In August 1874, five Ursuline Sisters of Louisville boarded a flatboat on the Louisville waterfront and journeyed down the Ohio River to Owensboro. Their mission: to establish a Catholic school in western Daviess County. During its 109-year history this school, Mount Saint Joseph Academy, served hundreds of young women from across the United States and several foreign countries. With the closing of the Academy in 1983, the buildings reopened as Mount Saint Joseph Conference and Retreat Center. The Center continues to be a sponsored ministry of the Ursuline Sisters.

 

The Sisters have a great story to tell about those pioneer Ursulines — strong women who lived through many hardships. Sometimes they didn’t know where their next meal would come from. They had to deal with illness and lack of funds. They taught, took care of the buildings, fed the few animals that gave them milk and food, and constantly prayed for God to watch over them and their students.

The Sisters reenacted this early trip in 2004 in celebration of its 130th anniversary. They wore the habits of the early pioneers, ate what they ate, and slept on the boat. They tried to imagine what it must have been like to be on that first boat so long ago.

 

During the present-day journey, the Sisters shared the wonderful work of those early pioneer Sisters. Their Aug. 11-15 journey was designed to provide education about the history, life and work of the Ursuline Sisters, vocations to religious life, and the history of Kentucky during the late 18th century.

 

People living in Brandenburg and Cloverport, Ky., Tell City and Grandview, Ind., and Owensboro, Ky. — and in surrounding areas — had an added opportunity to take part in pioneer activities. The flatboat docked at these ports, allowing those on board to talk with visitors, share a meal, and spend the night.

 

The flatboat arrived in Owensboro shortly after noon on Aug. 15. From there the Sisters boarded a horse-drawn wagon, similar to the one that transported the first Ursulines, to begin the journey to the Mount. A tractor-drawn wagon driven by Bruce Blandford and his family took them the rest of the way. Bruce, the present manager of Maple Mount Farm, is a member of the fourth generation of Blandfords who have worked with the Sisters at the Mount. His great-great-grandfather, Aquilla Blandford, and his wife, Louise, brought the five pioneer Sisters their first meal of watermelon and buttermilk.

 

At the Mount, a special prayer service and celebration welcomed the Sisters. This event honored the pioneers and all the Ursuline Sisters who have given their lives in service to the people of God over the past 130 years. At a reception, guests were served watermelon and buttermilk cookies and other refreshments.

 

The Ursuline Flatboat Adventure Committee was made up of Sisters and friends of the community. The committee met monthly for a year. Committee chair was Sister Amelia Stenger. Members were Jerry and Mag Birge, Sister Elaine Burke, Gary Jarboe, Sister Annalita Lancaster, Sister Pam Mueller, Denise and Ron Payne, Sister Sharon Sullivan, Sister Suzanne Sims, Sister Rosanne Spalding, and Sister Mary Lois Speaks. Many others were working on specific activities for the event.

 

For more information, please call project chairperson
Sister Amelia Stenger at (270) 229-0200, ext. 401, or e-mail astenger@maplemount.org