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Seidenbusch Apartments
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Seidenbusch Apartments (from left to right), 1972, 1992 and 1998 (an aerial view of their second location in Flynntown, taken looking south, with Fruit Farm Road at the top)
(click thumbnails for larger images)
The Seidenbusch apartments were completed in 1972, totaling $145,000 for construction and furnishings. Construction was done by Dan Brutger Construction Company on the west side of the SJU campus, overlooking Watab. A variety of complexes were built, ranging from two-, three-, four- and six-person apartments. Each apartment was equipped with a living room, kitchen, bathoom, and bedrooms. The apartments were mainly built for upperclassmen.
In 1992, the Seidenbusch apartments were moved to Flynntown. The move took place to make room for Joe Hall, which was also being moved in order to create space for Sexton Commons. During the summer of 2000, the Seidenbusch Apartments underwent renovations to improve the look of their interior spaces. In 2006, they were burned down, as a practice exercise for the St. John’s Fire Department, and replaced by the last of the Vincent Court apartment (so-called) “Monopoly houses.”
Abbot Rupert Seidenbush, ca. 1866 (photo from Abbey Archives)
The Seidenbusch apartments were named after Rupert Seidenbusch (1830-1895), a member of St. John’s Benedictine community who served as the first Abbot from 1866-1875, then became the first local bishop.
See Also:
- “Apartments for 33 on Watab’s bank provide new campus living option,” Saint John’s Magazine, vol. 12, no. 1, Summer 1972, p. 24.
- “Life! On-Campus,” The Record, November 12, 1998, p. 8.
- “Saint John’s First Abbot, Rupert Seidenbusch,” PowerPoint, 2011.
- Seidenbusch Apartments [photo], The Record, September 15, 1972, p. 4.
- [Photo by Mike Kosir], The Record, November 13, 1986, p. 4.
- “A Campus on the Move,” Saint John’s Magazine, Fall 1992, p. 8-9.
- Weaver, Mike. “New Vincent Court building started,” The Record, November 11, 1999, p. 4.
- Kilingerman, David OSB and Daniel Durken, OSB, “Saint John’s on the move”, The Abbey Banner, Fall 2008, p. 4-6.