Old Jefferson College a River Road Masterpiece

Lloyd Sensat
Monday, May 05, 2008

OldJefferson Collegeis one of the most spectacular complex of buildings on the Great River Road. When Gov. Andre Roman signed legislation incorporating the college in 1831, he described it as an institution where our sons can complete their studies without leaving their native land to study in schools from which they would return as strangers to our manners, our customs,and above all our climate. Wisely, it was situated a four hour boatride upriver from the tempting distractions of New Orleans and classes were given in French and English. The fabulous and  legendary Valcour Aime, bought the property during the Civil War and donated it to the Marist Fathers of France, who operated it as a Catholic school until the Great Depression. The Jesuits acquired it in 1931 and converted it to a retreat house designed to turn laymen into "men of God." Several buildings have been added or updated over the years, creating an atmosphere of a small college campus but an extraordinarily beautifully well-landscaped college campus.

The architectural centerpiece of the property is the main building now called St. Mary's Hall built in 1842. The building recently underwent a $7 million renovation. It is a monumental structure with a facade of 22 giant columns, a projected pedimented portico central section, and a second floor gallery. Although the building appears to have only two stories, a third is hidden behind the massive entablature and parapet. Frances Parkinson Keyes describes it more romantically in her book: All This Is Louisiana..."There is no facade with which I am familiar that presents a more dazzling effect than this one when the sun shines on its multiple columns, or that gives such a sense of ethereality when these alternately emerge and disappear through a mist rising from the River" On each side of the great iron entrance gates are two small Greek temple porter's lodges which frame the magnificent St. Mary Hall. These buildings and the old rectory or "Priest House" to the left were built in 1836. All are architectural gems. The architectural historian, Sam Wilson suggest that Joseph Pilie designed these buildings, given that he probably was resposible for Oak Alley then under construction at the same time across the River. In the rear are several supplementary buildings and an exquisite Gothic church which Sam Wilson attributes to James Gallier, Jr.  Now as Manresa House of Retreats, it is the closes thing to heaven on the great River Road. For me, it has always been one of those magic Louisiana places.

Up the road from Jefferson College was St. Michael's Convent founded by the Sacred Heart nuns. Here the daughters of the wealthy planter received their education. It was equally as impressive architecturally as Jefferson College.  Unfortunately, like so many of our River Road landmarks, it was abondoned and was ultimately demolished. A solitary palm tree now marks the site.

Manresa was built in 1830 as Jefferson College, a private school for the sons of plantation owners.
A wealthy landowner, Valcour Aime, bought the property during the Civil War and donated it to the Marist Fathers of France, who operated it as a Catholic school until the Great Depression. The Jesuits acquired it in 1931 and converted it to a retreat house designed to turn laymen into "men of God." (Since 1958, The Cenacle Retreat House in Metairie has pursued the same mission for women.)
Several buildings have been added or updated over the years, creating an atmosphere that is less that of a church and more that of a small college campus -- an extraordinarily well-landscaped college campus. The architectural centerpiece of the property is a dormitory: St. Mary's Hall, a former classroom building that recently underwent a $7 million renovation.