Later, he expanded the house attached to the Oratory, transforming it into an educational institute for students and apprentices. In 1853, he began constructing a new building, which he completed in 1856. He established workshops and high school classes, and the number of students increased significantly. This growth accelerated even more after he purchased the nearby Filippi house in 1860, allowing for further expansion.
In April 1859, while Piedmont and France were preparing for war against Austria, a military inspection team from the Ministry of War arrived at the Oratory. They planned to convert the building into a military barracks for officers or a hospital for wounded soldiers.
Additionally, due to an oversight, two seminarians from the Oratory were not listed among those exempt from military service.
Fortunately, as documented in the Biographical Memoirs (vol. 6), Don Bosco managed to prevent both situations, ensuring that his Oratory remained a place of education and faith rather than a military facility.
