St. Joseph's Orphanage, Historic orphanage and school in Fall River, Massachusetts
St. Joseph's Orphanage is a three-story brick structure with a hipped tile roof, stone foundation, and extended wings on each side of the main section. The layout accommodates numerous rooms that once served residential and educational purposes for the children housed there.
The building began in 1892 as part of the Notre Dame de Lourdes parish and expanded with two additional wings in 1917. This growth reflected the growing need to house more children in the community.
The building served as a place where children found shelter, education, and daily care from the sisters who worked there. Their presence shaped the lives of generations of students who moved through these rooms.
The building underwent major renovation in 1989 and now functions as residential apartments with a new addition on the north side. The original facade and structural elements remain visible, though the interior has been adapted for modern living spaces.
After a fire destroyed Notre Dame Church in 1982, the chapel inside served as a worship space for the parish for several years. This unexpected role showed how the building remained vital to community life even after its original purpose changed.
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