The Sisters of St. Joseph came to Hamilton in 1852 to care for the many orphaned children whose parents died of cholera in the area. The orphans first lived in the Motherhouse on Park Street. St. Mary’s Orphanage was opened in 1864. One of the first undertakings of the Sisters for the support of the orphans was to organize a fund raiser. Thus the Orphans’ Festival was born!
The festival began in 1853 and was well-patronized by all the citizens. Many famous singers, actors, and so forth, participated in the festivals for many years. Eventually, the Sisters and orphans took over and came up with newer ideas and plans – teaching dancing, singing, designing costumes and being determined for each year to outdo the last! The people of Hamilton were entertained for over 100 years, and the last performance by the orphans was in 1956 at the Palace Theater.
During the Fall of 1854, two Sisters began the first country collections for the maintenance of the orphans. The result of their visits far exceeded expectations and long before the return of the Sisters to Hamilton, provisions of all kinds were forwarded from all the surrounding countryside. Each year, Sisters traveled to the farm areas receiving generous hospitality and a large supply of produce. As a result of these winter collections, which continued until the 1950’s, the orphans were well-cared for.
The St. Mary’s Orphanage closed in 1960.
Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Canada Archives