CSTea House

Since the CST Alumnae Office closed in December 2024, the beloved Tea House building remains a part of the Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota (SMU) property, which at this time also includes the beautiful Chapel of Saint Mary of the Angels and the Alverna Center. If you would like to tour these buildings on campus, or host your own CST Class gathering, or rent any of these spaces, please contact SMU Event Services directly.

So, let’s “meet at the Tea House” the next time you are in Winona!

The preservation of the CSTea House as a piece of our College of Saint Teresa history on campus became the mission of a group of four dedicated CST alumnae in 1994, which included Frances Bowler Edstrom ’67, Ann Patterson Gibson ’69, Sue Schlink Edel ’69 and Sharon Erickson Ropes ’76. Funds were raised and the Tea House was gutted in 1994 preserving the original windows, doors, fireplace, and tile floor. All new electrical wiring, roof, sheet rock, heating, and air conditioning were installed and the building was ready for use.

The original mission was to preserve the history of the College of Saint Teresa; to reinterpret the mission of the College for the present generation; to encourage, support and affirm the present generation of women by providing programs that complement current educational programs; and alternatives to established women’s studies programs. Over the years, the Tea House has been rented out as a meeting space, hosting showers, anniversary parties, memorial services, campus tours, and concerts.

In 2001, the Alumnae Association moved our Alumnae Office over to the Tea House building, which kept our history alive and well. In 2013, the Alumnae Association started managing the Tea House funds, including a building maintenance fundraiser featuring the Tea House Memory Garden.

The Tea House Memory Garden was started by a group of 1955’ers that wanted to honor their fallen nursing classmates, and in doing so, energized the CST Alumnae Association board to cultivate this new visual opportunity to memorialize our lost CST alumnae, Sisters and friends of the College of Saint Teresa.

We are pleased to say the Tea House Memory Garden will remain at its current location, in front of the Tea House building at: 357 Gould Street, Winona, MN. Although our CST Alumnae Office permanently closed, our Teresan spirit carries on beyond this building, and all the buildings of this campus. We are Teresans!