Virgil Michel House

Virgil Michael House, from left to right: 1987 and 2006 (click thumbnails for larger image)

Architect: Rafferty, Rafferty, Tollefson

Dates: 1987

Virgil Michel House was built to reduce overcrowding in Benet Hall and the Seidenbusch apartments, as well as create more residential space in response to the expected removal of housing in Flynntown.  The building was proposed as the first in a three-building complex, which today includes the Saint Maur and Saint Placid apartments.

Construction for Virgil Michel House began in early October 1987.  The building was designed by Lee Tollefson and cost $1.4 million. Virgil Michel House is divided into seven four-person apartments, one two-person apartment outfitted for residents with special needs and an additional four suites that house six students each. In total, it provides space for 54 residents.

Virgil Michel House was officially dedicated on October 28, 1988 and named after Fr. Virgil Michel, OSB (1890-1938), a member of Saint John’s Abbey who was active in the liturgical movement in the United States. He founded the Liturgical Press and was a dean of St. John’s University and a pastor of the American Indian Mission in Red Lake, MN.

Bibliography

• “Saint John’s to break ground for new housing,” Community, August 27, 1987, p.1.
• Holscher, M.A. “Construction of new dormitory to begin on schedule,” The Record, September 24, 1987, p.1.
• “Michel Symposium Planned,” The Record, February 11, 1988, p. 2. 
• O’Brien, Mary and M.A. Holscher.  “Housing crunch caused by Bishop’s decision,” The Record, April 21, 1988, p. 1, 5. 
• Perry, Steve. “New dorms highlight changes,” The Record, September 22, 1988, p. 4.
• Dreizehnter, Patrick. “It’s Official…” The Record, November 3, 1988, p. 1.
• “Dorm Construction Begins,” Saint John’s Magazine, vol. 27, no. 2, Winter 1988, p. 8.
• [Photo of Virgil Michel House], Saint John’s Magazine, vol. 28, no. 2, Winter 1989, p. 12. 

Special thanks to Ariel Smelter ’12 for drafting this text.