a hollow space contains a copper box in which was placed every denomination of Canadian silver coin of the day; a documental history of the academy; a copy of The Windsor Star; pictures of civic, provincial and Dominion Government officials and their names, along with the names and photographs of the elisiastic officers of the present-day Roman Catholic Church.
The stone bore the simple inscription, 'Our Lady of Prompt Succor Chapel, 1938." The location of the stone is the corner which eventually will mark the chapel wing of the new Glengarda.
Since 1919 Glengarda has been functioning under the direction of the Ursuline Order, whose vicar-general is Mother Clare. The resident head of the Windsor institution is its mother superior, Mother M. Kathleen. Its buildings are the former home of Tracy W. McGregor.
Property given in 1919
The property was acquired by the order on August 28, 1919, and was the gift of Mrs. Josephine Gaukler, of Detroit, to her daughter, Mother Clare, at that time superior-general of the Ursulines of the Diocese of London.
The beautiful estate, comprising 900 feet on the Detroit River and reaching through from Riverside Drive to Tecumseh Road, is an eternal memorial to the generosity of a woman widely noted for her philanthropic interests. Mrs. Gaukler died several years ago.
The present buildings consist of the administration building--the former home of the McGregors and one of the few reinforced concrete residences in the city--the lodge-keeper's house, and the former garage of the family. All have been changed to accommodate Glengarda's family of 24 retarded children. The transformation of the buildings is only exceeded by the transformation of their occupants.
Named for Italian spot
Glengarda's hauntingly beautiful old-world name was inspired by its surroundings and the similarity of its peaceful atmosphere to that of an old European landmark.
A wealth of beauty in the landscaping of the estate, beside the blue tint of the waters of the Detroit River, suggested a spot in far-away Italy historically important for the Ursuline community. That spot is Desenzano, the birthplace of their foundress, St. Angela Merici. It is happily situated on Lake Garda, one of the loveliest of Italian lakes. That is why Glengarda is appropriate as a name. Music and laughter, peace and beauty, sweet scents and holy inspirations, are all contained in that attractive word "Glengarda".What is Glengarda? It is an academy wholly devoted to the education of retarded children. Here the child, mentally backward, who finds it difficult to compete with pupils of an average intelligence in the ordinary school, may advance at his or her own pace, and find his or her level. Experience has demonstrated that the backward child has profited by residence in a school of this type.
Qualified Teachers
The teachers are carefully selected. They must have the qualifications of mind and character which adapt them for this work. Essentially they must have great sympathy and affection for the maimed members of the human family: they must possess untiring patience, for their efforts are only crowned with success after many hours of monotonous toil: they must be ingenious in their methods of presentation, and observant to note the slightest improvement: above all, they must know how to make their little charges useful members of society. To this end they must be painstaking in instructing these little ones in religion, manners, and morals.
The academy aims to rear the child in a homelike atmosphere. For this reason the institution idea has given place to the cottage or home plan.
The boys live in Villa Francis, which is a fine example of early American architecture. A large livingroom provides comfort and joy: it is so designed that it will appeal to the aesthetic sense. Here the child finds every type of indoor amusement.
The girls enjoy a pleasant home in Our Lady's Villa. Here, too, beauty prevails. Occasionally the children spend an evening together. The girls gather about the villa kitchen, and there make candy: the boys have the pleasure of a real old-fashioned taffy pull. How happy they all are with their achievement! The climax of the evening comes when they sit about the large fireplace in the spacious drawing room and eat the candy which is their own. The large dining room accommodates both boys and girls, and again the home idea predominates.
Typical day's routine
A typical day's routine at Glengarda is as follows:
Shortly before 9 o'clock, little groups hurry off to school. The school is the centre of academy life and the joy of every little heart.
There is the nursery school, where the latest in kindergarten equipment may be seen. Special attention is given to speech correction as well as to the training of ear and eye. The school for advanced children has several departments. The cirriculum, besides listing the ordinary subjects of instruction, includes music, folk dancing, dramatics, manual training, sewing, household science, and agriculture. Each year there is a splendid exhibition of work.
The little folk love the rhythm band and take delight in singing and dancing. This work is under the direction of a competent music specialist. The household science class endeavors to fit the girls for home-making. For this reason the pupils have actual experience in the preparation of meals and in general household care.
Nowhere can there be greater advantage for the teaching of agriculture and natural science. A 70-acre farm adjoins the academy gardens. The happiest days of all are those on which the children visit the farm. It is a satisfaction to see these little ones as they view, often for the first time, the domestic animals. Many have never known the joys of rural life.
Learn bird calls
It is not unusual for the young student to become familiar with the names of all of our common Canadian trees: they also become acquainted with our native birds. Many learn the calls of the scarlet cardinal and the meddlesome bluejay. Many are the trips made to the woods and nearby fields.
It is now a recognized fact that poor health is often a large contributing factor to the history of the backward child. In no field has there been greater advance than in that of medical science. Special treatment is now given to the handicapped child, and proper medication, coupled with careful education, has played a large part in the rehabilitation of the underprivileged pupil into normal life. For this reason, the pupils of Glengarda are under the supervision of competent physicians. Aiming at perfect health for each child, the academy has in residence an efficient registered nurse. Special care is taken at all times to provide a suitable diet, adapted to individual needs.
Great attention is paid to physical exercise in order to produce complete co-ordination in every bodily motion. Play is always under strict supervision, and even at recreation periods muscle training is not overlooked.
400 years' service
For 400 years the Ursulines have cherished the ideals of self-sacrifice and devotion. The order, founded in Brescia in the year by St. Angela Merici, was originally intended to care for the education of girls. Glengarda's doors are open also to boys.
Mother Kathleen, the serene, gifted a reporter of The Windsor Star of the culmination of her greatest hope--the erection of the new Glengarda.
"We saw the need for specialized attention for retarded children as we taught in the auzillary classes in the city", Mother Kathleen explained. "We realized it was impossible to give them the proper care in the large classes. It required a more personal supervision and a closer attention to detail than was permitted in the ordinary school auxillary class.
"A little more than three years ago our friends found this present building, with a few changes, suitable for our purpose. We have worked here and we believe we have accomplished something. We find a response from our children that we could not get when their attention was more divided. Here, we are with them 24 hours out of every day."
Receive constant
The Glengarda Ursulines must not only be capable teachers, they must also be nurses, dieticians, musicians, advisers. They even sleep in the same rooms with their charges. Some have as many as eight or 10 to care for. Every Glengarda child is made to feel the equal of every other occupant, there is no discrimination, no obvious grading, no harsh words. There is discipline, but discipline mixed with love and devotion to a cause. Glengarda is one institution that must be visited to be appreciated.
The erection of the new structure, whitch is under the personal supervision of J.C. Pennington, Windsor architect, and is being built by the Pigott Construction Company, of Hamilton, will comprise a large chapel, dining rooms, classrooms, informary, gymnasium, music rooms and community rooms. It will have concrete floors and walls of masonry. The main building will be 99 by 41 feet and will contain the administration offices and classrooms.
Three floors, basement
One wing, to the west, will house the auditorium, gymnasium and music room and will be 50 by 70 feet. The chapel wing on the eastern end of the structure will measure 28 by 75 feet. There will be three floors to the main building besides a basement. The infirmary and living quarters will take up the second and third floors.
The building will face the Detroit River at one of the most beautifull, natural scenic sections, of Riverside Drive. The trees and shrubbery of the large estate will surround it with a natural beauty that increases with the years.
The present buildings will house dormitories and living quarters for additional members of the Glengarda family.
Formerly the home of Ursuline Sisters who taught in the separate schools of the district, Glengarda has fulfilled its newer and more idealistic purpose of caring for the retarded child in a manner which has exceeded the fondest hopes of its most ardent supporters.
A cause so worthy, a plan so sacrificially carried out and a reqard so unmistakably and spiritually elevating, is sufficient reason for every Windsorite to feel proud that Glengarda was founded in Windsor, and that it has seen fit to perpetuate this branch of Ursuline training in this city.