Following is a factual and fascinating story of the history of SEM and the land on which it stands. The property has been a focal point of many enjoyable and interesting activities.

It is believed that this tract of land was originally an Indian hunting or battle ground, because of the numerous arrowheads, stone hatchets, and other such relics that have been found.

The earliest transactions of land in this part of the country were military surveys, which reserved all the land between the Little Miami and the Scioto Rivers for the soldiers of Virginia who fought in the Revolutionary War. It is interesting to note that George Washington received a tract of land on the other side of the Little Miami River, opposite the Terrace Park County Club.

In 1788 John Nancarrow, a Dutch burgomaster, surveyed and laid claim to this land east of Cincinnati. In his later years he increased his acreage with profits from the grain market.

However in 1802 speculation finally ruined him, forcing him to sell 230 acres to Philip Gatch.

In 1806 John Hageman acquired 64 of these acres for his grain and flourmills, thus giving the area the name of Hageman’s Mills.

Mathias Kugler moved to the United States from Baden, Germany. He was employed at Waldschmidt Mills in Little Germany (now known as Camp Dennison).

A few years later Mathias Kugler married Waldschmidt’s daughter. After the birth of their two sons, Mathias succeeded in his father-in-law’s business and merged with Hageman. Their interest soon grew to include gristmills, sawmills, paper mills, a distillery, as well as a general store. Around 1830 Mathias’s son, John, acquired the entire enterprise and moved to Hageman’s Mills (Milford).

It was necessary for customers to ford the river; hence the little town lost the name of Hageman’s Mills and became Milford.

John Kugler decided that the property along the Little Miami River (the current SEM property) would make a nice picnic grove. He called this area “Kugler Woods” and it was especially favored by churches and lodges for picnicking.

John Kugler planted a large potato patch on the rich, fertile soil here. On the front part of the grounds he planted a fruit orchard. It was known as one of the best orchards in the vicinity.

The interior of the property was heavily wooded with maple trees. The trees were tapped and sugar was boiled down to be turned into molasses in a small shed that stood where the Spiritual Center’s basketball court is now located.

During this time Post Roads were being built. The drive on the east side of the property was the first United States Post Road in this section of the county.

A narrow gauge railroad, which was then called the Little Miami Railroad (a division of the present Norfolk and Western), laid its tracks through the current Terrace Park Country Club and Spiritual Center.

A banquet was given for the spectators after they witnessed the marvel. Just before the banquet, the young men who resided in Milford and were well known for their rough tactics, made a grand rush for the victuals. The tables were turned over; the food was thrown to the ground and trampled. This caused a little grief, since everyone went away hungry.

The Little Miami Railroad soon went bankrupt and as a result the line was never opened to a passenger train. The train station remains today, on the Spiritual Center property.

The level stretch of ground at SEM Villa’s side gate was a baseball diamond. It was home to the Milford amateur nine. The team lasted for about eight years and was more than a get-together team. The team won the Silver Ball, the amateur baseball trophy in Ohio. This team made Milford proud. The Famous Nine often played the Cincinnati Reds second team and “trimmed” them regularly. Miller Huggins, former manager for the New York Yankees, played for the Famous Nine.

The field was also a favorite spot for the town’s display of fireworks on the Fourth of July.

One year after John Kugler’s death, Mrs. Kugler remarried a man by the name of Townsend.

In May of 1895, William T. Irwin, a Cincinnati stockbroker, bought the 88 acres of land bordering the Little Miami River from the Townsend-West Estate. The new building served as his summer home, but in the winter he lived in his home on East Fourth St., in Cincinnati, which at the time was the finest residential district in the city. He dropped the name of “Kugler’s Woods” and called his new property “Ripples”, for the beautiful ripples in the Little Miami River. Stone was carried up from the river and a milk house, bathhouse, icehouse, greenhouse, barn, and windmill/powerhouse were constructed. In September of 1895 his stone home was completed. Tennis courts were installed and a croquet court was established.

In the 1890’s it was thought that it was beneficial to one’s health to bathe in the Little Miami River, so that was the fashion.

Mr. Irwin’s work was down town, so in the evening, after office hours, he would drive to his summer home in his stately carriage, drawn by two and sometimes four horses.

The house was graced by numerous window boxes overflowing with beautiful multi-colored flowers. The outside walls of the house were draped with Virginia ivy.

In 1897 Will Irwin returned home from a visit to Scotland with a few golf clubs. He and his friends played this new game on the vacant land located at the end of the property. In 1900 a club was formed and then incorporated in 1910. This club and the chain of events that followed resulted in the Terrace Park County Club.

Will Irwin seemed to be quite an interesting man. He had an unusual way of planting the trees, which grace the beautiful grounds.

He would throw up sticks and, wherever they would fall, he would have a tree planted. This accounts for the fact that the trees are not planted in any order and that many trees are growing near one another. There were many stones along the drives. Mr. Irwin would have them whitewashed and then the next week he would have the gardener scrubbing them clean from their white coat.

When the orchard bore fruit, the city boys would come and steal the apples and pears. This vexed Mr. Irwin. He would ride through the orchard on horseback, wearing a tall, black silk hat and followed by his large dog. He was so angered by this, that he ordered the gardener to uproot all the fruit trees.

After electricity came to Milford, Mr. Irwin still insisted on using oil lamps and candles in his country home. He said it gave his home the atmosphere of the country.

Mrs. Irwin was noted for her kindness in dealing with others. She had noticed that their cook had been missing Mass on Sundays and asked her the reason.

The cook answered that if she went to Mass, she would not be able to have dinner finished on time. Mrs. Irwin answered that in the future they would have dinner one hour later.

Four children blessed the Irwin marriage. However sorrow came, when the twin boys died as infants and their daughter Janet died at age 12. Their youngest daughter, Anna Louise survived.

In 1905 a swimming pool was installed. An ice skating rink was also created for winter days, but it leaked on the first trial and was never completed.

In 1915 Irwin built, for his daughter’s debut and dances, the round, glass enclosed pavilion, which they called their Villa.

The Irwin’s had the pleasure of entertaining frequently, for their large home could provide overnight accommodations for 23 guests. At times 400 people attended these lavish parties.

The Tafts and Procters, as well as other noted families visited frequently.

What a colorful sight it must have been, when all the roads leading to the Ripples were filled with carriage after carriage being welcomed to the Irwin Villa. The Irwin’s hired many musicians so beautiful music was always heard coming from these grand parties.

Mr. Irwin later added two wings onto the house, making this his home for the entire year.

In 1922 the Irwin’s sole heir, their daughter, Anna Louise, married Frances Baldwin and was no longer interested in the property.

The estate was for sale. In 1925 St. Xavier College was in search of a site for a novitiate for the Jesuits, a seminary school for young student boys studying the priesthood. St. Xavier purchased the property. The decision to locate the novitiate here was considered a compliment to Milford.

The Jesuits were self sufficient. They planted vegetable gardens. Barns were constructed and filled with livestock. Several wooden barracks-style buildings were constructed, until the novitiate was complete. The permanent building was completed in 1927 and is now SEM Villa.

The rain was pouring when a train from St. Louis came into town, carrying two Jesuit priest and a group of novices. Upon awaking the next morning, the heavens had cleared and the novices found themselves in a park-like setting, surpassing in beauty anything they had anticipated.

The pastoral grounds served as a friendly and open community. Life was simple. During the day they observed a general rule of silence. If there was a need to speak, it was done so in Latin. Each novice had to perform a series of simple chores throughout the day. Classes were held in the morning as well as the afternoon. Their lives were not without fun; in the late afternoon and evening they would enjoy swimming, tennis, handball, baseball, and football. They also had time for relaxation and music.

Many customs were observed. One of which was that each evening after supper, these scholastics would march around the spacious grounds singing in four-part harmony. It was said to be such a beautiful sound, that the neighbors living across the river in Terrace Park, would walk down to the riverbank each evening to listen to this wonderful singing, which carried clearly across the river to them. The Jesuits worked and studied hard. Whatever they did, they did with a prayer on their lips.

In 1969 the novitiate closed because it was decided that its men should more actively pursue a missionary role in their communities. It was felt that the best way was to de-emphasize the purely contemplation training of the novices in favor of trying to integrate them with their contemporaries. It was preferred that the seminarians live in dormitories on the campus of the university where they were studying. Then they could mingle with other students and enjoy an exchange of ideas with each other, as well as relating to the problems of the layman.

It seemed sad for the novitiate to stand empty; the scampering antics of the squirrels and rabbits were a faint reminder of the sandals and black robed Jesuits who worked and prayed here.

In the meantime, St. Xavier was hosting clergy and laymen’s retreats in the original stone house and barracks. The laymen’s retreat program grew rapidly and was organized as the “Men of Milford” Retreat League.

In 1949 the “Men of Milford” secured necessary financing and constructed the beautiful Californian, Franciscan style Milford Retreat House on the southern end of the property. It was completed to house 65 retreatants and three priests, with a dining facility, a large lounge, and a beautiful chapel.

In 1955 the stone house and the barracks were renovated by the Jesuit Brothers to be used as a high school and college retreat house.

This portion of the property is now the Spiritual Center and is enjoyed by many for retreats today.

In 1966 congregations from nine different denominations of churches met to discuss the possibility of working together to provide programs for those whose needs were not being met by other agencies. They began as a “profession of faith” and joined in Christian witness. They were committed to the whole mission of the church.

The basic resource for SEM is people – clergyman, members of participating congregations, and local friends. This is how the Southeastern Ecumenical Ministry, SEM was created.

One area of notable concern was housing for senior citizens.

In October of 1971 the task force purchased 55 acres from the Jesuits. At this time they also constructed SEM Manor in Anderson Township. SEM Manor consists of 144 apartments for low-income seniors. Federal rent assistance is available to those who qualify.

With the help of a HUD approved mortgage, the Novitiate was remodeled, providing 158 living quarters with all meals provided in a central dining room. It was to be a government-assisted retirement facility, designed for low-income seniors. SEM Villa opened its doors in September of 1972. This was a unique living arrangement for this time.

The Novitiate had been solely male oriented, managed by men, for men; women had no part. Few, if any went beyond the office, kitchen, or dining room. The winds of change have seen women playing a major role in the ministry of SEM to its older residents. The majority of residents are now women as well.

The tap of canes and walkers has replaced the vigorous steps of young manhood.

In 1976 SEM Terrace was constructed - a 115 unit, ranch style building with the idea of comfortable living, all on one floor. Each unit has its own patio. You can let someone else take care of your meal preparation, as all meals are served in a central dining room.

In 1979 SEM Laurels was constructed, providing 122 efficiency, one and two bedroom apartments, each equipped with a full kitchen.

In 1981 SEM Haven was opened as a 101 bed nursing facility. There is also a wing for assisted living containing 46 rooms.

The Novitiate was intent upon the work of God in every activity. This work is carried on by SEM, in another endeavor of human need.

SEM is comprised of many denominations and some individuals who belong to no church at all.

The plans of God seem to be as far reaching as the winds and as deep as the water in the river that channels the brooding hills of the property. The woodland campus has benches overlooking the river, the valley, and the courtside on which, older people, can now bask in the sunshine and lose themselves in dreams.

There has always been a sense of peace that is apparent as you make your entrance onto the spacious grounds. It is a quiet place with a unique and interesting history.

The completed Retirement Living concept visibly celebrates the belief of the Southeastern Ecumenical Ministry, “We should never do alone what we can do together”.

References

A History of Clermont County, Arthur P. Bancroft
The little Miami Railroad, Robert L. Black
Gazeteer & Directory, Bancroft
Clermont County Courthouse, Probate Court, Batavia, Ohio
Missouri Province Catalogue
Excerpt from Father Breen
Excerpt from Father Schmidt
Clermont County Deed Book, Recorders office, Batavia, Ohio
Superior’s Dairy
Novice Diary
Milford Historical Society
Stockades in the Wilderness, John Steinle & Richard Scamyhorn
History of Hamilton & Clermont County
Milford Public Library Collection
Newspapers & Publications
Father Diehl

SEM Member Churches