1854 when the Congregation of Notre Dame of Montreal purchased the estate to open a boarding school. They called it Villa Maria. Although some people believe the name is Latin for Ville Marie, which was Montreal's original name when first settled, it actually translates to "House of Mary". The school stopped boarding students in 1966 and now is a high school for childen in Montreal and surrounding areas from the ages 12–17 (or Levels 1 to 5 according to Quebec Education levels - equivalent of Grades 7 to 11). Villa-Maria metro station is named after the school. Notable students Pauline Fréchette (1889–1943; graduated, 1908), poet, dramatist, journalist, nun Veronica Lake, American actress Maybelle Stephens Mitchell, American suffragist Jessica Pare, actress Anna T. Sadlier (1854–1932), writer References External links Villa Maria's home page Catholic secondary schools in Quebec Government Houses in Canada High schools in Montreal Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce