Immaculate Conception Convent

At the time the Immaculate Conception Convent was built in Lodi, the town looked quite different. Historic imagery from the 1930's shows vast swaths of undeveloped land surrounding the campus. I can only imagine how dramatic the building would have appeared as it came into view of those traveling along Main Street back in those times. 

The "motherhouse" as it was referred to wasn't actually the first building to be built on the campus. When the sisters first arrived in 1913, they stayed in a small red brick building dubbed the "little red house". This was the only remaining building of a former mill complex that once existed on the property. 

The sisters who resided here used to operate five different catholic schools throughout Bergen County.  The Immaculate Conception School was officially founded in 1915, beginning the long history of education associated with the Felician Sisters. 

The grand motherhouse was built the following year. The massive red brick building consisted of a central chapel with a seperate rear chapel for cloistered nuns. Two four story wings expanded at right angles from the center of the sanctuary and wrapped back around to the rear, creating a very unique layout, almost like an E with a second vertical strike-through. Now that they had the space they needed, the order got to work fulfilling their goals. An orphanage was founded by the sisters in 1918. The sisters then established the Immaculate Conception Normal School just five years later. 

The complex continued to expand as the sister's focus on education grew. Two decades after the normal school opened, the Immaculate Conception Junior College was founded. By 1957 the new Immaculate Conception School opened on the property.

The name was changed again to Felician College in 1967. The school also expanded to nearby East Rutherford as well, constructing a campus around the lovely Iviswold Castle. 

By 2009 all eight Felician orders around the country merged, leaving the large convent mostly empty. Part of the building was still being used for classes, and the chapel was still open for prayer every Sunday. As with most churches around the country though, the Immaculate Conception parish was dwindling in numbers. By the time the Covid pandemic hit there were only a handful of regulars coming every Sunday. 

The large, mostly empty motherhouse was becoming a burden for the university. The administration announced in 2022 that they planned to demolish most of the building as well as the original "little red house" in order to free up space on the campus. I was distraught by the news, as the building was one of the most significant religious structures in the state. It was also in remarkably good shape considering its age. 

I was quick to make a visit to the complex. By the time I had, the buildings were already fenced off. I managed to make my way to where the workers were going in and out and slipped inside when nobody was looking. My main goal was to make it to the chapel before they had begun to strip it. I made it just in time. 

The beautiful hardwood reredos had already been taken out, but thankfully the incredible stained glass windows remained. I tiptoed my way around the complex as the construction crew worked around me. When they entered a room, I would slip out right before they noticed me. I spent about 15 minutes dodging the work crew as I did my thing. We never ended up crossing paths, and I left out the same way I came without anyone noticing. 

It wasn't very long before all the windows had been removed. None of the other New Jersey explorers had gotten in yet, meaning I was the only one who was able to document the chapel with the windows in place. Eventually the pews were taken too, leaving the huge chapel feeling cold and lifeless. I drove by several times as the months passed, each time relieved to see the building was still there. This changed in June of 2023.

I was driving down Main street as the campus came into view. I let out a gasp when I got to the motherhouse and saw the giant pile of twisted wood and broken bricks that was once the chapel. I couldn't believe they managed to take the structure down without it even making the local news. I used to love driving up Henry street, seeing the large looming covent coming into view. This time it was crushing to not see it cresting over the large trees out front.

The Immaculate motherhouse was the third historic New Jersey convent demolished over a nine month period. The Sisters of St John campus in Far Hills was demolished in September 2022, and the St. Francis buildings in Denville were leveled between November and December. It's strange passing the campus now and seeing it so sparse. To add insult to injury, the Immaculate Conception School also announced plans to close permanently at the end of the 2023 school year. It probably won't be too long until the name Immaculate Conception won't even ring a bell to the citizens of the town. I hope this post will serve as a reminder to those who care about the grand building that once stood over them, and that somebody cares enough to read about it.