• Home
  • Sign Up
  • The Walk Talk
  • Home
  • Sign Up
  • The Walk Talk
Walking Lake Pepin

The Walk Talk

WLP group event at the Villa Maria drew 32 walkers

7/26/2022

0 Comments

 
The Walking Lake Pepin (WLP) group walkers met at the Villa Maria in Frontenac on July 20 for a walk around the beautiful grounds of this historic space. Pernille Flesche and Margaret Peterson, Lake City day students who both attended and graduated from the Villa Maria, joined the group and were able to share their memories of their time at the Villa Maria.
The Ursuline Sisters, who established the Villa Maria Academy in 1891, a girl’s boarding school, the outgrowth of a girl’s school the sisters established in nearby Lake City in 1880, three years after their arrival to the area.
The Villa Maria Academy closed abruptly after a fire caused by a lightning strike burned down the three-story classroom building on March 20, 1969.
After the academy closed, the Ursulines established an ecumenical retreat center on the property in 1970. For 45 years, Villa Maria remained an interfaith retreat and conference center sponsored by the Ursuline Sisters to help people, organizations and groups in their spiritual and personal growth.
The main building on the property, Marin Hall built in 1946 by the Sisters in the style of historic French Country Chateaus is being renovated as an event center with lodging rooms and suites expected to be available in 2023.
Walkers hiked to the back of the property visiting the dining hall and camping cabins that were used for summer campers.
Pernille Flesche and Margaret Peterson spoke of the excellent education they received from the nuns, the opportunity to meet girls from around the world who were boarding students and great memories of their school experiences such as prom.
The WLP group will meet next week, Wednesday, July 27, at 6:30 at the wayside rest just off Wabasha County Rd 2. The group will hike the Sand Point Trail to Lake Pepin. This is a trail the group does every year, one of the groups favorite hikes. Bring water, walking poles if needed and bug spray. Questions? Call Patty Svien 345-4383.


0
People reached
0
Engagements
–
Distribution score
Boost post
Like
Comment
Share
Picture
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    I'm Patty Svien and I started Walking Lake Pepin as a part of my Graduate studies in 2008.  This is the 13th year that our grassroots committee has promoted this event to raise awareness of the health benefits of walking.  We hope you join us again this year or sign up for the first time and enjoy the beautiful surrounding of Lake City as you commit to Active Living and a healthy lifestyle.

    Archives

    October 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    August 2021
    July 2021
    May 2021
    March 2021
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    August 2019
    July 2019
    May 2019
    August 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    June 2017
    May 2017
    June 2016
    May 2016
    August 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    July 2014
    May 2014
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    July 2012
    June 2012
    July 2011
    June 2011
    April 2011

    Categories

    All
    Blog

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.