Q&A with Barbara Lynn Schmitz and Jane Becker of Sisters of St. Benedict of Ferdinand
Subscriber Benefit
As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe Now
Earlier this year, Indiana Landmarks gave more than $6 million to entities focused on preserving significant places across the state. The grants helped fund many efforts including architectural assessments and historic structure repairs.
Sisters of St. Benedict in Ferdinand received a $4,000 award for a rehabilitation feasibility study on two of the Benedictine community’s buildings: the annex and Kordes Hall. Barbara Lynn Schmitz and Jane Becker spoke with Inside INdiana Business about their plans for the structures.
This interview has been edited for clarity and length.
Why did you apply for the Indiana Landmarks grant?
Becker: We were looking at our buildings in terms of which ones could be remodeled, renovated or [used for] some future ministry. Greg Sekula [Indiana Landmarks Southern Regional Office Director] walked through the buildings for us and told us what was available to help out.
The annex was built in 1905, and it’s been empty for a few years, but it’s a beautiful building. [Sekula] had a number of suggestions as he walked through there. He was able, from one of their funds, to give us the grant to help with bringing in Hafer, and they did a pretty thorough assessment and said, “Yes, it’s possible [to renovate], and this is what it would cost.”
Schmitz: There’s the historical part of the building and all the reasons why we would want to keep it, and there’s also part of our strategic plan to be able to have a good place for ministry for others who come to our campus.
What action is needed to renovate the annex?
Schmitz: Get some structural things done. The building has a lot of wood in it. Plumbing, HVAC, all those things need to be looked at. We had window air conditioners in it. We want to get rid of that. So it’s just upgrading the building to be what we need for the ministries.
Becker: You couldn’t live in or work in right now because it’s a very old building.
Schmitz: But the shell of it is beautiful.
Becker: And strong, sturdy. The front side continues the front of the monastery. It looks like all one building with an archway in between. We don’t have to lose half of the front of our building, and the back side has arches like a cloister walk, one after another. It’s a beautiful building.
They were able to break it down so that we could do the major changes, and then a group could come in and renovate a floor to meet their needs. The three floors can be treated separately. So we are on the lookout for partners as we think about what fits on the hill.
Do you have an estimate of the renovation costs?
Schmitz: Yes, it’s going to be between $4 and $5 million. That’s why we wanted to be real sure and have the evaluation done because it’s a large building and it needs repairs.
What about Kordes Hall?
Becker: They looked at that, too, and they confirmed our instincts. It was built in the 1960s, and what was built in the 1960s just doesn’t last like what was built at the turn of the century. So we will probably take that down. We need it for a few years yet while we’re taking care of other buildings.
Schmitz: Unless there’s a real need, which we’ve looked at other areas to see if there’s a need, but we haven’t found the right match yet. The building has served us well. It’s a sandstone and a concrete block building. It’s not going to have the life that the annex has.
What would have to be done to renovate Kordes Hall?
Schmitz: It’s $2 to $3 million to do it. The plumbing, the air conditioning and the structure of the building would all need to be looked at and worked on.
The annex is a much greater building and has big significance for us. If we look at the whole campus, it is this part of the south side of the campus, and it would be beautiful if we could use that.
Can you talk more about the ministries you’d like to bring into the annex?
Schmitz: We work in collaboration with a lot of the different entities in town and Dubois County. We want to be able to say, “We have this building or resource that might help you,” and bring people to the county, our retreat center and our Benedictine Hospitality Center.
We want to be able to serve this area. We’ve served the southern part of Indiana for 157 years. So we’re looking at those needs.
Becker: Both buildings have been used for education, and one has been used for retreat ministry.
What was the main benefit of the Indiana Landmarks grant?
Schmitz: It was helpful because we had the building, and we knew the obvious things, but we wanted to be sure that there wasn’t anything more that needed to be addressed.
There are things that we’ve done to preserve the building, and that’s been very helpful. Once we can look at the funding for it and also get partners for it, we’ll move forward.
What are the next steps? Are you looking to raise money for the annex renovations?
Schmitz: Probably a combination of fundraising and grants and working with different Dubois County coalitions.
Anything else you’d like to add?
Schmitz: We’ve been blessed with beautiful buildings, and they’ve worked well for us. If we could continue to have the buildings up to par and the ministries, it would be wonderful.