History
1893
The Leonhardstrasse 12 is built
1906
Original Mission statement:
«As all gentlemen aware of the dangers threatening our youth; knowing that these young boys are poorly educated and therefore in need of an accommodation as close to their fatherly home as possible, an ideal one has to encourage by any means necessary…”
1907
Pricing for a room ranges between CHF 20 – 50. Meals are available for 1 franc per day.
1913
The city of Zurich is installing electrical light.
1915
The reconstruction of the staircase and the corridors is postponed for a year due to the war!
1928
The building «Auf-der-Mauer 21» has been bought.
1929
11 nuns are looking after the house, 78 residents (almost all of them members of the Catholic Youth Society) are living and dining at the Maximilianeum.
1931
Up to 280 roamers and passers-by are taken in, every day between 15-20 homeless obtain food and provision.
1934
Oil heating is being installed and various renovations of the kitchen and rooms undertaken. Due to a reconstruction of the Leonhardstrasse the Maximilianeum is losing its front garden.
1936
Log entry: «Even when occasional twists occur out of juvenile devilment, overall, the leadership of these young adults is excellent, especially the nightly prayers on Jesus-Fridays and the Christian circles.”
1939
Three residents were dismissed due to severe violation of the house rules. Four apprentices were given the advice of «consilum abeundi» - to terminate their education.
1953
Pricing for meals has increased to CHF 5.- per day.
1957
The Max is turning 50! A celebrational service is held.
1960
For the first time in history over a hundred applicants have to be dismissed. Applicants have to give notice one year in advance.
1960
The contract with the monastery “Obersassbach” is terminated and the last remaining nuns are leaving the Max. 10 new employees are taking the leadership.
1970
The number of students is rising and the number of apprentices is decreasing.
1978
Log entry: «Most students are practicing Catholics. Above all, thanks to the religious spirit of our leadership we can offer them important impulses for their life. This effect is often shown later in their life when they return as grown men visiting the Max.”
1985
The building Leonhardstrasse 14 (former: a facility for the blind) is bought. The following year, on February the 17th the big reconstruction begins: The locations Leonhardstrasse 12 + 14 as well as Auf-der-Mauer 21 are united to the current “Max 12”.
1988
Establishing of sponsorship: “No resident should be excluded of the Maximilianeum because he can’t afford the prices”. As the first student dorm nationwide the Maximilianeum receives its own internet connection and website. In the following years residents become more international.
1993
The Katharinawerk of Basel is taking the leadership of the houses for 10 years. Women are now permitted to stay at the Max. Meals on the weekends are cancelled and full board substituted with half board.
2003
The administrators are directly employed by the Josef-association.
2007
The Max is celebrating its hundred anniversary!
2008
«Max 13» is open! In September, after finishing the reconstructions the first residents are moving in.
2010
The walls in the hallways are repainted, the staircases and the kitchen are renovated. In Max 12 a separate kitchen for the students is installed. Over the following years all rooms get refurnished.
2015
New kitchen utilities are being installed. With help of a professional chef a new menu plan is established to provide further variation on a healthy diet for all residents.