HISTORY
The original home was built in the late 1870s for Frederick Ayer, a prominent Lowell industrialist. This
richly decorated Second Empire style residence was designed by Boston architect S. S. Woodcock. Frederick Ayer’s
mansion reflected his power and wealth, as well as the significance of the Ayer family in Lowell. Ayer came to Lowell
in 1855 and joined his brother in his downtown patent medicine firm. Throughout his life, he added to his financial
power by making a series of successful investments. Frederick Ayer moved to Boston in 1890. Today, the former
Ayer estate stands as a lasting monument to Lowell’s rich industrial past and to the predominantly Victorian architecture
of the late 19th century.
In June 1908, the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate purchased the estate with the intention
of providing a home for orphaned children of Franco-Americans and to ensure the continuity of the French Canadian heritage.
Hence, His Eminence William Cardinal O’Connell granted Father Joseph Campeau, O.M.I., then pastor of St. Joseph (St.
Jean-Baptiste) parish, authority to proceed with the foundation of the Franco-American Orphanage.
The assistance of a French Canadian women’s religious order was deemed essential
to the fulfillment of such a project. Father Campeau then traveled to Quebec to solicit the collaboration of the Sisters
of Charity. After accepting the challenge, four Sisters arrived in Lowell on September 1, 1908, to begin the new foundation.
Transforming the “Château” into an orphanage required unceasing work since the mansion had remained vacant
for eighteen years. On October 7, four Sisters were added to the Orphanage staff. On October 15, 1908, the eight foundresses
welcomed the first sixteen orphans entrusted to their care.
In April 1909, the building became the property of a non-profit corporation
with administrative responsibilities delegated to the Sisters of Charity of Quebec. The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate
remained committed to providing spiritual support, and the Orphanage continued its contribution to the life of the parish.
In addition to the demanding task of nurturing and
educating the orphans, the Sisters visited the sick and organized “L’Oeuvre du Pain” (Bread Fund), a charitable
association to benefit the orphans. The dedication of the eight pioneer Sisters won the support of parishioners, benefactors,
and friends from the very beginning. With the collaboration and the widespread sympathy of the city’s population,
the Orphanage grew rapidly, and the need for expansion soon became evident.
In
1912, during the administration of Fr. Henri Watelle, O.M.I., and under the direction of Jean-Baptiste Morin, a contractor,
the four-story rear brick building was added to the original Ayer Mansion. The children moved into the spacious area
on February 19, 1913; the very next day, Mass was celebrated in the new chapel dedicated to the Sacred Heart. The solemn
benediction of the new Orphanage took place on June 21, 1913.
Since
its inception in 1908, the growth of the institution was prodigious. In addition to a nurturing and safe environment, the
Orphanage offered its young residents a solid spiritual and academic foundation, as well as cultural and social advantages.
Its personnel, ever sensitive to the needs of the time, soon extended its services to children of neighboring parishes and
cities. In the late 1950s, day students were admitted among the residents and received educational training, as well
as extended care options both before and after school hours.
The
years continued to bring about new community needs, and social changes necessitated a change of orientation. Thus, in
1963, the Franco-American Orphanage officially became the Franco-American School with an enrollment of both residents and
day students from kindergarten through eighth grade. In 1978, the boarding school facilities were discontinued in favor
of a totally day-student enrollment with the same quality education and extended day care option.
In the 1980s and 1990s, the enrollment continued to
increase; new programs and extra-curricular and athletic activities were added to the curriculum. In September 2004,
Franco-American School added a Pre-Kindergarten to its educational program. Also in 2004, on recommendation from the
Commission of Independent Schools, Franco-American School received membership and was granted accreditation by the New England
Association of Schools and Colleges.
Today,
the Sisters of Charity of Quebec, with the help of dedicated lay faculty and staff, continue to pursue their mission of educating
and instructing the young. Franco-American School, a private institution under the jurisdiction of the Catholic School
Office of the Boston Archdiocese, serves a diverse multi-ethnic population. As societal needs continue to change, one
thing remains constant, and that is the ever attentive response and commitment of the administration to remain faithful to
its original mission: to provide an education that promotes spiritual growth, academic excellence, social and personal
development, and prepare to its students to become authentic and responsible citizens in a world in constant evolution.
