Abbot Pennings with Students

When founded in 1898, St. Norbert College only had four students enrolled. The original two were enrolled by their parents and the other two joined their friends after climbing through a window to attend one of Abbot Pennings lectures in Old St. Joseph’s rectory. The population of students rose slower and increased significantly in 1902 when Main Hall was erected, giving St. Norbert College a more holistic college campus feeling. Finally in 1929, over thirty years after its initialization, the distinction between St. Norbert College and St. Norbert High School was made. In the beginning years, most of the faculties were confrere of the Norbertine Abbey across the river or Pennings himself. The subject focused on were French, German, ancient history and so forth. (van Stratum)