Sacred Stones History: 1931-1994
1931: 11 boat loads of stone come to San Francisco and are stored in a warehouse near the Cannery. The Depression hit. Hearst was financially unable to reconstruct this monastery.
1941: Hearst presented the stones to the city of San Francisco with the understanding that the entire monastery would be reconstructed as a De Young museum near Golden Gate Park. Plans were in process but WW II interrupted them. The stones remain stored outside near the De Young.
1946 to 1959: After the war, plans were revived, but attempts to raise money failed. The stones were eventfully damaged by five fires and vandals.
1955: Fr. Thomas Davis arrived in San Francisco on Sept 15 on his way to the Vina Monastery, and saw the crates of stones in Golden Gate Park that evening. The desire came to birth to have this monastery for the Abbey of New Clairvaux.
1963: There is question of giving the stones to the Buddhist Monastery of Middlebar, Amador county. An oil company agreed to pay for the reconstruction. The abbot of this monastery claims they were auctioned off by the city for $1. Public opinion and museum officials were opposed to this Catholic monastery going to Buddhist monks, so the transaction was stopped. The stones continue to deteriorate and to be vandalized.
1970: Sometime in the early 1970, the Cistercian Institute became interested in the stones, and Dr. Rozanne Elder even came and looked at them, but nothing became of this episode.
1973: Cistercian Publications, Western Michigan University wants to rebuild what can be rebuilt of this monastery as part of their complex on campus. But they will offer it first to any Cistercian Abbey in the US. Abbot Thomas opened correspondence with Ian White, Director of the Museums.
The late 1970's Park officials decided to clean up the area where the stones were. They began to use them for various projects in the Park like Stowe Lake, Strybring Arboretum, Botanical Gardens. Some even found their way to line Merritt Lake in Oakland.
It was at this time that Bro. Regis, through personal contact with Park Officials, obtains for Abbot Thomas several truckload of stones. The “price” was a few loves of monks’ bread.
1980: This spring Dr. Margaret Burke received a grant from the Hearst Foundation to make a study and ascertain the actual condition of the stones and see if any reconstruction was possible. She recovered most of the Chapter House stones, even coming to Vina and taking back the Chapter House stones that we had brought up.
1981: A second grant was given to Dr. Burke and by 1983 she had recovered 511 stones of the Chapter House. Plans, elevations, and section drawing were made by her. She built the model that is now in our welcome center. Correspondence continues with Ian White about the transfer to Vina.
1986: Sometime around this time, Dr Burke and her husband came to Vina and showed Abbot Thomas all the drawings she had completed. These drawings are now in the Abbey’s archives. Plans were resurrected again to reconstruct the Chapter House, but funding was not successful.
1987: Correspondence continues with the new director of the De Young Museum, Harry Parker.
1989: The October earthquake in San Francisco sealed the fate of the Chapter House. With the money needed to rebuild the museums, it meant that the Chapter House was not only low on the priority list, but came off it!
1990: Abbot Thomas had been in correspondence with the Director of the Museums asking for the stones over the years. It was one of these “off again - on again” situations.
1991: In the fall, Al Wilsey came to Vina to pursue the possibility of the Stones coming to New Clairvaux. It was through his direct influence and help that the Stones were awarded to the abbey and transferred here.
1992, September 27: the conventual chapter of the Abbey of New Clairvaux voted in favor of receiving the stones.
1992, October 8: The Board of Trustees of the Museums awards the stones to the Abbey. The legal requirements are studies and processed.
1994, September 12: The Transfer Agreement is signed by the Director and Abbot. The Abbey has 10 yrs to do “something” towards reconstruction.
1994, September 13: The first load of stones leave San Francisco for Vina. 6 loads come at this time (truck and trailer).
1941: Hearst presented the stones to the city of San Francisco with the understanding that the entire monastery would be reconstructed as a De Young museum near Golden Gate Park. Plans were in process but WW II interrupted them. The stones remain stored outside near the De Young.
1946 to 1959: After the war, plans were revived, but attempts to raise money failed. The stones were eventfully damaged by five fires and vandals.
1955: Fr. Thomas Davis arrived in San Francisco on Sept 15 on his way to the Vina Monastery, and saw the crates of stones in Golden Gate Park that evening. The desire came to birth to have this monastery for the Abbey of New Clairvaux.
1963: There is question of giving the stones to the Buddhist Monastery of Middlebar, Amador county. An oil company agreed to pay for the reconstruction. The abbot of this monastery claims they were auctioned off by the city for $1. Public opinion and museum officials were opposed to this Catholic monastery going to Buddhist monks, so the transaction was stopped. The stones continue to deteriorate and to be vandalized.
1970: Sometime in the early 1970, the Cistercian Institute became interested in the stones, and Dr. Rozanne Elder even came and looked at them, but nothing became of this episode.
1973: Cistercian Publications, Western Michigan University wants to rebuild what can be rebuilt of this monastery as part of their complex on campus. But they will offer it first to any Cistercian Abbey in the US. Abbot Thomas opened correspondence with Ian White, Director of the Museums.
The late 1970's Park officials decided to clean up the area where the stones were. They began to use them for various projects in the Park like Stowe Lake, Strybring Arboretum, Botanical Gardens. Some even found their way to line Merritt Lake in Oakland.
It was at this time that Bro. Regis, through personal contact with Park Officials, obtains for Abbot Thomas several truckload of stones. The “price” was a few loves of monks’ bread.
1980: This spring Dr. Margaret Burke received a grant from the Hearst Foundation to make a study and ascertain the actual condition of the stones and see if any reconstruction was possible. She recovered most of the Chapter House stones, even coming to Vina and taking back the Chapter House stones that we had brought up.
1981: A second grant was given to Dr. Burke and by 1983 she had recovered 511 stones of the Chapter House. Plans, elevations, and section drawing were made by her. She built the model that is now in our welcome center. Correspondence continues with Ian White about the transfer to Vina.
1986: Sometime around this time, Dr Burke and her husband came to Vina and showed Abbot Thomas all the drawings she had completed. These drawings are now in the Abbey’s archives. Plans were resurrected again to reconstruct the Chapter House, but funding was not successful.
1987: Correspondence continues with the new director of the De Young Museum, Harry Parker.
1989: The October earthquake in San Francisco sealed the fate of the Chapter House. With the money needed to rebuild the museums, it meant that the Chapter House was not only low on the priority list, but came off it!
1990: Abbot Thomas had been in correspondence with the Director of the Museums asking for the stones over the years. It was one of these “off again - on again” situations.
1991: In the fall, Al Wilsey came to Vina to pursue the possibility of the Stones coming to New Clairvaux. It was through his direct influence and help that the Stones were awarded to the abbey and transferred here.
1992, September 27: the conventual chapter of the Abbey of New Clairvaux voted in favor of receiving the stones.
1992, October 8: The Board of Trustees of the Museums awards the stones to the Abbey. The legal requirements are studies and processed.
1994, September 12: The Transfer Agreement is signed by the Director and Abbot. The Abbey has 10 yrs to do “something” towards reconstruction.
1994, September 13: The first load of stones leave San Francisco for Vina. 6 loads come at this time (truck and trailer).
