100 Years of Breaking Ground at Misericordia

This is the shovel used in July 1922, when ground was broken for the cornerstone of the Administration Building, at a ceremony attended by over 300 people. The cornerstone was laid on September 24, 1922, at a relatively understated event—the real celebration was to take place September 24, 1924, when College Misericordia, along with the motherhouse and novitiate, opened.

This ceremonial shovel has been used in every groundbreaking on Misericordia’s campus since 1922. Shown here are photographs of the shovel being used over the last one hundred years.