A Brief History of Durward's Glen
Durward's Glen is a Nationally Registered Historic Place. The Glen is named after the family of Bernard Isaac Durward who purchased the property in 1862 and moved here with his wife and 5 children from Milwaukee on the Feast of All Saints, November 1st, of that year.
Bernard was born November 26, 1817 in Montrose, Scotland, the youngest of 5 children. Having lost his father while very young, he began work as a shepherd at the early age of 9. Here he developed his love for nature and fostered his artistic inclinations. Later, he became a shoemaker, but only toiled frenziedly at his trade during the last three days of a week to make his master’s quota. The rest of his time he spent in secret study of history and poetry and copying artworks borrowed from a nearby art school.
Later in life, Bernard Durward was invited by a family, the Hutchinsons, to paint their portraits. Mrs. Hutchinson invited her sister, Margaret Theresa Hildyard, to also have her portrait done. Bernard and Margaret met, a short courtship followed, and they married in 1842.
After the Hutchinsons moved to America, the Durwards followed. Bernard came first, arriving at New York, then continued on to Milwaukee by lakes and canals. He did some portraits to barter for basic food necessities. When he made enough money, he sent for his wife and two small children in 1845. Eventually, his portrait business boomed and in 1852 he was commissioned to paint the portrait of Milwaukee’s first Bishop, Archbishop Henni. This was his first encounter with the Catholic Faith which he and his family soon embraced. They were baptized in early 1853. Bernard’s faith life immediately touched his artistic work. His son, Father John, wrote of him, He had ever loved beauty, physical and moral. His greatest delight was the perception of the correspondence of things earthly with those heavenly, of the natural with the supernatural. To him, every forest bush is aflame with God, and every tree seems to exclaim Holy, Holy, Holy.
It was Bernard Durward’s faith filled perception of and love for nature that eventually brought him and his family to the Glen in 1862. Bernard and Margaret raised all of their 8 children here and remained until their deaths. Fulfilling the hopes of Bernard and Margaret, that Durward’s Glen would remain a haven of spiritual peace and natural beauty, their children offered the property to the religious Order of St. Camillus who received it in 1932. The Order operated Durward's Glen as a novitiate for over 40 years, during which time a parish was opened at the property. Later, the buildings were used as a retreat center.
In 2006, the parish was closed and the Order of St. Camillus put the property up for sale. But like the Durwards before them, they did not want to see the land held by strangers to whom traditions were not. The local community, particularly members of the St. Camillus Parish who form Our Lady of the Rosary Society, sought out and helped Magdalen College to receive the property in 2007.
For those involved in Magdalen College's acquisition, many elements for reflection have strengthened the convictions that Durward’s Glen remains a sanctuary of interaction between the earthly and heavenly realms.
- The Durward’s wanted to live in nature as a means of growing closer to God. The Magdalen College Program of Studies aims to educate young persons in accord with their nature, as created by God and as restored by Christ.
- One of St. Camillus’ most popular quotes is, “Think well, speak well, do well. These three things, through the mercy of God, will make a man go to heaven.” The Magdalen College Program of Studies has as its primary objective, that of helping young people to live life well.
- A print of one of Bernard Durward’s first paintings of the Immaculate Conception has hung in the vestibule of Magdalen College’s chapel for years.
- The mortal remains of St. Camillus de Lellis, founder of the Order of St. Camillus are located in the altar of the Church of Mary Magdalen in Rome, Italy.
"My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,' says the Lord.
'For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts." ~Isaiah 55:8-9
