The date which marks Kilbreda’s birthday as a school, 8 August, falls next week. 121 years ago this week, the Sisters had arrived in town and were busy cleaning the place up in time for the blessing and opening. I imagine they would have been helped by local parishioners and there is some conjecture about their activities at this time. One report suggests that the sisters had slept in tents in the grounds and another that they had stayed at the nearby hotel.

I’m not sure why they would sleep in tents, when, having purchased the Coffee Palace fully furnished, there would have been 26 bedrooms to accommodate them! I could believe they may have stayed at least one night on arrival in Mentone at the hotel, as, despite the previous argument, they could settle into Mentone, staying at the hotel, which, while not far away, would provide meals, enabling them to concentrate on the task at hand. This would have provided Sr Michael Shea with time to prepare her kitchens for use.

Linked to this is an urban myth which surfaces from time to time that there is a tunnel which runs from the hotel to the Coffee Palace, through which the Sisters would travel without resorting to the street in public. Given that the two businesses had been in opposition only months before, why on earth would anyone spend considerable money creating such a tunnel!

During my history tours each year with the Year 7s, I am often asked if the building is haunted. While I don’t believe it is, I do point out that a number people have died in the staffroom area of the school, including Mother Benedict Moore in November 1913 and Mother Winifride Nihill in 1967. This often comes as a surprise to the students but is quite logical considering that many people died in their own homes in the past and that this building had been home to the Sisters for nearly 80 years.

Damian Smith

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