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Sitting along what is now Rt. 206 in Newton, NJ, this beautiful monastery has been a landmark for travelers since it was built in 1924. The order lived under the direction of Father Michael Heinlen, and comprised of mostly of men of German & Eastern African descent. These men were missionaries, and wanted to share their lifestyle with those in the United States.
The order quickly rose through the religious ranks, becoming a "simple priory" four short years after being established. This meant that the order was now headed by a Prior. A new chapel, the "Little Flower shrine" building was added to the right side of the structure in 1925. This new chapel was built with pieces of the "Jefferson Street Church", one of the first churches in Sussex County. Four additional years later, the building was designated a "Conventual Priory".
Before long, under the leadership of Abbot Corinston, that the facility was officially recognized as an abbey in 1947. A peripheral focus of the order was tending to the 500 acres of farmland that
surrounded the Abbey. The monks tended to livestock, crops, and even had a small Honey Bee colony they maintained. Among the most popular items sold by the monks were traditional Christmas trees. Folks from all over Sussex and the surrounding counties would load up the family and travel to the abbey to choose the perfect tree.
In 1962, a new facility was built across the street from the old abbey. The building would be renamed "The Queen of Peace Retreat House". It served as a pale for the monks to get away from the abbey and devote more time to prayer and meditation. The building would function in this capacity for several decades until the building began to fall apart. In 2000, the building was vacated.
Nothing else has come forward for the property in the last five years. However, in that time, the building was overrun with vandals. The once peaceful structure was now used to host parties where kids tag and smash up the building. As is the case far too often, the building will probably be demolished before long. Until then, I will continue to monitor the historic, landmark building, hoping it will see new life.
I would love to see something become of this beauty and would love to be a part of it!
ReplyDeleteMe too. I would donate time working on it. So would the next couple people who commented. Maybe we can figure out a way to save it!
DeleteNah man leave it abandoned. It'd suck to see another good place for some urban exploration go.
DeleteIf I have lots of money I would buy it. I remember it oh so well. Such memories & history should always remain.
ReplyDeleteWe are two mature women who are interested in a shelter for children & families who would relish life in a Sacred Church. I'm a retired Psych Counselor & my fried is a licensed Minister.
DeleteIf a few good people dedicate their time,money and skills we can change everything,this can be nice place for poor people to come and have free meal,play games,meet some people and forgot about the poverty for while.Specially women.
ReplyDeleteI wanna buy it to make it a goth restaurant but ok L bozo
DeleteWho owns it now? I would love to get permission to explore it and take some photos. My email: billtracy138@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteBill, the Korean monks are still there apparently, along with a handful of remaining American monks. Website is http://newtonosb.org/about-us/visit-us/. I dont know about the stone building; they seem to have abandoned that and are keeping up with all the other properties across the street.
DeleteShould be interesting if you get in. Good luck!
Amy S.
The Abbey was an important place for me in my journey. It is ingrained in my heart, as are many of the people I met there. I thought there were other monks there now, from Korea, but i guess i'm mistaken. It's not all THAT old; just neglected. Very sad. I'd hate to see it turned into housing. I am grateful for the time I got to spend there, and the feeling of awe i had in that place. We need more buildings like that.
ReplyDeleteThe first time I saw this building was in 06 and I fell in love with it immediately. I've always wanted to turn it into an orphanage for small children. A girl can dream right?
ReplyDeleteSo as of now are there any updates? I am totally fascinated by this building and the endless possibilities. The building is incredible as well as the grounds. I would donate my time and organize a large group to get it back up and running as anything. My husband would also be interested in purchasing.
ReplyDeleteSo as of now are there any updates? I am totally fascinated by this building and the endless possibilities. The building is incredible as well as the grounds. I would donate my time and organize a large group to get it back up and running as anything. My husband would also be interested in purchasing.
ReplyDeleteI visited the building today...very fascinating but sadly vandals made a mess inside from what i could see through the broken windows.
ReplyDeleteI visited the building today...very fascinating but sadly vandals made a mess inside from what i could see through the broken windows.
ReplyDeleteI pass it at least once a year on the way to the lake. I'm glad I have photos of it in case they demolish it. I hope they don't. I wish I had the money to help repair it.
ReplyDeleteI stopped by this afternoon just to snap a few outside pictures because I've always loved the building. I was promptly thrown off of the property for trespassing.
ReplyDeleteThey must have security cameras!
How sad. As an alumnus of the Class of 1964 CBA, Lincroft, we had our senior year class retreat here. In my 70 years, just heart breaking to see so much of this country's proud heritage go down the drain.
ReplyDeleteNewark, DE
Class of 67, Bayley Ellard, had their senior retreat there too. Passed by today, how sad. We should keep these beautiful buildings in better condition for prosperity. Sussex County needs to step up to the plate to keep iconic buildings as the abbey is in good condition. Go fund me or something...it shouldn’t be demolished.
DeleteAre they selling the building?
ReplyDeleteGood day,
ReplyDeleteMe and my friends visited the site right before we were to attend a concert in Stanhope. I took a couple photographs of the area and in one of the photographs seems to be something...from the afterlife. Has anything happened in the area that could have haunted it? Please do not heasitate to contact me if you wish to see the photographs.
Thank you
-Patrick
I would love to see the photos. Left a message earlier above with specifics.
DeleteI was lucky enough to have been on staff when the Retreat House was functioning as such. I am curious how it was able to fall in to such disrepair so quickly considering Sussex County is not considered a dying town or county. They were able to pay for the Community College and build, build, build I
ReplyDeleteIrene Novak
I remember you, I made 26 Matt Talbot Retreats and became an oblate across the street for 25 years! Father Augustine was like a brother to me. I really miss working with him. God Bless
DeleteI was inspecting a property in Newton yesterday and drove by this building. Surrounded by tall weeds and no trespassing signs it's still absolutely beautiful.
ReplyDeleteRant. For years I've lived an worked for these great people but as time goes on we all get up in our age an things get old but my wife tried walking our new puppy a while back an she was asked to leave now grant it my wife as well as I worked for them there was know reason for that this property well was very known 4 spiritual walking paths all kinds of people from all over which spend very much time meditating on this property and now for people being asked to leave is beyond me very very sad all the years of people donating giving time and part of their lives they are no longer allowed to do spiritual walks
ReplyDeleteVery sad reading of this. My uncle, Father Kevin, was ordained there in 1943, then was sent to mission in what was Tanganyika. I believe he was there about eight years. When we would visit him at St. Paul's, we stayed in the Retreat Center. My brother spent a summer as a camp counselor. My uncle taught at a local Catholic high school and was active with the student body. I seem to recall that he chaperoned Skiing trips and I believe trips to Europe. He served as Prior of the abbey for a number of years. He passed away in June 1994 and is buried in the Abbey cemetery.
ReplyDeleteI was there today! Cool old buildings and yes, sadly, it’s falling apart and vandalized. It could be repaired! With enough money and time. If anyone wants pictures, email me at sloppysecurity@hotmail.com
ReplyDeletejust found a post card of the little flower monestery from back in 1950 in its high time
ReplyDeleteLooking into buying it and turning it not into condos but a beautiful place for my family to grow hope it all works out
ReplyDeleteany update about the monastery?!
DeleteAgreed. I’ve visited every couple of years since 2013. This building could be used for so many things. I would love to get together with people to help repair it and see it through.
DeleteI was just wondering about this place as well. Nothing happening ?
DeleteI would love to buy and renovate it to an historical bed &breakfast It is a historic town And should have visitors. It should still remain historic and not change much but the inside. To tear and down or make into anything differnt. Wouldnt look right for this town. Its a beauty
ReplyDeletePass by this place in the middle of the night often. Beautiful, creepy and foreboding. Would love to get some pics, but the patrol car parked across the street by the Abbey are a strong deterrent. Lol I would love to see something come of this place before it fully collapses. Shocked it hasn’t appeared in Weird NJ yet.
ReplyDeleteI pass there quit often and am totally sad as to the appearance of such a beautiful building. Once a house of prayer now of house of loneliness. When Christmas would come I myself purchase Christmas trees for my family but again such as sad beautiful building. The stone alone are so beautiful. I wish some one or some how the structure could be reborn again.
ReplyDeleteHad a chance to see this beautiful building a couple of times even did my history to find out what it was before. this is my two cents, we waste so much money as a country on project that we don't need and make no difference in people's lives and communities etc. How about we flip the script and rewrite alittle history. Let's make to this happen and restore something that can be useful and bring the people of Newton and other places a sense of joy. Sadly I'm not even from this area, but I would 100% be ready willing and able to help out and the restoration ofjof thisfthis building, c'mon people let's get together and make a difference for a worthy cause
ReplyDeleteI was thinking the same thing! I was just there exploring the property and my goodness this could be splendid! I don't know who you are but my email is below - maybe we can organize something so we can restore this beauty and get the town to cooperte - enough of history is being destroyed!
Deletehttps://www.weichert.com/78540372/ its for sale
ReplyDeleteThe place is off the market - no info
ReplyDeleteNo way!!!
DeleteFinally there are people willing to work together. I am willing and able to help too. Not financially but with anything else to help the community
I would love to a video in this place since it's not far from me y home
ReplyDeleteThis is so unfortunate. As a child in the mid-to-late 60's, our family would visit a friend at the monastery who took us up on a mountain to watch the sun rise over a campfire. I spent two incredible years as a camper at Camp St. Benedict. Many years later went to visit Fr. Justin. He took me over to the old monastery which was now being used as a retreat house. Years later, I drove around the town and saw the property in such a state of disrepair. Truly sad.
ReplyDeleteHad my high school retreat there in 1975. Neumann Prep. Wish this building would reincarnate.
ReplyDeleteThe Retreat House means a lot to me. I did an oil painting of the Retreat House in 1997, it is beautiful. Please contact me if you're interested in buying or would like to see an image. sue brightredegg@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteI live in Memphis,TN. One of the more prolific, and pubilized Sears & Roebuck Buildings reside here. Huge structure, parking, penthouse. etc. has stood abandoned for yrs. A suitable site, for so many companies,had to be rejected for buying, simply because of the cost of HVAC, not present. Insulation, if any. And the age of the building and outside fortress like facade, impossible to deal with ( cost efficient method,reduced to , to do so at the time. Rendering it very expensive to maintain for all those reasons. Not a good purchase decision. within the last 6-7 yrs. it has been restored. Outside Facade. leaving stone masonry work from original construction intact. Where as before unable to restore for habitation without a few sticks of dynamite. Modern know how. except for actual framing of this structure, enclosed a new building inside of the structure. i.e., only remaining, the outside facade of original materials circa.1899.ONE WOULD NEVER KNOW,IT HAS BEEN TOUCHED. High ceilings, fixtures...rooms.. oak trimmings. Door knobs..etc. pulled off and put back after construction. Several pieces of Stained Glass. signed by some old artist named "Tiffany" . hahahha,A Glaser was brought from Italy came to remove and then reinsert glass as needed. What they accomplished. Retaining the original frame and facade of a gorgeous historic registry building 1899, 12 floors...of what has become, a dual rehab, many other ancillary services....honoring the UNITED STATES MILITARY VETERANS. NO CHARGE......THE WAY IT SHOULD BE.. MY HATS OFF TO THE ARCHITECTS, ENGINEERS INCORPERATING brand new with the very old, becoming one solid structure again. Most work paid for by engineers, architect's, etc. volunteering their time to do this most complicated plan. emerging new into old, determined to use the resilience, strength of a very old structure ,UNEFFECTED BY THE CHANGES.no one would ever be able to notice. THANK YOU FOR THE DETEMINATION THAT IT TOOK. TRYING TO FIND UPDATED PHOTOS TO SHOW.
ReplyDeleteWho's ever in charge owner please contact me
ReplyDelete