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== History ==
Saint Emma Military Academy <ref>{{cite web |title=A look at the forgotten history of St. Emma's Military Academy and its legacy | website=[[YouTube]] |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YA3rtfA3gZM |language=en}}</ref> (1895-1972) and its sister school, Saint Francis de Sales High School (1896-1970) began with the pioneering spirit of two Philadelphia philanthropists. Louise Drexel Morrell, along with her husband (Edward) and her sister Saint Katharine Drexel<ref>{{cite web |title=Saint Katharine Drexel {{!}} Biography, Facts, & Miracles {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Katharine-Drexel |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref> dedicated valuable time and commitment to the effort of establishing these two incredible institutions of education.
Mrs. Morrell and her sister, Saint Katharine were from a well-to-do Roman Catholic family. Edward Morrell (1858 – 1917), also from a wealthy family, collaborated with the sisters to provide financial stability for the founding of the two schools. Katharine Drexel (1858-1955) was canonized by Pope John Paul II in a ceremony on 10/01/2000.<ref>{{cite web |title=Canonization |url=https://www.katharinedrexel.org/st_katharine_drexel_overview/canonization-2/ |website=Sisters Of The Blessed Sacrament}}</ref> This ceremony marked the official declaration of her sainthood. She is one of only two American-born Saints.
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Revision as of 10:17, 23 January 2024
- Comment: Please convert the provided references to inline citations. External links should not exist in the body of the article and should be converted to citations. ~Liancetalk 21:35, 13 December 2023 (UTC)
History
Saint Emma Military Academy [1] (1895-1972) and its sister school, Saint Francis de Sales High School (1896-1970) began with the pioneering spirit of two Philadelphia philanthropists. Louise Drexel Morrell, along with her husband (Edward) and her sister Saint Katharine Drexel[2] dedicated valuable time and commitment to the effort of establishing these two incredible institutions of education.
Mrs. Morrell and her sister, Saint Katharine were from a well-to-do Roman Catholic family. Edward Morrell (1858 – 1917), also from a wealthy family, collaborated with the sisters to provide financial stability for the founding of the two schools. Katharine Drexel (1858-1955) was canonized by Pope John Paul II in a ceremony on 10/01/2000.[3] This ceremony marked the official declaration of her sainthood. She is one of only two American-born Saints.
Saint Emma Military Academy and Saint Francis de Sales High School were built on the property of a Confederate General. The property was passed on through the hands of his descendants and others until the Drexel / Morrells family purchased it in 1895.
This property, located in Powhatan, Virginia, was called Belmead[4], and it had a commanding view of the James River below with streams and deep woods surrounding them. The first construction was done by enslaved people, but the remaining buildings were built by cadets, and then by paid contractors. The stone and lumber came from the property. The Castle, as the main building at St. Francis was called, and St. Emma’s main building were built of clay from neighboring Rock Castle, Va.
St. Emma Military Academy was the Nation’s only Black military academy in continuous operation for over 77 years. St. Emma shaped over 10,000 young men with more than just practical skills. These men graduated with military diplomas, trade diplomas, as well as academic diplomas. Over 5,000 young women, held to high academic and vocational standards, graduated from Saint Frances de Sales. These institutions[5] educated and prepared young adults to be productive and influential contributors to society. Unfortunately, both schools were closed due to declining enrollment and the advancement of integration, among other things.
The story of these two schools, their founders, and their students are very important, intriguing parts of African American history which should never be forgotten. The Rock Castle Group is a foundation dedicated to preserving the legacy of St. Emma Military Academy and St. Francis De Sales High School.
References
- ^ "A look at the forgotten history of St. Emma's Military Academy and its legacy". YouTube.
- ^ "Saint Katharine Drexel | Biography, Facts, & Miracles | Britannica". www.britannica.com.
- ^ "Canonization". Sisters Of The Blessed Sacrament.
- ^ "Belmead-on-the-James | National Trust for Historic Preservation". savingplaces.org.
- ^ Zuber, David (27 February 2022). "St. Frances de Sales School (1896-1970); St. Emma Military Academy (1899-1972) •".