Bishop James A. Healy invited priests from the Society of Mary to serve Van Buren in the 1880s. They soon established a college with grades ranging from high school to the baccalaureate. The first building (seen above on the left) was completed in 1887. Due to low enrollment and consistent financial losses, the college closed in 1926, though high school courses were still offered under Marist leadership.

The card has no publication date or postmark. However, the image shows a new, four-story building made of brick or stone between two earlier structures (seen in MMN item 10914). This may be the building constructed through a $15,000 state grant allocated in 1907.

The college was located across from the parish church on Main Street.