Rensselaer Day 3

St. Joseph's College - Lourdes Grotto - Jesus in the cavern

This statue of Christ at the Garden of Gethsamen is inside a cave at the Lourdes Grotto on the St. Joseph's College Campus in Rensselaer, Indiana. It was cold today but bearable until the wind kicked up. My stay was brief thanks to my very low tolerance of cold, but St. Joseph's College is an incredible place to walk around. The Lourdes Grotto depicts one of the eighteen moments in France when St. Bernadette saw the Blessed Virgin Mary and compliments the moment with a stone archway, waterfalls and koi ponds, with an altar in the center. The grotto was built over 100 years ago by a semarian of the college. If you walk beyond the Lourdes Grotto, you begin the outdoor display of the Stations of the Cross, which are constructed on a circular path so Station 12 brings you to Station 1. There are many benches and little seating areas, everything with a dedication plate on it to remind visitors of a loved one, former student, or friend of the college. One of the stones used as a dedication stated my life motto:

St. Joseph's College - Live Laugh Love

Past the college was a small cemetery called Mt. Calvary Catholic Cemetery, hosting a humble 100, if that, devoted Catholics. The grounds took a sudden steep decline, at the top of which was a sign:

Mt. Calvary Catholic Cemetery - No Sledding sign

I have to tell you, it would be a righteous sledding hill. I'd have to imagine that those resting would appreciate that fact. At the bottom of the decline was a small area platted for additional graves which have not been occupied, yet. In the center is an etched memorial stone for St. Katherine Drexel.

The firefighters weren't "home" so I took photographs of the outside and hope the weather cooperates tomorrow so I can return to take some vehicle and firefighter shots if someone is at the firehouse then. The old Rensselaer Carnegie Library, now the Carnegie Center, was a great experience. The main floor had an exhibition from the Senior Portfolio of St. Joseph's College. The work was spectacular and they allowed photography of the pieces. I have been careful to note the artists of the works that I've photographed when posting to flickr. The lower level was the offices of the Jasper Foundation, which is a charitable organisation that helps philanthropists donate to local programs that support the community. I spoke with Executive Director Linda Reiners, who was very friendly and informative about the history of the building.

Rensselaer Carnegie Library - Andrew McKim pottery

I got some of the perspective shots of farms that my mother wanted, but I'm not sure she'll be pleased with them. I'll take more before the week is done but I hope she understands that I've done the best I can with the farms in the area.

My hotel decided to stain the coat rack and bathroom door in my room. It was a project for all the rooms, and I was assured that the smell would be minimal and I would not have to take my clothes from the room. The smell was horrible, even before they returned the door. I expect a refund for this day. She said I didn't have to take out my clothes or leave. I had left for part of the day and it was still a nauseating experience dealing with these fumes. In fact, the room still smells and I've had the window open and the bathroom fan running for hours. I can't sleep with the window open in freezing weather on the first floor of a hotel in a strange town.

Here are more shots of St. Joseph's College, the Rensselaer Carnegie Library, and the firehouse: