In March 1946, Monsignor John Hawes commenced working on St Augustine’s College, Monastery and Church at Fox Hill, New Providence. Hawes, an architect, originally designed a typical monastery built around an internal quadrangle. However, he soon realised that the contingencies of the site required a different approach which he described as “serpentine.”
Construction of St Augustine’s College and the monastery commenced on April 12, 1946, with the foundation stone laid by the Auxiliary Bishop of New York, the Most Rev Stephen Donahue on July 11, 1946. The first stages of the college and monastery were completed in eleven months and consisted of two 160 foot long blocks.
The College and Monastery were blessed by the Lord Abbot the Right Rev Alcuin Deutsch on March 11, 1947.
Hawes sketched the design for several other associated buildings including a Sister’s Convent, a college assembly hall, a guest house and a technical school, as well as a laundry and garages. In March 1947, Hawes laid the foundations of the two west towers of the future monastery church that was never completed. In 1949 -50 Hawes continued work on the foundations and crypt of the monastery church, building and decorating ten altars and their retablos in typical Hawes style.
Postcards
1958 – Colorcraft Studios (34900 Series)
1960 – Eston-Colorcraft Corp (34900 Series)
1964 – Dexter Press Inc (DT-88900-B Series – Type A)
