Minnesota Prairie Roots

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