History of the St. Scholastica Motherhouses
Benedictine Sisters, St. Scholastica Monastery, Fort Smith, Arkansas
The history of St. Scholastica Monastery’s motherhouses reflects how the community grew and its ministries evolved.
St. Scholastica Monastery’s first building in Shoal Creek, Arkansas, was a log cabin constructed during the years of 1878-1879 with funds provided by the railroad company. As both the number of Benedictine Sisters and students attending the school grew, the log cabin became a quadrangular building. The first addition was made in 1883 for a cost of $600, and the second section in 1890 for a cost of $1,600. Two more sections were added in 1898 to complete the quadrangle, for an unknown cost.
After the decision was made to move the convent and school to Fort Smith, Arkansas, the need for a second motherhouse arose. Construction ran from 1923 to 1924 on the South Wing of the first monastery in Fort Smith, for a cost of $188,785. Construction on the Chapel Wing began in 1928 and ended in 1929, with the cost totaling $187,085.
Again adapting to the needs of the time, a new motherhouse on the property in Fort Smith was designed. The current monastery building was constructed in 2017- 2018. The cost of this much smaller, but more efficient and eco-friendly third motherhouse cost $7,243,760.
