History

In 1858 the Sisters of Saint Joseph purchased a property in Chestnut Hill which was to become the motherhouse for the Congregation.

The use of that property grew to accommodate Mount St. Joseph Academy High School and Chestnut Hill College.

In 1894 the Rex Farm in neighboring Flourtown was purchased by the Sisters. Thorough the years the land became home to a new school building for Mount St. Joseph Academy, St. Joseph Villa, the retirement home for the Sisters of St. Joseph, and in 1984 Bethlehem Retirement Village.

For the Sisters of St. Joseph, the dream of providing affordable, safe, secure convenient housing in an Village buildingattractive setting, for low income seniors became a reality with the building of Bethlehem Village.