
The south portion of this institution was designed by F. D. Hyde in 1879 as a private residence for Jesse D. Farley, who controlled river shipping and railroad interests. The house was a good-sized brick two-story building with a mansard roof, and was a French Second Empire design. Because of financial losses, Farley was forced to sell the house in 1892 to the Sisters of Saint Francis. From 1879 through 1929, additions were continually made to the former house, all in the original French Second Empire style. Fridolin Heer and Son's addition included a new entrance pavilion with an Ionic columned porch and a central gabled wall dormer.