SATURDAY DIDN’T LOOK or feel a lot like Christmas here in Southern Minnesota. Snow melting. Temps in the 40s or near 50. Beautiful weather for December, except for the lack of sunshine until late afternoon.
Inside Shumway Hall, a sign welcomes visitors to the annual Campus Christmas Walk.
But on the campus of Shattuck-St. Mary’s, a holiday mood prevailed during the private prep school’s 12th annual Campus Christmas Walk, a gift to the Faribault community.
Heavy wood doors dominate the entry to Shumway Hall.
My husband and I attended “Winter Chronicles,” the fabulous figure skating show; walked the wide hallways of historic Shumway Hall
Impressive Shumway Hall.
Plates of sweet treats awaited visitors.
Kids worked on holiday crafts in the dining hall.
Colorful Christmas ornaments to craft.
to the dining room for sweet treats and cider/hot chocolate;
The Inn at Shattuck-St. Mary’s, a conference/retreat center and hotel, opened on Friday. Watch for an upcoming post tour of The Inn.
One boy headed for a treat after visiting Santa while another raced toward Santa’s open arms.
toured the just-opened The Inn at Shattuck-St. Mary’s where Santa proved the most popular guest;
The Chapel of the Good Shepherd.
and then popped into the old stone chapel.
Wreaths aplenty, including these on the entry to Shumway Hall, decorate the campus.
If time had allowed, we also would have taken in the Christmas Performing Arts Showcase. Next year.
The ornate stairway just outside the dining hall.
As an appreciator of historic buildings which stand strong in stone and dark wood and sturdiness, I truly enjoy this once-a-year opportunity to tour Shattuck.
The Shattuck-St. Mary’s campus features beautiful stone buildings constructed in the 1800s.
Every time I enter this campus, I feel like I’m at some Ivy League college. Not that I’ve ever been to a Harvard or Yale. I can only imagine. Shattuck has that feel of age and strength and wealth.
A sign on Shumway Hall notes Shattuck’s centennial anniversary in 1958.
Of course, it’s more. Much more. Like a school that produces great hockey players and draws students to my Minnesota community from all over the world.
© Copyright 2014 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
Definitely has that European/timeless feel to it. Such structures are true ‘gems’!
And Faribault definitely has many “gems.”
😊
It’s looking a lot like Christmas there, isn’t it? What a lovely campus with buildings that if they could tell stories would have many to share. What a great event this is for the community . I am sure a lot of people take advantage of attending .
I actually expected more people than there were at the Walk. People just have so much going on, I guess.
That is an impressive campus with wonderful structures.
Yes, it is. You would enjoy a few hours photographing here.
What an impressive place to visit. I can just hear those tall tales being told of the days long ago. Buildings such as these are so intriguing…just think of the history that has unfolded there. Glad u had opportunity to go and visit.
Yes, if only walls could speak.
I understand what you mean when you enter the Shattuck campus and getting that same feeling as I look at your pictures. And, I truly appreciate all the thought, work and time that goes into making this a very special holiday season.
Well said, Deanna.
That old dignified architecture is refreshing. Why did we ever get away from wood and stone? I got to say though, it makes me think of Hogwarts.
Fortunately I live in a community with lots of wood and stone, aka historic buildings. Why did we ever get away from this? Because someone thought “modern” was better.
Also, the Hogwarts thought seems fitting.
This is such an awesome campus, the buildings are so beautiful, I bet there are many stories from behind those walls! The chapel is my favorite photo, you know me and my love for old churches 🙂
Well, I’ll show you some pix from inside the chapel, which is difficult to photograph given it’s so dark inside. I don’t think I’ve ever been inside a darker church.
What a beautiful building and I love how it’s decorated for Christmas. The architecture is stunning and it certainly does have that Ivy League look about it xx
I totally feel like I’m in another world when I’m at Shattuck.