St. Ann's Orphanage Worcester, Mount St. Ann, Youville House, Anne

den Rule Agency teaching the golden rule. (The Golden Rule - Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.) It initially served the Franco-American community, housing as much as 250 children. Orphaned children lived there until they became adults unless they found adoptive homes. Illness of a parent meant temporary boarding with possible return to the family. By the 1970’s most of the children were temporary residents who came from troubled homes. They were returned to their homes or placed in foster care. Later residents were families needing shelter. The Youville House provided shelter for the homeless and people with addiction. Aug. 8, 1889 - Father Brouillet, pastor of Notre Dame Church, opened 96 Southgate Street as the South Worcester Orphanage and parochial school for about 25-30 boys and girls. He invited the ‘Sisters of St. Francis of Assissi’ to take charge.

1889 - Sister Victoria Bessette, at age of three, and her three sisters became one of the first children to go to the orphanage. She was also the first resident to become a Grey Nun.

1890s – Issues between the chaplain, Fr. Charles Zotique Durocher, the oblate sisters, and Fr. Brouillet created news headlines across Worcester, all leading to the removal of Fr. Durocher and the sisters. Jan. 31, 1891 - At the request of Father Brouillet, sisters from the Grey Nuns of Montreal (The Sisters of Charity) were sent to take charge of the orphanage. The population of the orphans quickly grew to 50.

1892-04-28 - The Deed signed to the St. Ann’s French-Canadian Orphanage – The Grey Nuns purchased Ellsworth Farm located at 133 Granite Street which comprised of a house and a barn with approximately 147-160 acres. At the cost of $15,000, a four-story wooden structure was quickly built. January 30, 1893 - The three founding Grey Nuns, led by Mother Anna Piche, Superior, and 10 more missionaries moved into the new wooden structure along with the 50 or so children. Fourteen acres were utilized for farming. Still very poor, everyone worked the farm, tended the animals, made cloths, etc. They produced vegetables, poultry, dairy products, and pigs. Reverend Mother Anna Piche. From the onset the spelling of St. Anne and St. Ann would be interchanged. Saint Anne is also known as Saint Ann and Saint Anna, hence to confusion.

1904 - Mrs. Wood, was so moved by the work of the children and the Grey Nuns that she, upon her passing, gifted her home with the stipulation it be used for religious purposes only. The house was moved and attached to the 4-story wooden structure. An 1893 and a 1904 picture show the before and after buildings. It served as a dormitory for the sisters. The Grey nuns also build their own chapel in the building.

1920 - The barn burned down, causing a loss of $16,500 and stored documents. The barn was quickly rebuilt since it was an integral part of the farm.

1923 – The Board of Public Safety declared the top floor of the 4-story wooden structure unsafe as a residence in which to house the children. $160,000 was borrowed from and a large four story brick dormitory was built behind the older wooden buildings with accommodations for up to 250 children. A bridge corridor connected the new and older buildings. The older buildings continued to be used as a school, chapel, kitchen and dining room.

1923 – The orphanage became a member of the Community Chest and started receiving funds through the annual Golden Rule Drive. The Orphans Friend Society, known in French as “Ami de l’Orphelin” established in 1922 along with other benefactors also helped keep the doors of St. Anne’s Orphanage open during these hard times. December 27, 1939 – Fire started in the first floor rubbish shoot and spread up the shaft mushrooming onto the fourth floor. Most of the 200 children were visiting with family or friends for the holidays. The remaining children were in the brick building dormitories. It has been reported that historical documents may have been lost during this fire but there are no supporting documents to this claim.

1941 - The orphanage observed its 50th anniversary. This is well documented in photos and local newspapers. The founding Mother, Anna Piche, attended the week long celebrations which coincided with her 80th birthday.

1941 - L’Ami des Orphelins Society (The Friends of Orphans Society) gifted land and the “Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes and St. Bernadette” to St. Anne’s Orphanage. It is still located across from 133 Granite Street facing the orphanage. The grotto was once reputed to be one of the most beautiful Lourdes’ shrines in New England and was a popular devotional center for Worcester Catholics. March 29, 1942 - A four foot deep, 75 foot circular pool was built by funds raised by the Harmony Club at a cost of about $6,000. The pool was set on a plot 350 by 200 feet. The land was graded and shrubbery aligned the walkway. A cement walk, eight feet wide surrounded the pool, on which children would roller skate when there is no bathing. Early 1951 - The provincial administration headquarters of the Grey Nuns in the U.S, moved to St. Anne’s Orphanage, Worcester. Sept. 16, 1951 – At a large ceremony four new play fields were dedicated by the Harmony Club of Worcester.

1950’s – The type of children residing at St. Anne’s began to change. The true ‘orphan’ turned to single parent boarders, then to plain unwanted and rejected children. The farm could no longer maintain itself with pigs and chickens. To keep up with the costs St. Anne’s gladly took in these boarders for a fee. The sisters felt caring for them would be preferable to the home situation.

1957 – Discussions were held about institutions like St. Anne’s. “The institution is a panacea.” To, “The institution is a monster.” To the middle-ground, “It is useful in certain circumstances.” A survey of agencies in Worcester recommended that the administration “must move to transform St. Ann’s into an institution in which both charity and sound concepts of child care are present.”

1959 –New concepts and approaches in child care were implemented. The number of children was sharply reduced. This was a milestone in that it re-focused the total program of St. The sisters were educated in the institutional child-care approach.

1963 - Unsafe and unhealthy conditions forced the wrecking of the main building and buildings on the south side, including the barn and stable. The kitchen, dining areas, chapel, and the administration operation were moved to the renovated brick building. December 21, 1963 - A steam pipe located above the boiler and too close to the ceiling created a fire in the furnace room of the brick building. The fire soon spread to a first floor room in the rear of the building destroying Christmas Gifts for the 37 children presently living there. May 16, 1966 - The name St. Anne’s Orphanage was changed to Mount St. Ann to eliminate the “orphanage” tag. The institution is no longer an “orphanage” but a temporary residence for children from troubled homes. Classes are no longer held in the building and the sisters and youngsters no longer converse in French. Dec. 31, 1966 - Sister Marie Doucette, S.G.M., Superior, told the board in her report that 10,727 children and infants had been cared for. Plans were made to tear down all the buildings, some dating back 75 years. Age brought with it unsafe and unhealthy conditions. In effect, the buildings had been condemned. April 8, 1967 - Before St. Anne’s Orphanage was razed a Final Reunion of 200-300 former residents was held. August 1968 - The 25 children living at the home were moved to the former Newman House of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Worcester at 201 Salisbury Street. Most of the home’s staff was moved to a smaller diocese owned building on Ward Street.

1968 - Demolition of the 1923 built, outmoded brick dormitory building was completed in the summer. Shortly afterwards the remaining buildings were torn down. Oct. 16, 1968 - Groundbreaking ceremony for the new Mount St. Ann administration building and five cottages. April 13, 1970 - The Grey Nuns and their charges moved into the new Mount St. Ann cottages. The official dedication was held on May 1, 1970. February, 1979 - A report on Mount St. Ann noted that since 1970 the nuns had been stretched in all capacities and felt they could no longer maintain a long term presence. April 3, 1979 - The Diocese of Worcester assumed ownership and took over operation. Jan. 15, 1983 - Diocese Closed Mount St. Ann due to underutilization.

1983 - Mount St. Ann became the Christian Charities of Worcester Youville House
The cottages housed residents of the Catholic Charities’ half-way program, families needing shelter and the office of the Diocesan Coalition for Peace and Justice.

1987 - The Grey Nuns cleaned out their possessions from their rented three-decker apartment on Chrome Street and bid good-bye to Worcester.

1990 - Called the "Mother of Universal Charity”, the founder of the Grey Nuns of Montreal, Marguerite d’Youville was canonized by Pope John-Paul II.

2015 - As we visit the site at 133 Granite Street we get a feeling of sadness and loss for the place we used to call home. We may have lived there for a week, a month, a year or two, or even until we passed on to adulthood. It was our home. Now the pool area and playgrounds belongs to a private child care pre-school facility. The buildings of Mount St. Ann are falling prey to the weather and neglect and are scheduled to be demolished. And the Grotto across the street hasn’t seen kindness in many a year. It appears that as we grow older and lose the beauty of our youth, so does the home of our youth. At least we can share our memories.