St. Bonaventure Monastery

Established in 1883, St. Bonaventure Monastery is significant as one of a number of institutions established in the Detroit area in the late nineteenth century to serve the catholic population of Detroit, which was experiencing extremely rapid growth in the second half of the nineteenth century in Detroit. The monastery was designed to minister to the needs of the area's Catholic clergy and churches, but eventually extended its ministry to include public relief activities as well. In addition, the monastery is significant for its association with Father Solanus Casey, who was in the service of the monastery for many years and has now been nominated for sainthood. Father Casey is buried in the small monastery cemetery. This imposing monasterial complex designed by Peter Dederichs, Jr., a prominent Detroit architect, is also architecturally significant as a monumental example of Late Victorian Gothic architecture. St. Bonaventure Monastery houses a branch of the Capuchin Order. The Capuchins came into being in 1528 when a group of friars decided to return to a stricter observance of St. Francis' Rule, upon receipt of permission from Pope Clement VII. By 1632 the Capuchins numbered 17,000 members and were already working in American missions. The first Capuchin province in America was begun in 1857 when two diocesan priests from Switzerland went to Wisconsin. There they became Capuchins, built a friary and school and established a complete province of Capuchins in the Midwest. St. Bonaventure Monastery was established in 1883 when Father Bonaventure Frey visited Bishop Casper Henry Borgess of Detroit and received permission to select a site for a monastery. Just outside the eastern limits of Detroit was a piece of property called Russel's Grove, about two acres in extent, facing Mt. Elliott Cemetery. It was purchased in March 1883 for the sum of $5,000 and a temporary wooden chapel was erected on the site. Plans for a permanent structure on the site were begun immediately. The architect chosen was Peter Dederichs, Jr. The cornerstone for the present Victorian Gothic chapel was laid on July 29, 1883, by Bishop Borgess. In January of the following year the first residents moved into the east wing of the monastery. According to arrangement with Bishop Borgess, the monastery was to have no parish. The friars' duties were to care spiritually for the Mt. Elliott Cemetery, assist pastors from other churches, and help people in every way possible. The Bishop decreed that the Capuchins would, 'Therefore, depend entirely on the charity of the faithful for their subsistence.' The Third Order of St. Francis, the Franciscan's laymen's auxiliary organization, was established at St. Bonaventure on May 29, 1887. The fraternity remained dormant until 1908 when a hall was constructed next to the monastery to feed the poor. In 1939 the present hall was built and the old one became the Soup Kitchen. St. Bonaventure's is best known for its Soup Kitchen, established in 1931 under the direction of Fr. Herman Buss. The hungry are never turned away from a Capuchin monastery. In the dark days of the 1930s as many as 3,500 free meals a day were served to the poor. Even today, the destitute and unemployed are served some 300,000 meals a year. The functions of the monastery have not changed since it was established in 1883. The friars' duties still include assisting pastors from other churches and providing physically and spiritually to the needs of thousands of Detroiters.

St. Bonaventure Monastery is located two miles east of the heart of Detroit's central business district on the block bounded by Kercheval Avenue on the north, Meldrum Avenue on the east, St. Paul Avenue on the south, and Mt. Elliott Avenue on the west. The monastery faces Mt. Elliott and is directly across from Mt. Elliott Cemetery. The complex consists of three primary buildings: the Late Victorian, Gothic-Influenced monastery built between 1883 and 1913, the 1908 Soup Kitchen, and the 1939 Third Order Hall. The complex also contains a very small cemetery for the use of the Order which is included in the nomination and a 1960 mission building which is not. The L-shaped lot is approximately two acres in size. The monastery is arranged as a cloister, a quadrangle surrounded by roofed passages connecting the monastic church with the domestic parts of the monastery. Designed by Peter Dederichs, Jr., the architect of St. Mary's Church in Greektown, the monastery was executed in the Victorian Gothic style of the late nineteenth century. The monastery contains four sections: the east wing constructed in 1883; the quadrangle (including the chapel) of 1885; the south wing of 1913; and the enlarged narthex of the chapel, built in 1913. The chapel forms the northern side of the quadrangle. Reputedly, locally produced brick from a factory on Conners Creek was used in the construction of the 1883-1885 sections. Hand dressed Trenton limestone was used for the foundation and keystones. The main facade, which faces Mt. Elliott Avenue, is in three sections. The chapel facade is dominated by a slightly projecting pavilion with slender spire. Contrasting stone stringcourses and brick corbel tables along the eaves accent the monochromatic red brickwork. The main entrance to the chapel originally contained one centrally placed doorway. In 1913, a projecting narthex was added and the number of doorways increased to three. The main entrance to the monastery is marked by a steep gable. A square, three-story, tower-like structure, identified by its hipped roof with flat top and transverse gables, marks the end of the 1885 section and the beginning of the 1913 section. The fenestration is nearly identical on all sections and includes flattened Gothic arch windows ornamented with brick voussoirs and limestone keystones. The main chapel seats approximately 200 people and is executed in the Gothic Revival manner. The oak pews, choir screen, choir loft, and Stations of the Cross are original. The main altar was carved by professional wood carvers and is of oak. On the right is a statue of St. Bonaventure, a Franciscan monk who is the namesake of the Monastery, and on the left is St. Francis of Assisi. The chapel was redecorated in the 1920s. In 1926, the chapels on the sides of the interior were added; the pink, pastel leaded glass windows were installed; and the side altars were ordered from the Moeroder Company of Milwaukee. The oak side altars have St. Theresa, canonized in 1925, on the right and St. Anthony on the left. In the 1940s the interior was repainted in a similar but not identical manner. The color scheme is in pinks, greens, and blues to match the windows. The fresco behind the altar and the stenciling was executed by Von Mach, a local artist. The private friars' chapel used by the brothers is located behind the main altar wall of the public chapel. The magnificent cherry altar was carved by Brother Lucius Fuchs, a cabinetmaker and German-born member of St. Bonaventure's. The wood came from a grove found on the property. Fuchs also built the original wooden chapel which was first constructed on the site. The stained glass of the lancet windows is original. The motifs are fired onto the glass and are of Christian symbols such as the Heart of Jesus, grapes, and doves. The ceiling of the chapel was lowered twelve feet in the 1890s because of acoustical problems. The present ceiling has elaborate plaster vaulted ceilings with twelve ribs. The overall style of the interior design was said to be German Gothic, reflecting the German and Swiss origins of the monastery. The sacristy contains a large Gothic Revival vestment storage cabinet which was also built by Brother Lucius Fuchs. The cabinet is constructed of cherry which was taken from a grove on the property. The hardware is brass and is Eastlake in style. The first Third Order Hall is now the Soup Kitchen. It was constructed in 1908 and is attached to the north side of the Chapel. This small, simple, red-brick structure has a rectangular plan and symmetrical facade. The stepped gabled roof-line is trimmed with light colored stone. The current Third Order Hall is located to the north of the Soup Kitchen and was built in 1939. This red brick building has a two-and-one-half-story main block with a hipped roof and a one-and-one-half-story rear wing with a gabled roof. In keeping with the Gothic Revival style of the monastery, the building has a Gothic entrance portal and second-story window heads with flattened Gothic arches which are ornamented with brick voussoirs and limestone keystones. Limestone is also used in the lug sills, the roof trim and as a decorative accent on the portal.