Former Site of Cardinal Muench Seminary (Fargo, North Dakota)
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Minnesota /
Oakport /
Fargo, North Dakota
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/ Minnesota
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World / United States / North Dakota
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In 1957 a tragedy struck Fargo: a devastating tornado destroyed hundreds of homes on the north side of Fargo, as well as damaging Sacred Heart Convent and Shanley High School. Bishop Leo Dworschak, Cardinal Muench’s successor, recognized an opportunity to realize his predecessor’s dream. He ordered that the vacated Sacred Heart Convent be restored and converted into a high school seminary. Originally it was to be named St. Pius X Minor Seminary, but it was changed to honor Cardinal Aloysius Muench. Cardinal Muench Seminary opened in the fall of 1962 with 41 students, 38 freshman and 3 juniors. The men lived at the seminary at 1310 North Broadway, and attended classes at Shanley High School, located at the time on the property adjacent to the seminary. The first graduates received their diplomas from Shanley High School. As the number of seminarians grew, the facility became inadequate. Bishop Dworschak proposed that a new building be established. A site was chosen on the north side of Fargo. At the time, the new seminary was the largest building project the Diocese of Fargo had undertaken. Construction began in 1965 and the building was ready for use in the fall of 1966. A complete faculty, independent of Shanley High School, was hired and the high school program received full, independent accreditation. All classes were taught at the new location and diplomas were awarded by Cardinal Muench Seminary. That same year the college program began. An agreement had been reached between the seminary and North Dakota State University with the North Dakota Board of Higher Education by which CMS college seminarians matriculated at NDSU. The seminary provided Philosophy, Humanities and Classics instructors to the University. Beginning in 1972 seminarians from others dioceses were welcomed into both the high school and college programs. Throughout the years seminarians from 12 surrounding dioceses have studied at Cardinal Muench Seminary. Because of declining enrollment in the high school program in the early 90s, it was no longer feasible to maintain a full faculty. Beginning in the fall of 1991 the high school seminarians once again took classes at Shanley High School. Thus the program had come “full circle.” With the departure of the last high school seminarian in the spring of 2001, the high school program ended. A new bishop of the Diocese of Fargo was appointed in 2002, and, despite low numbers, continued to support the seminary’s programs. An effort was made to increase enrollment but fell short. On April 8, 2010, it was announced that the program of priestly formation at Cardinal Muench Seminary would come to an end. That day was Friday, May 13, 2011, the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima. During its 49 year history, 923 young men participated in the various Cardinal Muench Seminary programs, 364 graduated from the High School or College programs, and, as of the spring of 2013, 123 have been ordained priests. At a Fargo City Commission meeting on August 4, 2014, it was voted 5 to 0 to demolish Cardinal Muench Seminary to make way for a 59 single-family home development called Edgewood Estates. On September 12, 2014, demolition began on Cardinal Muench Seminary.
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Coordinates: 46°55'29"N 96°45'58"W
- Former Site of Cardinal Muench Seminary Drive 0.2 km
- Former Edgewood Neighborhood 1.4 km
- Former Site of Riverside Acres 2.2 km
- Former Site of Kerber Ponyland 2.4 km
- Former Site of Broadway Street North 2.4 km
- Oakport, Minnesota (site) 3.9 km
- Former Site of Cass County Road 31 4.1 km
- Dakota City, North Dakota (site) 12 km
- Lafayette, Minnesota (Ghost Town) 12 km
- Shayenne City, Minnesota (Ghost Town) 14 km
- Longfellow Neighborhood 0.4 km
- Edgewood Golf Course 0.5 km
- Trollwood Neighborhood 1.7 km
- Riverwood Addition 2.6 km
- Hector International Airport (FAR/KFAR) 3.7 km
- RLN Business Park 5 km
- Highland Park, North Dakota 5.1 km
- Fargo Lagoon 6.7 km
- Northside Softball Complex 7.8 km
- Kragnes Township, Clay County, Minnesota 10 km