Located at 1813 N. Alabama Street on the grounds of St. Mary’s Academy, the Marian House is one of the featured homes on the 24 Club Historical Tour of Homes. The house was built in 1910 as the Rufus Jackson Family Home.  The Jackson family came to Silver City from Tennessee seeking the healthy environment that Silver City offered.

According to a news release dated 27 September 1910 about the Jackson residence:  “When completed it will be the finest residence in Silver City, and possibly in this section of New Mexico.  The building is of pressed brick and contains ten rooms….  Each of the rooms is finished in hardwood with oak floors and mahogany beam ceilings. 

Two  bed-rooms have maple floors and mahogany and white enamel trim…..Every room in the building, as well as the sleeping porches, will be heated by steam heat, the plant for which will be installed in the basement…..among the other conveniences will be  local telephone service with six phones at convenient places around the premises.”  The original cost of the home is listed at $18,000. Several  additions have been added to the house throughout the years.

St. Mary’s Academy was established in 1918.The Sisters of St. Joseph from Tipton, Indiana came to Silver City and took over the operations of an existing school and sanatorium.  The Sisters sold other Silver City properties and purchased two homes which stood side by side on Alabama Street…the Aubrey Lee house and Rufus Jackson house.  Both had been built as family homes for wealthy health seekers.  They formed the nucleus of a campus for a new school, St. Mary’s Academy.

The Marian house has served the church and community in many different roles.  At one time it was used as a residence hall for the nuns and as a girl’s dormitory.  In more recent years it housed El Refugio and the Life Quest Early Intervention Program.  Today it is used primarily as a retreat site for many community and ecumenical resources.  Behind the house is a wonderful labyrinth created by Sister Rita.  The beautiful chapel at St.Mary’s Academy, which was built in 1924, will also be opened for visitors during the home tour.