D'Evereux Hall, Natchez, Mississippi
D'Evereux Hall covered in a blanket of light snow
circa 1954
When, finally, the horrors of war ceased, and peace returned to our country, Bishop Elder immediately took up the matter of getting the Brothers of the Sacred Heart to come to Natchez to teach the boys' school and to take charge of D'Evereux Hall Orphanage. And, in October, 1865, Natchez had the happiness of seeing the arrival of a group of these Brothers, the Superior being Brother Florimond.
Cradle Days of St. Mary's at Natchez –Rev. R.O. Gerow
Brothers of the Sacred Heart at D'Evereux Hall
Brother Andre
Brother Julius
Brother Edgar
Brother Florian
Brother Pascal
"This ardent desire of Jesus can only inflame our hearts and excite our zeal. Thus our love for our brothers and the young people entrusted to us, then, radiates from the love that Jesus has for us."
Rule of Life 118
Photos from St. Mary Basilica Archives
Brother Henry on the left... his dog lying on the steps.
Brothers dining room
L–R Brother Edgar, Bishop Gerow, Brother Aquinas, Brother Florian and Brother Henry standing.
Brother Henry raises cows and milks them everyday for the milk needed for D'Evereux Hall, St. Mary's Orphanage and the Protestant Orphanage
L–R Brother Edgar, Bishop Gerow, Brother Aquinas, Brother Florian and Brother Henry standing.
Brother Henry raises cows and milks them everyday for the milk needed for D'Evereux Hall, St. Mary's Orphanage and the Protestant Orphanage
Front facade of D'Evereux Hall
Bishop Richard Oliver Gerow celebrating mass in D'Evereux Hall Chapel
James Shaidnagle (foreground) and his brother Donald Shaidnagle are altar servers.
James Shaidnagle (foreground) and his brother Donald Shaidnagle are altar servers.
James Shaidnagle is a parishioner of St. Mary Basilica
September 9, 2010
West facade of D'Evereux Hall
1946 Group of D'Evereux Hall Boys & Brothers
Top row– Brother Lambert, Zek Bonura Brother Christopher, Brother Henry, Jack Neece, Robert Dix
Second row– Dan McDonald, Oswald Reddin, Ferd. Green, Bill McDonald, William O'Connell, James Schwindlin, Louis D'Angelo, Dilling Langston, Joe McDonald, Charles Miller
Third row– (Coudy) Robert Adamo, Roger Smith, Ray Partridge, Charles Partridge, John Quinlan, Shelton Silvester, Billy McCabe
Top row– Brother Lambert, Zek Bonura Brother Christopher, Brother Henry, Jack Neece, Robert Dix
Second row– Dan McDonald, Oswald Reddin, Ferd. Green, Bill McDonald, William O'Connell, James Schwindlin, Louis D'Angelo, Dilling Langston, Joe McDonald, Charles Miller
Third row– (Coudy) Robert Adamo, Roger Smith, Ray Partridge, Charles Partridge, John Quinlan, Shelton Silvester, Billy McCabe
Names are as listed on back of photo
Playing in the snow
D'Evereux Hall boys
This photo was taken in the Bishops office, in the St. Mary Cathedral rectory.
Photograph compliments of Charles Partridge, a resident of D'Evereux Hall from 1941–1953
The photo has a hand written caption to Brother Florian by Bishop Gerow… View photo & caption
Photograph compliments of Charles Partridge, a resident of D'Evereux Hall from 1941–1953
The photo has a hand written caption to Brother Florian by Bishop Gerow… View photo & caption
“The Life of A Boy in D’Evereux Hall Orphanage”
By Charles A. Partridge
5.am: Wake up, go brush teeth, wash up and get ready to walk to St. Mary’s Cathedral.
6.am: Serve mass 365 days a year (rain, sleet, snow or whatever).
6.30 or 6.40: Walk back to D’Evereux to eat breakfast, usually oatmeal or cream of wheat except Sunday, then, it was cereal (like corn flakes).
[Also, served Benediction every Sunday at 5:00 p.m.]
After breakfast get ready for school--walk to school across from Cathedral Church down town. After school walk back to D’Evereux Hall change clothes from school. (2) sets of clothes: church, school and play. (1) pr. shoes. Do chores like milking cows, feeding chickens or hogs, get hay from hay loft give to cows. Furnished milk for D’Evereux Hall and St. Mary’s for girls.
Snack after school was white bread with syrup poured on it--it was good. After chores get ready for study hall and prayers.
Go to supper, after supper, play till dark, then get ready for bed after showers.
Boys did all chores, washing pots and pans and dishes. Cleaned every room and dusted furniture. Separated clothes for laundry. When laundry came back, folded and separated clothes and put in proper box with boy’s number on it. Also, worked bees with Bro. Henry and his dog, Duke. Everybody loved Duke. We also made sour-kraut from cabbage--can’t forget that smell. Also had PeeWee Football Team called “Red Raiders”. We were tough.
Bro. Henry sold tomato plants. Summer time was time for sure enough work, get garden ready, cut and put hay in hay barn with pitch fork off trailer. Milked cows, cut grass, raked leaves, painted whatever needed to be done. We went to St. Mary’s Orphanage a lot. We were like brothers and sisters. Brothers (of Sacred Heart), and Sisters (of Charity) were the back-bone of both homes--like fathers and mothers. I loved Sisters at St. Mary’s and Cathedral School as parent figure.
God was good to me. (He) kept me strong physically and also spiritually. I got my education--not only books but life itself.
People that speak evil about Priests and religious don’t know the sacrifice that they go through to help people. God Bless the Priests, Brothers and Sisters at D’Evereux Hall, St. Mary’s Cathedral and St. Mary’s Basilica.
By Charles A. Partridge. (Vidalia, Louisiana.) (Composed in April 2008, for St. Mary Basilica Archives, Natchez)
By Charles A. Partridge
5.am: Wake up, go brush teeth, wash up and get ready to walk to St. Mary’s Cathedral.
6.am: Serve mass 365 days a year (rain, sleet, snow or whatever).
6.30 or 6.40: Walk back to D’Evereux to eat breakfast, usually oatmeal or cream of wheat except Sunday, then, it was cereal (like corn flakes).
[Also, served Benediction every Sunday at 5:00 p.m.]
After breakfast get ready for school--walk to school across from Cathedral Church down town. After school walk back to D’Evereux Hall change clothes from school. (2) sets of clothes: church, school and play. (1) pr. shoes. Do chores like milking cows, feeding chickens or hogs, get hay from hay loft give to cows. Furnished milk for D’Evereux Hall and St. Mary’s for girls.
Snack after school was white bread with syrup poured on it--it was good. After chores get ready for study hall and prayers.
Go to supper, after supper, play till dark, then get ready for bed after showers.
Boys did all chores, washing pots and pans and dishes. Cleaned every room and dusted furniture. Separated clothes for laundry. When laundry came back, folded and separated clothes and put in proper box with boy’s number on it. Also, worked bees with Bro. Henry and his dog, Duke. Everybody loved Duke. We also made sour-kraut from cabbage--can’t forget that smell. Also had PeeWee Football Team called “Red Raiders”. We were tough.
Bro. Henry sold tomato plants. Summer time was time for sure enough work, get garden ready, cut and put hay in hay barn with pitch fork off trailer. Milked cows, cut grass, raked leaves, painted whatever needed to be done. We went to St. Mary’s Orphanage a lot. We were like brothers and sisters. Brothers (of Sacred Heart), and Sisters (of Charity) were the back-bone of both homes--like fathers and mothers. I loved Sisters at St. Mary’s and Cathedral School as parent figure.
God was good to me. (He) kept me strong physically and also spiritually. I got my education--not only books but life itself.
People that speak evil about Priests and religious don’t know the sacrifice that they go through to help people. God Bless the Priests, Brothers and Sisters at D’Evereux Hall, St. Mary’s Cathedral and St. Mary’s Basilica.
By Charles A. Partridge. (Vidalia, Louisiana.) (Composed in April 2008, for St. Mary Basilica Archives, Natchez)
Photos from St. Mary Basilica Archives
Captions are from back of photos
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Photograph from the St. Mary Basilica Archives
