Blessed Samuel Mazzuchelli, OP, an Italian Catholic missionary, founds the Sinsinawa Dominican sisters. He serves both the Native Americans and settlers, founding—and in some cases designing and building—village churches. His mission takes him from the north shore of Lake Michigan through the Fox and Wisconsin Mississippi river valleys into northeastern Iowa. 

Blessed Samuel Mazzuchelli, OP, an Italian Catholic missionary, founds the Sinsinawa Dominican sisters. He serves both the Native Americans and settlers, founding—and in some cases designing and building—village churches. His mission takes him from the north shore of Lake Michigan through the Fox and Wisconsin Mississippi river valleys into northeastern Iowa. 

Former Wisconsin Governor, Washburn, moves to Minneapolis and donates his lakeside estate to the sisters for use as a convent and school for girls. The sisters take in and educate both paying boarders and orphaned girls in need. St. Regina Academy at Edgewood is founded and its first graduate is Cassie Matthews, in June 1893.

Former Wisconsin Governor, Washburn, moves to Minneapolis and donates his lakeside estate to the sisters for use as a convent and school for girls. The sisters take in and educate both paying boarders and orphaned girls in need. St. Regina Academy at Edgewood is founded and its first graduate is Cassie Matthews, in June 1893.

In November, the villa and a new 4-story brick and stone building burn in a tragic fire, leaving only the carriage house and a few outbuildings standing. Three students die and sister is hospitalized after trying in vain to save them. Some of the stone is salvaged and crushed for a driveway, while some other materials are sold, and construction begins once again in the spring on the new structure.

The school reopens under a new name, Sacred Heart Academy at Edgewood. The academy building includes convent and dormitory rooms, classrooms and a chapel.

In November, the villa and a new 4-story brick and stone building burn in a tragic fire, leaving only the carriage house and a few outbuildings standing. Three students die and sister is hospitalized after trying in vain to save them. Some of the stone is salvaged and crushed for a driveway, while some other materials are sold, and construction begins once again in the spring on the new structure.

The school reopens under a new name, Sacred Heart Academy at Edgewood. The academy building includes convent and dormitory rooms, classrooms and a chapel.

An additional wing is built on the Academy, providing new dining rooms. a kitchen and a community room, plus five music rooms and some other classrooms. 

With the outbreak of World War I, students at Sacred Heart Academy begin providing volunteer service to the Red Cross, knitting sweaters and wristlets, making pajamas and shotbags, and folding surgical dressings.

in 1918 School has to be closed for a month due to an exceptionally virulent worldwide pandemic of Spanish flu—as many as 40 Sacred Heart Academy students are sick at a time. In 1919, a grotto is erected next to Marshall Hall, dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes, in gratitude that no sister or student died of the disease that killed thousands.

At the request of the growing number of the city’s Catholic parishes and parents, boys are admitted as day students. In 1925, Albert Kelsey, son-in-law of Governor Washburn, designs a new cream brick building decorated with terra cotta tilework. The building plan has a 10-story tower with wings on either side. The cost is prohibitive so the plans are scaled back to include just a 4-story central tower.  

In 1927 Edgewood High School of the Sacred Heart opens its doors. In addition, junior college courses are now offered for young women, who live in the tower of the building while the academy building continues to serve as convent, dormitory and classroom/studio space. The east end of the building houses the largest room, a combination auditorium and gymnasium. Coach Willis Jones organizes a football team, with 25 boys reporting for practice.

Multiple renovations and construction projects have been completed over the years. The younger students move into a new facility, Edgewood Campus Grade School. Edgewood College eventually begins to move into its own new buildings, beginning with the Mazzuchelli Biological Station in 1956.