Early Facility History

In 1901, Fr. John F. Noll (later Archbishop Noll), was having a conversation with Dr. Geiermann at the fledgling Kneipp Sanitarium in Rome City, IN.
Dr. Geiermann had expressed frustrations with his situation to the young priest who had been his friend and confidant since 1895 when they met while planning this healing facility. Dr. Geiermann felt the healing center needed to be enlarged in order to be able to attract more patients and it needed more staff who were trained in the Kneipp method of healing.

Enter Mother Emma from the Sisters of The Precious Blood. The sisters had been looking for an opportunity such as the one presented in Rome City. Due to their heightened interest in all things Kneipp and their budding relationship with the young Fr. Noll, the stage seemed conveniently set for the sisters to expand the efforts of Dr. Geiermann. And, so they did.




At the end of 1901, Mother Emma, with the guidance of Fr. Noll and the support of her Mother House, purchased the property and facility from Dr. Geiermann and started out on a journey that would culminate in the construction of over 180,000 square feet of suitable living and working space along with the barns and farm development necessary to sustain a small army throughout the year.

Throughout the course of this development, 3 different churches would be constructed to service the needs of the ever-growing population of visitors and local parishioners. The last church built was the 400+ seat Our Lady Mother of Mercy Chapel which was completed in 1915. This was the chapel where Our Lady of America first appeared to Sr. Neuzil in 1956.




Fr. John F. Noll served, along with Fr. J.C. Keller of Kendallville, as the first of the spiritual directors and chaplains of this facility. Fr. Noll served as the personal spiritual director of Mother Emma and continued in his advisory capacity with Mother Emma throughout the huge construction and development process.