Benefit Tour and Piano Concert at Bridal Veil Villa on Aug. 19th

Bridal Veil, Oregon.  August 7, 2000.

The Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist announce the fifth tour of their home - the Villa at Bridal Veil - on Saturday, August 19 from 3:30 to 6:00 p.m. Cost is $30 per person and includes wine and a light hors d'oeuvres. Refreshments will be served on the bowling green in front of the Villa in the spectacular Columbia Gorge, 30 minutes from Portland, Oregon. Brazilian pianist Marilia Caputo will perform a one-hour concert from 5:00 to 6:00 following the tour. Proceeds benefit the Franciscan Montessori Earth School & St. Francis Academy, an independent Catholic Montessori school in Portland serving students ages 2 1/2 through 18.

The public tours began in 1993 and met with great success. Tours were held again in 1994, 1995 and 1998. Further work has been completed on the house since that time. The tour is the only opportunity for the general public to visit the house and grounds.

Built in 1916 as a summer estate for Dorothy Jacobson, the Villa's architect was Morris H. Whitehouse who also designed the Columbia Gorge Hotel. After a number of subsequent owners that left the villa in serious disrepair, the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist purchased it in 1975 and have spent the past twenty-five years restoring the Villa and surrounding gardens to their original grandeur. The two-story brick structure is faced with stucco in the Mediterranean style. A low-pitched hipped roof, with overhanging eaves and modillions, crowns the modified rectangular building and its projecting wings. Special features at the main entrance include an expansive driveway and reflecting pool. On the north facade, French doors open onto a large terrace, from which two flights of stairs descend to the bowling green and other enclosed gardens.

The House at Bridal Veil, a 200-page book written by Anita Birt chronicling the complete history of the Villa through text and photos will be available for sale. The Sisters also have extensive scrapbooks documenting the life of the Villa that will be available for viewing at the tour.

A permanent home for seven Sisters, the Villa is also a retreat center for Portland area businesses and organizations. However, retreat openings are limited.

Tour tickets will be limited to no more than 250. For more information, or to reserve your tickets by phone, call the Franciscan Montessori Earth School, 503-760-8220.