Kemper Hall was originally known as Durkee Mansion, the estate of early
Kenosha, Wisconsin settler
Charles Durkee. The mansion was built in 1861 as Durkee was completing his one term in the
United States Senate. In 1865, Senator Durkee's home was donated to the
St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, who aimed to convert the house into an all girls' boarding school. and renamed Kemper Hall in honor of
Jackson Kemper, the first missionary bishop of the
Episcopal Church of the United States. A year later, the first graduating class held its ceremony there. A four-story dormitory was built to the south of this complex in 1894 and extended in 1901. In 1893, the Griffin Observatory was added to the south wing of the school. The Durkee mansion was linked to the church in 1908 with the construction of the cloister music house. Three years later, a
convent was built to the north, linked to the chapel with a nun's residence, known as Ambrose Hall. Kemper Hall surrounded their learning with athletic competition, self-discipline, and prayer. to the
Third Avenue Historic District. Today, the complex operates as a
501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, including, a conference and special events center with programs, and various types of classes offered. ==References==