Fire led to ever-lasting bond with commununity
For more than a century, Mount Carmel has overlooked the falls from its perch between Stanley Avenue and Portage Road.
On the picturesque 12-acre property is an elegant chapel, which 50 years ago today was devastated by a fire that destroyed a portion of the building.
But out of the tragedy came a bond between the Carmelites — a Roman Catholic religious order — and the community that is as strong as ever.
The residents of Niagara Falls housed, fed and clothed otherwise homeless students.
“As I understand it, even before the fire was put out, people were showing up at Loretto Academy to start bringing food in, and clothes, and also to offer to house the students,” said William Harry, chairman of the board of trustees for the Monastery of Mount Carmel.
“There were probably about 100 students and maybe 20 priests and brothers there. They were loading up students in the cars, and the students have fond memories of that. Many of them have stayed in touch with those people over the years. They’re almost like family.”
According to the Mount Carmel website, the Carmelites came to Niagara Falls in 1875.
The first residence was a simple farm house on the side of the escarpment across from the Shrine of Our Lady of Peace, overlooking Niagara Falls.
The building was demolished around 1935 to make way for Portage Road.
Construction of the present monastery building began in 1894, as a training centre for young Carmelites.
The original purpose was to serve as a hospice and retreat centre.
In 1920, because of a decrease in interest for the hospice and an increase in vocations to the Carmelites, the building became known as Mount Carmel College Seminary.
In 1926, the chapel, the present building and gymnasium were added.
A convent was built in 1933 to house the Carmelite Sisters who worked in the seminary.
This building is presently called Avila Hall and is used for small group retreats.
In 1966, the Gervase Toelle Memorial Library building was erected.
The building housed an expanded library for the seminary and four additional classrooms.
On Nov. 25, 1967, a fire destroyed the north wing, as well as a good portion of the chapel roof and interior ceiling.
The fire had a tremendous impact. A fund was created, as there was a fear the chapel was going to be lost.
“There’s a letter from the province about three or four days after the fire where they had meetings, and it was the gamut of completely leave the place, fix it up the way it was, or something in between — even building another structure on the property to house the students,” said Harry.
“Half of the student accommodations were ruined, and I think all but two or three of the priests rooms were ruined.”
According to an online documentary about the fire at the Mount Carmel monastery, the remaining students were moved, along with their strong study habits, from the smaller seminary college in Niagara Falls to Marquette University, a major Catholic school in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
The north wing of the facility in Niagara Falls was modified, and the chapel restored to its present condition.
In 1979, the seminary was closed and the monastery returned to its original purpose as a retreat house.
It’s now called Mount Carmel Spiritual Centre, and serves the spiritual needs of Niagara residents and beyond.
Harry said no cause for the fire was ever determined.
“They thought it might be electrical,” he said.
“We spent a considerable amount of money fixing it up, inside and out.”
Harry said a plaque was erected in the foyer to recognize, and thank, Niagara residents for their “communal efforts” to help the Carmlites get back on their feet.
Forever grateful for the community’s support, the Carmelites continue to invite the public to visit the chapel and walk the labryinth.
“It’s actually gone back to its original purpose, which was to become a spiritual centre — they called it a hospice at that time, hospice today means something else, but at that time a hospice meant a place where you would go and rest and kind of rejuvenate, and it was also supposed to be a retirement residence for priests.”
City historian Sherman Zavitz said the chapel was and continues to be a “genuine landmark.”
He said he recalls reading about the fire at the time, and “feeling very sad that such a fate had befallen the place.”
“The community was solidly behind the faculty and students, and, of course, it was hoped that it wouldn’t cause the closure of the institution, that it would be able to carry on somehow and, of course, it did.”
Zavitz said he was happy when the decision was made to repair the chapel, which he describes as “so lovely.”
“It is just a masterpiece, and sort of a hidden gem, I guess you might say, to many people in Niagara Falls who I don’t think are aware of it, or at least maybe aware of it, but have never actually seen it. It was restored beautifully, and they carried on.”
Sunlight passing through the circular stained-glass window at the front of the chapel turns its interior into a kaleidoscope of colours.
At sunset, the rose window becomes a ball of fire.
Harry said the centre, which offers hospitality and conference facilities to many groups, has bookings up until 2027.
“We tried to have a meeting there, and you have to get at least two or three years in advance, so it’s very much in demand.”
Harry said the chapel itself has, and continues to be, a popular spot for tourists.
“I think it’s one of the most beautiful places that I have seen in the world.”