The Sisters of Mercy Convent Historical Marker Photo courtesy Jason Penney

The Sisters of Mercy Convent
Photo courtesy Jason Penney

The Sisters of Mercy Convent, back side
Photo courtesy Jason Penney

Historical Background of the Old Convent

On August 15, 1882 three Carmelite priests, Reverend P. A. Peters, Reverend Albert Wagner and Reverend William Fuhrwerk, along with a lay-brother Anton Keber and Adam Konz arrived at Grelton, Texas (now Stanton). They came from Scipio, Kansas and traveled on the Texas and Pacific Railroad. They planned to start a monastery, school and German community. Tents were set up at the present site of the Martin County Courthouse. The tents served both as living Quarters and a place of worship.

The town name was soon changed to Marienfeld which is German for "Field of Mary". By 1886 the little German colony was thriving. The priests had constructed a large monastery with a church and three other buildings made of adobe; planted a vineyard and crops and had land for cattle. The church was the first house of worship between Fort Worth and El Paso. The present adobe building was used as the monastery and built in 1882. Foundation stones can still be seen of the old church.

The historic drought of 1886-1887 brought an end to the German community. Many families moved or faced starvation. The Sisters of Mercy had been with the Carmelites since 1894 and helped operate a school for Nuns and children. The Carmelites could no longer afford the monastery and sold their holdings to the Sisters of Mercy in 1897.

Under the direction of M. Berchmans Kast of San Francisco, the Sisters established a day and boarding school where children attended in great numbers from Stanton as well as from adjoining towns and ranches. The buildings used by the priests and others built by the sisters formed a quadrangle facing south towards town.

The Academy of Our Lady of Mercy served as a well known school for many years until the tornado of 1938. It was decided by the sisters to depart and sell the school because of the damage done to the buildings, low enrollment and the public school system available in Stanton.

After the property was sold, the owners tore down the north and east buildings of the quadrangle for materials while the church and monastery building were left intact. The church was torn down in the late 1940's. The monastery was used for a residence until the early 1970's.

Today the only building left is the original 1882 adobe monastery building. It sits abandoned on the highest point in Stanton. The citizens of Martin County have formed a non-profit organization to preserve this important and historic part of West Texas. The building will be used as an intereptive center on the founding of Stanton and the grounds are to be landscaped into a native plant garden. It is the hope and aspirations of the Convent Board to once again bring to life this important part of West Texas history.

The exterior of the building has been completed. This was made possible by generous grants from the Texas Highway Department, The Abell Hanger Foundation of Midland, The Texas Historial Foundation, The Martin County Community Fund and many caring individuals. We are seeking grants to complete the restoration of the interior and native plant garden.