Exploring the Shrines and Sunken Gardens at Mount Assisi
Recently Country Fox explored the Shrines and Sunken Gardens at Mount Assisi. The Gardens are located in Loretto, adjacent to St. Francis University. Quiet and peaceful, the gardens are worth a visit.
Way Back When
In the beginning, the Gardens were located on the Schwab Estate. Charles M Schwab has a fascinating history. Born in 1862, during the American Civil War, he was raised in Loretto. He graduated from St. Francis University in 1877.
He began working as an engineer in Andrew Carnegie’s steelworks. Schwab was bright and hard working. He rose through the ranks quickly. At the age of 35 he became president of the Carnegie Steel Company. After aiding in the secret sale of Carnegie Steel to a New York based group, he became the first president of the United States Steel Corporation. He left the USS in 1903 to run the Bethlehem Shipbuilding and Steel Company.
Under the guidance of Schwab and Eugene Grace, Bethlehem Steel became the largest independent steel producer in the world. Part of their large success was due to the creation of the H beam. This revolutionized building construction and was a large contribution to the age of the skyscraper.
During World War I, Schwab circumvented American neutrality laws by funneling products through Canada. Thus, Bethlehem Steel had a virtual monopoly on contracts supplying the Allies with certain kinds of munitions. Thomas Edison once referred to Schwab as the “master hustler” due to his highly controversial risk taking.
A Summer Home
Schwab’s main home was located in New York City. There he built “Riverside”, a $7 million 75-room house. The house was left to the City upon his death. It was destroyed in 1948 and turned into a block of apartments.
While Schwab loved his city home, he longed for a place in the country. He chose Loretto, the place he was raised. He purchased 1000 acres in Loretto and commissioned the building of the “Immergrun” estate. This estate consisted of a modest house, only 44 rooms, an expansive garden with waterfalls, and a golf course. Construction was completed in 1919. Immergrun means “evergreen” in German, Schwab’s familial roots. Schwab’s “fast lane” lifestyle caused many dramas in his life. Affairs, out-of-wedlock children, opulent parties and high stakes gambling at Monte Carlo put a strain on his finances. The Stock Market Crash of 1929 cleaned him out. He died penniless and in debt in September of 1939. Initially he was interred in New York, but his remains were moved in April 1940 to St. Michael Catholic Church Cemetery in Loretto.
Thankfully, the Schwab Estate in Loretto was sold upon his death. It was purchased by the Friends of St. Francis College in 1942. It is currently home to the Franciscan Friars, Third Order Regular. Understandably, the mansion is off limits to visitors. The Immergrun Golf Course still exists. Now owned by St. Francis University, this demanding short course is available to the public.
The Shrines and Sunken Gardens at Mount Assisi Today
While the Immergrun House or “Limestone Castle” as it is also called, is off limits to visitors, the Shrines and Gardens are open. They are free to enter and open seven days a week from dawn until dusk.
The Gardens sit on 3.5 acres of land. They are “sunken” into a symmetrical, rectangular shape below the Limestone Castle. On each end is a vine covered semi-circle. Visitors can view or contemplate the Stations of the Cross here.
On the far end of the gardens can be found the Rock Garden. Step through the wall of the Stations of the Cross and into a small rock garden. Hosta plants and other native vegetation thrive here amongst the boulders. In the center is a statue of the Archangel Michael defeating Lucifer.
There is a waterfall that cascades down the hill from the Limestone Castle to the gardens. This waterfall ends in three reflecting pools. I’m not sure if the waterfall is currently in operation, it wasn’t working during our visits to the gardens.
There are several beautiful statues in the gardens as well. For those who want to sit and contemplate or just take in the beautiful surroundings, there is plenty of seating.
Two Shrines located on the garden grounds. One is the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima which was added in 1950. The second is the Shrine of Our Lady of Loretto Holy House. Both are small but well kept.
The Gardens are easy to find via Google Maps. The address is 131 St. Francis Drive, Loretto, PA 15940. If you’re interested in seeing the Mausoleum of Charles M. Schwab, head across town to the St. Michael the Archangel Cemetery, 357 St Mary St, Loretto, PA 15940. I will be covering more places to visit in Loretto in future posts. Stay tuned to see what all is available for visitors.
