HISTORY OF DOLCE NORWALK

In 1904, the Congregation of the Holy Spirit and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, assembled a large tract along Weed Avenue. By buying parcels from several land owners,  their plan was to establish a seminary that would award bachelor’s degrees and provide a full complement of ecclesiastical courses.  The priests, commonly called the Holy Ghost Fathers, selected Norwalk because they were looking for a site conveniently located between New York and Boston.

The official name of the institution was St. Mary’s Seminary, but it was generally know as “Ferndale” because of the abundance of ferns growing on the property. Ferndale was a largely self-contained facility where the seminarians were trained to serve as missionaries under difficult conditions that would often require them to perform not only spiritual tasks but practical ones as well.  Members of the community served in various capacities such as barbers, shoemakers and photographers to meet the residents’ needs.

Beginning in the 1930’s and continuing until the 70’s.  Ferndale maintained a busy schedule of retreats for church parishes, other religious groups and children.  The seminary was also popular with many of its West Norwalk neighbors who walked its paths and relaxed on its grounds.  Local youngsters fished in its ponds in the warm weather and ice-skated there in the water.

In the summer of 1978, representatives of GTE and the Holy Ghost Fathers held a series of meetings to discuss the possible sale of Ferndale. The priests were concerned about how a potential might use the property.  They liked GTE’s plan to establish an education center on the site, thus perpetuating the purpose it had served for more than 70 years while retaining the property’s natural charm. Satisfied with what they had learned during their meetings, the priests signed an agreement in July 1979 to sell Ferndale to GTE.  The company formally took possession of the property the following month.The unique design of the Center’s buildings and the carefully planned landscaping of its 66 acres of woods, fields, and ponds combine to provide a rich, complete experience for those who attend programs here at the Dolce Center.  This includes not only the learning sessions in specially designed classrooms but also the less formal yet equally productive interactions that take place among participants during meals, social hours, athletic pursuits and other formal activities.

The Norwalk Center is staffed by some 100 men and women who operate the facility and carry out the arrangements for the courses, meetings and other activities held throughout the year. Since first opening it's doors, thousands of men and women have attended courses, meetings and other programs at the facility, which is widely recognized for the many innovative features it employs to enhance the management education process.  Because of its reputation, each year hundreds of corporate executives come to obtain ideas useful in establishing similar centers for their own companies.