The Providence Academy, Vancouver Washington

Welcome to Mother Joseph's House!

DETOUR HERE if you are sensitive to language - ALL PG Content at link!

A Virtual Tour of the Providence Academy in Two Parts.

This page is designed primarily as a companion as you listen to Episodes 5 and 6 of Two Witches Podcast, where we give you a full audio tour of this amazing place and the hauntings we have heard about and even experienced here! We've put some links in photo comments to historic photographs of the same places so you can get an idea of what it looked like over the years if you like to geek out over that sort of thing. This is also to illustrate how the condition of the outbuildings has remained the same for decades, as seen in historic photos, despite millions of dollars in funds to save the site. This is why I believe that someone other than the Historic Trust should possibly be in charge of this site going forward. The Historic Trust also manages the huge Fort Vancouver National Site, and I have no idea what may be occurring over here that parallels what the past Trust management advocated at the Providence Academy. Their actions should concern anyone that cares about historic sites. UPDATE: APRIL 2021 - There was a recent major management change at the Trust, but it is still to be determined if the change is a beneficial one. The new management at the Trust recently asked Sara (SJ) to begin leading tours at the Providence Academy as a Docent and has listened to her initial concerns. We are what we would call "suspiciously hopeful," and SJ looks forward to hopefully working with them to make sure this amazing building remains standing for many decades to come, and begins to honor its Foundress properly. We are also working on a video tour inside the building, the first of what we call "Witches on Wheels" - mini documentaries around the investigation into high strangeness surrounding these haunted Hidden brick locations.

So Put On Your Headphones... and Let's Go!

Front path of the Academy, site of the Sacred Heart fountain that Mother Joseph made. Historic view, 1920s and 1961.
The Avant Corps, decorated for Christmas in December 2020. Historic view, 1920s.
Corbelled brick hoods over the windows, a Georgian architectural technique. Historic view.
1910 photo postcard of the Academy showing the past Sacred Heart fountain's location. Mother Joseph sculpted this fountain.
Providence Academy site from C and Evergreen, near the old site of the El Presidente Mexican restaurant's footprint. Historic View.
The heart shaped carriage path was designed as a reflection of God's love for the poor through the Sisters' charitable acts. 1966.
Front of the Academy from Southwest corner of site. 1892 look at the expansion in progress.
Front of the Academy from Southeast corner of site. Similar historic view circa 1890.
West facing side entrance - this is the addition MoJo hated. Historic view.
Footprint of the demolished El Presidente Restaurant, southwest corner. 1974. Update May 2021: This is now gone.
The path on the east side of the building to the old shrine at the Sacred Heart Garden. Beauties.
Former site of the Sacred Heart Shrine and Garden. Historic View.
The east side door of the Academy is near what we call the Brick Management picnic table meeting spot.
East side door of the Academy, facing west towards C Street. Historic view.
Rear of Academy, looking towards location of St. Joseph Hospital cornerstone. Historic view and one more.
Cornerstone from the third St. Joseph Hospital that was across 13th Street.
Rear of main building, from northwest corner. Similar historic view.
Basalt foundation details. Same area.

The "Not So Terrifying" Basement - and MoJo's Workspace.

TERRIFYING BASEMENT ACCESS on the west side of the site (eyeroll).
In the early 2000's a local "Ghost Hunting" group managed to get access to the Academy to try to talk to some dead people. Their website is pure cringe (sorry, not linking that crapshow), and the thing that cracks us up the most is all of their warnings about the basement of the site and how terrifyingly haunted it is. We have no idea what they are talking about, as this is one of our favorite spots in the building and never have gotten a bad feeling spending time here. In fact, it's Andrea's favorite part of the entire site! Mother Joseph's workshop was on the other side of the building in the basement, but the space shown here is similar to this (the other side is still unable to be opened to the public.) SJ's spouse Dave is exactly 6 feet tall, Mother Joseph's height. It was surprising to see how close to the ceilings her head would have been as she would have been bustling through the area at her fast pace, as she was always known to do.

Just want to walk around somewhere Super Haunted? Go across the street instead.

One of the coolest things about the basement is that there are SECRET TUNNELS leading from the Academy's lowest level across the street. The tunnels provided safe passage to nuns under the street to what was the basement of the St. Joseph's Hospital, also founded by Mother Joseph and the Sisters of Providence. The third hospital was just across 13th Street where the Comfort Inn and Black Angus are - and the servers at the restaurant can confirm that place is actually very, very haunted. We bet the hotel is too. So, if you only want to come to this block just to talk to some ghosts, we'd suggest you try across the street first. MoJo doesn't have time for your crap.
The third St. Joseph's Hospital in Vancouver was built from Hidden bricks. Shown circa 1916, it was sadly demolished in 1967. The first St. Joseph's was the first hospital in the Pacific Northwest and was started by MoJo.
Parking lot of the super haunted Black Angus Steakhouse, site of the third St. Joseph's Hospital.
"Ghost Bros" aren't welcome at the Providence Academy. Really. Take it somewhere else.
The Comfort Inn is built on the grounds of the former St. Joseph's Hospital.

Welcome To MoJo's House. Her Touches Are Everywhere.

The front Avant Corps of the Providence Academy holds lots of clues. SJ picked up the baton here from Robert Hidden.
SJ's initials near the front door, discovered on her birthday, despite being here dozens of times beforehand and not noticing.
Artwork explaining the Sacred Heart's shaped carriage path inside the Avant Corps, Academy's main entrance.
Andrea noticed sandstone clues to the Masonic influences here under the front door near amazing herringbone patterned ceiling.
Portrait of Mother Joseph painted in the 1970s by artist Vivian Smith who had her Smitty's Studio in the Academy. This studio interests us a lot...
...because near Urban Glow Salon, in a different part of the building, is a second painting by Vivian Smith's studio mate Nadine Swanson.
"Gift of the Seniors 1931-1932" outside the west entrance, part of the original sidewalk still here. Update May 2021: This is now gone.
Original white oak bouncing floors in main entrance, hall leads to the south side of the building and an east side door (near Urban Glow).
The large staircase goes through the entire building all the way up to the bell tower. The antique table was original to the building.

The Academy Chapel With a "Haunted Bell".

When the Sisters of Providence sold the Providence Academy in the 1960s it was facing demolition. Robert Hidden, grandson of L.M. Hidden - who founded the Hidden Brick Company at Mother Joseph's request in 1871, saved the Academy from the wrecking ball with the financial help of two of his sons. Robert's sister even described the building as "Bob's Money Pit" in the local press. Yikes!
Hidden brick hero and defender of historic buildings Robert Hidden trying to stop the demolition of the old Vancouver High School. He is holding a court order to try to stop the school's destruction. Thankfully, he had better luck saving the Providence Academy, but he had to buy it himself to save it.
Fortunately for us all, in the 1960's Robert began restoring the Providence Academy and turned it into a mixed use office building. Robert and his wife Margaret went to Seattle to bring back the pieces of the Providence Academy's chapel (Mother Joseph's woodwork) that the Sisters and had taken with them.
The altar and other pieces inside the chapel are on "permanent loan" from the Sisters as long as the Providence Academy building remains standing in Vancouver.

Listen to the haunted bell of the Providence Academy!

Original brass plaques are still throughout the building.
Third floor chapel entrance, showing the "haunted bell's" rope. Historic view.
The stained glass windows had to be replaced when the chapel was restored by the Hiddens.
Side altar also carved by MoJo. Historic View.
The restored main chapel altar. Historic View.
Masterful wood carving... everywhere.
Belgian wood and New Orleans metal, chapel altar railing. 1999 view showing white paint.
THUG LIFE. STOLE A JESUS. WE DO WHAT WE WANT.
The stolen Sacred Heart painting intended for St. Vincent's Hospital. As it appeared in 1966.
Chapel view from one of the upstairs balconies where the bedridden would attend services. Historic view.
The door (Historic view) leading to Mother Joseph's personal quarters, site of her death in 1902.
You are allowed to gently touch the items MoJo herself carved in the chapel on the tour. SJ felt oddly emotional doing so the first time.

SJ Got In Trouble In Church. Again.

My Liminal.Earth Oracle cards on the pew MoJo carved inside the chapel.
Location of the footsteps immediately heard when I pulled some Oracle cards. Historic view.
The original confession booths from the chapel are currently stored in the attic. Historic view.

Inside Mother Joseph's Room.

Finally, in April 2021 SJ was able to get inside what is now Suite 208 - what was Mother Joseph's personal quarters. She had ALL the feelings. This is the small room where she died in 1902, surrounded by her Sisters. The hole that was carved out of the wall so she could still attend church services as she suffered in her bed is still visible inside. Until very recently this suite was still in use as a Counseling Office, mainly to help heal traumatized women and families. It seemed appropriate that this was the room people went to for comfort, even if they had no idea the sacred space they were sharing their deepest pain in once was the quarters of a remarkable woman who dedicated her entire life to serving others.

The Infamous Haunted Top Floor Attic.

Most of the "ghostly" activity in this building is reported on the third floor. Again, if you think about what this part of the building was used for over time it makes sense that it is still a busy part of the facility.
Throughout the centuries this space has been used as nuns' quarters, classrooms, held rows of bunks for boarders, and was the location of the first indoor plumbing. This is also the first part of the building the Sisters were able to move into back in the earliest days, when the building was still without doors and windows.
This seemingly non-descript brown tile is historically important - it is the last remaining patch of the original floor tile covering in the building. Located in the stairway on the way to the top floor.
Only Mother Joseph's smart construction and their bodies huddled together for warmth got the Sisters and their charges through that first harsh winter at the Providence Academy. It would make sense this upper part of the building is where flashes of their handsome black and white habits are most frequently seen out of the corner of your eye, or a child's sweet giggle is heard in an empty room.
Just like the graffiti in the bell tower says: "Mother Joseph was here before all of you!" We find it comforting, not scary, to think that she still might be here to watch over her building.
View out the front windows of the Providence Academy.
Upstairs hallway on the way up, used to be classrooms and dorms, now leased office space.
View heading upstairs, looking up from the original brown tile spot.
Original vent and woodwork when you first walk in the main room.
This ominous looking shadow only belongs to one of the living.
This room had girls bunks lining it at one point. Dance classes also happened here. Historic view.
Small rooms with storage space. These look out over the front of the building.
These small rooms at the front were the original nuns' quarters that first rough winter in 1873. They look out over the front of the building.
Antique desk in the Academy's addition, facing the front of the building in the 3rd floor attic. SJ's favorite spot to sit in the whole building.
Lockers stored the humble personal items for the Sisters - 2 habits (one for the week, one for church only) and a pair of shoes. 1999 view.
Some of the graffiti from the past students upstairs. Some of the dorms in the past here.
View east from attic, looking out east over the Kindergarten/Gym building.
MoJo designed support beams to go through walls close to the bell. Near the stairs to the bell tower.

What's Going On Upstairs On the Haunted Top Floor?

Another item brought back to Vancouver includes the original Providence Academy chapel's bell, which weighs over 300 pounds! SJ can tell you, you have to get some momentum going to ring it loud and proud! Mother Joseph originally sourced this bell from Troy, New York and it was taken to Issaquah, Washington for safekeeping when the Academy closed in 1966. Tragically, the pilots that were flying the bell back to Vancouver in February 1975 perished in a terrible crash when their helicopter hit the side of a mountain near Chehalis, Washington.
There is an urban legend that the bell itself is "haunted" from the terrible and bizarre accident, and an additional grisly story linked back to the Academy's belltower has no factual basis. The real story behind the return of the bell to the Providence Academy is the one we should all remember.
Every time SJ gives a tour or talks about the bell she always says a little prayer for the two men - Captain Arnold J. Kraushaar of Molalla, Oregon and Sargeant DAC William L. Kinsey of Vancouver - who lost their lives bringing this historic treasure back to its original home.
You can see all the way to the Columbia River from the belltower.
The main open room, used for storage. Earlier view in 1999.
The long hallways can feel confusing and have a fun-house like atmosphere at times. You can't get lost, but feel lost.
One of the labyrinthian nooks and crannies of the attic of the Providence Academy.
Some not-so-Hidden bricks in a closet upstairs on the top floor.
You can see where the later addition that MoJo hated so badly began from certain places upstairs. 1999 view.
Back staircase to sacristy was closed. Historic view.
Indoor plumbing added in the 1920s, all at the rear of the building. Before that? Chamberpots down those long halls. Historic View.
Bird's eye view of the St. James Proto-Cathedral from the upstairs bathroom.
An antique radiator upstairs in the old bathrooms in the attic.
View of bell tower from 3rd floor. 1960's bell tower.
View of the chapel from the top floor. MoJo didn't like how the side altars looked from the windows.
One of the clever porthole skylights Mother Joseph designed to light her chapel.
More booths that MoJo herself carved upstairs in the choir loft.
A close up look at the 300 lb bell Mother Joseph sourced from New York in the 1800s.
From the top choir loft - every new view of the chapel reveals aspects of MoJo's perfect design.
Old bunk springs line one of the rooms on the top floor.
A peek into the highest part of the Academy (besides the belltower) - the attic's attic.
Stairs going from attic back down to the third floor of the Academy.

The Restored Ballroom.

The ballroom (located underneath the chapel) is available for event rental. There's a history display right outside with information about several important historical figures linked to Vancouver and the Providence Academy.
Items recovered in renovations in history display.
Part of the history display by the ballroom.
The restored ballroom, with painted marble pillars. Historic view.
A close up of the restored painted marble pillars in the ballroom. Space available for rental.
Some of the objects found during recent renovations.
An altar votive from the Chapel recently returned to the building where it belongs.
Looking out at site of former hospital and laundry - keeping her plots united was City Battle #1. The sites were connected by secret tunnels.
The site of the well that Mother Joseph constructed after she received her first City water bill - City Battle #2. What it looked like in 1966.
Laundry, Boiler and Smokestack from the east of the site. Kindergarden/gym on left. City Battle #3. Similar historic view.

The Laundry Room, Boiler Room, and Smokestack.

More Hidden paths in the rear of the complex on the way towards the laundry, as of 2020.
The laundry and smokestack, facing north. Inside the laundry building, 1952.
Laundry and smokestack looking east. One of the most haunted spots at the site. 1953 view.
The laundry has all kinds of very strange activity around it. Laundry in 1999.
The Smokestack is a beloved local symbol of hope, seen from the local freeway. 1995 view.
The Boiler Room doors, post-fire. The Historic Trust says they will display these doors.
Laundry, looking south. It didn't always look like this.
Irises outside of the Laundry, remnants of what used to be lush gardens surrounding the site.
Laundry details, facing south. 1999 look. Lots of shuffling in these windows. Is it just an egregore?
Rounded bricks from decades of wind. The Trust also minimized how many people died in here from the 1918 flu.
A critical 10 X 10 foot supporting structure linking the outbuildings mysteriously vanished. The Historic Trust cannot explain this removal.
The boiler room's wonderful herringbone masonry work deserved to be saved. This also powered the St. Joseph's Hospital.
The smokestack receives structural support from the boiler room, which had a bad fire decades ago and was sadly never repaired. 1995 look.
Boiler and smokestack from the northeast corner, looking southwest. This is near where the first St. Joseph's hospital and convent was located.
Stairs down to 13th Street, on the way to the site of the third St. Joseph's hospital, looking back at boiler. Similar historic view and another.

St. Joseph's Hospital - First in the Pacific Northwest.

The first convent/St. Joseph's Hospital was built in 1858. The second hospital operated 11 years and burned in 1878. 1906 - Peacehealth's Start.
Eventually, the Sisters built the final St. Joseph's Hospital on 13th Street after MoJo's death in 1911, built of Hidden brick.
The last St. Joseph's Hospital in 1957.
The Sisters operated the third St Joseph's hospital on 9th and Reserve Streets starting in 1879 until 1911.
The former site of the third St. Joseph's hospital, now the track for Hudson's Bay High School.
9th and Reserve is backed up to Fort Vancouver and has residential homes and a school track now.

The Sad Tale of Collusion Between the City, Marathon Development and The Historic Trust to Destroy Part of a Historic Site.

No one will be able to afford these ridiculous apartments anyway... and the Academy can't even fill its existing office space. Marathon Development threatened to walk over the rules to protect the site... so the City panicked at the loss of money and bent them. The Historic Preservation committee and many employees of Clark County vehemently oppose this development project, but currently there is no oversight process to prevent what is happening. Public pressure was the only tool we had to try prevent this demolition. (EDIT: May 2021 - demolition is now happening. Sorry, Mother Joseph.)
Update: May 2021 - Aegis construction is now in process.
This would be the third battle between the City of Vancouver and Mother Joseph regarding her site if she were still here "terrorizing" her workers throughout the renovations occurring there. We think this dirty Aegis deal may have been what "activated" that 1871 Hidden brick SJ found that we believe is a hypersigil. SJ tried to get answers from the Trust for well over a year and was blown off... until April 2021, when new management appeared. Stay tuned... we are what we would call "Cautiously Optimistic" at the recent turn of events.
Aegis Phase One - why they tore down El Presidente.
Demolition of El Presidente Restaurant, the first big chipping away.
Aegis Phase Two initial plan - note the ridiculous placement of the Smokestack... which they have now admitted they won't keep.
The City continually photoshopped out the Smokestack on hearing documents to confuse the public as to what they actually plan to demolish.
What was allowed to happen to the historic Academy Laundry building under the "management" of the Historic Trust.
There was never any attempt to secure the boiler building after a devastating fire decades ago. This was by design so that they could finally develop the site.
When you examine the amount of money collected just for the land for Phase One of the Aegis, suddenly all the sneaking around starts to make sense. This is big money. The Historic Trust can no longer be "trusted" to manage these precious historic sites.
Just one of the public documents showing purposeful corner cutting and misleading the parties did.
For complete information about the utter BS of this meeting and the lies told, see HERE.
Members of local government have spoken out about how the City has been misleading the public for years, admitting to insiders that the City and Trust always planned a "salvage," not a restoration.
The Bricks need new guardians. Welcome to the Team.
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