We recently embarked on a special restoration project here at Gardenview Estate Bed & Breakfast, bringing new life to a cherished piece of our property’s past—the historic cement bird bath that once graced the gardens during the Dominican Sisters’ time.
This bird bath, surrounded by vibrant flowers in its heyday, had suffered damage over the years. A bee’s nest in a crack had caused a significant piece to break off. To restore it, we carefully scrubbed it, pressure washed it, and used epoxy and clamps to secure the damaged section while it dried.
During the restoration, we discovered something truly remarkable. We knew that a Mother Superior’s name was etched into the basin, but it was too worn to read clearly. Determined to uncover the mystery, I turned to the history books. Based on the length and placement of the letters, I could tell it was a 10 or 11-letter name ending in “A” with an “E” in the middle. After some research, I was thrilled to find the name Mother Bonaventura.
Mother Bonaventura Groh was a pivotal figure in the history of the convent. She was the Foundress of the convent and one of the first Dominican Sisters to arrive from Germany in 1925. Her dedication to welcoming new sisters to their new country and her contributions to the convent’s development left a lasting impact. Mother Bonaventura passed away on September 23, 1942, and was buried in the Lady of the Valley Cemetery right here on the grounds. Keep an eye out for a future blog post to learn where she & the other sisters are located now.
It’s touching to see such a personal connection to the past preserved in this simple, yet significant artifact. We’re excited to share this piece of history with our guests and honor the memory of Mother Bonaventura through this restored bird bath.
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