With lawns designed by the renowned Frederick Law Olmsted Brothers, the architects of New York City’s Central Park and Boston’s Emerald Necklace, the history of the Franciscan Estate is a captivating one. In 1947, the property was purchased by the Lithuanian Friars of St. Casimir Province who fled the Soviet invasion of Lithuania. From then, it became a religious center for the friars, the Lithuanian diaspora, and countless others.
In the 1950s, the friars opened St. Anthony’s High School, primarily to educate boys of Lithuanian heritage. The stables were converted into high school facilities, and new brick buildings, including the main classroom building, gymnasium, and pool, were added in the early 1960s. The friars served as both administrators and teachers, some of whom still reside at the Monastery today. In 1969, the high school closed and the property became a year round hotel/guest house and retreat center, offering a haven for guests seeking solace, rejuvenation, and memorable experiences.