St. Viator's grew out of the originalBourbonnais village school, founded in 1865 by theViatorians,[1] to anacademy for boys[2] with the help of Father P. Beaudoin and Brothers Martel and Bernard. On September 6, 1868 it became a four-yearliberal arts college with the aid of Father Thomas Roy. After nine years of work, Father Roy returned to his home in Canada, and was succeeded by Father M. J. Marsile, who oversaw the college for another 25 years. In 1906, several buildings were destroyed by fire, but courses continued in improvised quarters and new buildings were erected. Father Marsile afterward resigned, and Reverend John Patrick O'Mahoney C.S.V. was appointed president. Under financial pressure, the college closed in 1938.[3]
Roy Memorial Chapel was named for Father Thomas Roy, who served as president of the college. Marsile Alumni Hall was named in honour of Father M. J. Marsile, who was college president for 25 years.[3] After St. Viator's closed in 1938, the campus was purchased byOlivet Nazarene College fromOlivet, Illinois.[4] Four buildings on the Olivet Nazarene campus are original from the days of St. Viator's 39-acre campus.
St. Viator College had a preparatory department and high school in addition to the college and seminary and, for most of its years, had an enrollment of over 300 students.[3]
During its existence, St. Viator was the host of the Catholic State Basketball Tournament for Illinois.[5] St. Viator College was a member of theIllinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference from 1916 to 1938.
Many of the college's graduates were priests, but even more entered the professions of law and medicine.[3] Notable alumni includedJohn Tracy Ellis,[6]Sam J. McAllister,Fulton J. Sheen,[7] G. Raymond Sprague,[8] Bernard James Sheil.[9] and Joseph James Smith, youngest son of the notorious gangster and con artist"Soapy" Smith.[10] Graduates entering the entertainment field includeJack Berch, popular singer and personality on four networks during theGolden Age of Radio.[11]
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