After the Sisters of St. Joseph bought the property in 1941, they used the building as a kindergarten and residence.
Older St. Augustinians remember their days in the kindergarten in the above-ground basement where Sister Patrick Theresa was the legendary longtime kindergarten teacher. She was active in both a prison ministry and hospital ministry and was known for walking everywhere.
Villa Flora is located in one of the most historic parts of St. Augustine. Property next to the Villa and directly across the street from the mother house of St. Joseph was the site of the early Spanish chapel Nuestra Senora de la Soledad, said Sister Mary Christine Zimorski, who oversees Villa Flora. The chapel included a small hospital and a small cemetery.
"Remains have been found in the cemetery," Zimorski said, pointing to the green space next to Villa Flora. During one dig in the area, buttons from British soldiers' tunics were found.
via staugustine.com