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Sanitorium of Attleboro Springs (Castle)
1894, Spring: In Attleboro, MA, James M. Solomon, long to be known as an Indian Doctor (but who, in fact, was neither an American Indian nor a medical doctor), was gathering herbs and roots in the woods on this property; he was a medicine man, who concocted and peddled herbal remedies; he dreamed of a great sanatorium which he would one day build on this very spot; here people would come from all corners of the world to be healed ... cured of that dread disease, cancer.1894, Summer: O. F. Higgins, a civil engineer, was engaged to survey and lay out these grounds; he was also commissioned to trace out the position of a great stone building of Dr. Solomon's dreams.
1895, Summer: In Attleboro, drives, lawns, and gardens materialize around the site of the longed for sanatoruim; the available funds run out.
1901, March: O.F. Higgins completes architect's plans for the Attleboro sanatorium; soon the walls stood in place ready and waiting to receive the giant roof; John M. Fisher, a local businessman, at this point, was smitten by Dr. Solomon's dream and pledged the necessary financial backing; the sanatorium cost $400,000 to build.
1902: Fisher and a number of Attleboro businessmen formed the Solomon Sanatorium Company.
1903, April 25: Dedication of Solomon's Sanatorium; statistics given in the printed program distributed that day include: “Bricks 475,709 of which 250,000 are enamel; windows, 309; panes of glass, 3,254; fireplaces, 21; rooms, 200; electric wire, 27 miles; power, lighting, and heating plant in duplicate to provide for accident."
1903, May 16: With Herbert B. Horton, M.D., as house physician the dream finally became a reality as patients were admitted.
1906: Lack of funds forced the closing of the Solomon Sanatorium
1908, June: A family of doctors named Nicola from Battle Creek, MI reopened the Attleboro Sanatorium; it flourished “for the relief of suffering humanity” till 1918
1918, Summer: The vacationing Dr. B. E. Nicola mysteriously disappeared; the Solomon Sanatorium folded up
1919: The Methodist Church inaugurated the Centenary Movement; Mr. John Fisher gave the Solomon Sanatorium to the Methodist Board of Foreign Missions; which called Dr. Herbert G. Vaughan from Kentucky, to take charge and changed the name to Attleboro Springs
1920, July 24: Death of Mr. John Fisher; maintaining and operating Attleboro Springs soon became a losing struggle
1924, October: Methodist Board of Foreign Missions closed the Sanatorium
1927: Mission Board prevailed upon the New England Deaconess Association to take over the Springs; the Rev Clarence D. Pierce was appointed superintendent; $30,000 spent on restoration
1934, July: Thomas J. Griffin, retired and well-to-do businessman, gave the Springs a shot in the arm, new health care programs were inaugurated, some degree of success ensued; funding once again became a problem and Attleboro Springs took to renting meeting rooms and serving meals for local civic and church groups to supplement its dwindling financial resources
1938, Jan. 1: Attleboro Springs shuts down
1942-1952 Early Seminary Years
1942: La Salettes buy Attleboro Springs as major seminary
1952, Feb. 2: Construction of the Attleboro Shrine announced; statue placed at proposed site
1953 Shrine established and grew
1953, Tuesday, Dec. 8: Official opening of the Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette in Attleboro coincides with the beginning of the Marian Year promulgated by Pope Pius XII to mark the centenary of the proclamation of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception (Dec. 8, 1854 by Pope Pius IX)
Highlights: fireworks display, outdoor nativity scene and 5,000 Christmas lights; 5,000 people were present
1953, Dec. 13: 10,000 persons visited the new Shrine on the first Sunday following its inauguration
Early Christmas Festival of Lights
From the official opening of the Shrine in 1953 with its outdoor nativity scene and 5,000 Christmas lights, the Shrine continually developed and expanded the Christmas Festival of Lights, changing themes every year and expanding special features such as the International Crèche Collection.
1960s Construction and tour
1964, Mar. 19: Private blessing and dedication of new buildings: monastery, cafeteria, gift shop, offices, classrooms, and retreat house. Plans for new construction were begun at the founding of the Shrine in 1953.
1964 New Retreat Center
1965, June 21: Private blessing of new Shrine buildings by Auxiliary Bishop James J. Gerrard of the Diocese of Fall River, MA
1965: Scholastics move to Ottawa for philosophy and theology programs.
1965: Castle becomes new Immaculate Heart of Mary Provincial headquarters. It will henceforth be known as the Provincial House.
1967: Marathon House, a rehabilitation program for drug addicts, is established at the Provincial House. It would later move to the “Mark IV” building and then find its own place.
1972: Establishment of the La Salette Counseling Center.
1973: Beginning of the La Salette Fall Family Festival, known at the start as the Harvest Festival. It ran for five days. Volunteers were housed at the Provincial House and the Retreat House.
1983: Vocation/Formation Office moves from Worcester and is established at the Provincial House.
1990: Office of the Vietnam Veterans Ministry is established at the Provincial House by Fr. Phil Salois, MS., a Vietnam Veteran.
1991: The Sabbath Program, a holistic healing and human development program for clergy and lay is established in the Provincial House. This program is run by Formation Consultation Services, Inc.
1994: Immaculate Heart of Mary Provincial Chapter authorizes construction of a new Shrine Church. Fundraising and building plans are put into place.
1997: Steubenville East Youth Conference program begins at the Shrine. Provincial House is used to house team and some participants and some volunteer facilities while most participants use tent facilities.
1999 Castle Fire
1999: New church construction begins in the Spring. Cornerstone is placed in new church in the Fall.
1999: Nov. 5 Fire destroys Provincial House (see right). Fr. Paul O’Brien, O. Carm., Sabbath participant dies in fire. All occupants and office must relocate.
2000: Decision not to rebuild Provincial House is made.
2002 New Shrine Church
2000, Sept 19: Dedication of New Shrine Church.
2007, April 29: Groundbreaking for new Welcome Building (see right), which will include three large conference rooms, holding total of 600 people, a welcome area, room for priest on duty, café and restroom facilities
2007 Chapel of Light and Welcome Center
2008, May 30: Blessing of New Welcome Center: (see pictures below) Bishop Louis Gelineau, Bishop Emeritus of Providence, after leading several hundred people in the Liturgy of the Eucharist, blessed the new Welcome Center and Chapel of Light (candle house). (see article from The Sun Chronicle)