Pump House Museum to wrap summer series with talk on Felt Mansion’s link to Pope Leo XIV
Historian and author Elizabeth McEwen is set to present "The Felt Mansion and Its Connection to Pope Leo XIV," shedding light on how the historic West Michigan estate ties into the background of the first American leader of the Roman Catholic Church.
HOLLAND — The Pump House Museum will wrap up its 2026 Summer Speaker Series on Wednesday, Aug. 26, with a look into the unexpected intersection between a local landmark and Vatican history.
Historian and author Elizabeth McEwen is set to present "The Felt Mansion and Its Connection to Pope Leo XIV," shedding light on how the historic West Michigan estate ties into the background of the first American leader of the Roman Catholic Church.
While the Felt Mansion was originally built by inventor Dorr E. Felt, the property operated as St. Augustine Seminary High School from 1949 to 1970. Though the preparatory school relocated before Pope Leo XIV (then Robert Francis Prevost) graduated in 1973, the institution's roots at the estate forge a lasting link between the local site and the papacy.
McEwen's talk will trace the estate's complete arc — from its origins as a private residence and its era as a Catholic seminary to its present status as a restored historic site — while addressing how the recent papal election has reignited interest in its past.
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The presentation serves as the grand finale for the museum's seasonal series, which highlighted regional history across Ottawa Beach, Holland and West Michigan.
The event takes place at the Pump House Museum and Learning Center, 2282 Ottawa Beach Road. Doors open at 6 p.m., with the presentation beginning at 7 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public, with donations accepted to support the educational mission of the operating nonprofit, the Historic Ottawa Beach Society.
— Submitted by The Pump House Museum. To submit a news tip, email newsroom@ottawanewsnetwork.org.
