USA > Indiana > History of the Catholic church in Indiana, Volume I > Part 45
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The first teachers employed in the school were four Sisters of Providence: Sister Clementine, Sister Mary Michael, Sister Mary Lewis and Sister Mary Peter. Since then the number of teachers has been increased to eleven, and the attendance of pupils has reached an enrolment of 168 boys and 195 girls. The average annual expenditure for the maintenance of the school is about $1,500. This amount is derived from monthly tuition fees, the average charge to each pupil being fifty cents. The expense per pupil is about six dollars a year. The present value of the school ground, including a spacious play-ground, is $5,000. The value of the building, with its appurtenances, is $15,000, which figure includes the value of the Sisters' residence adjoining. Rev. H. M. Plaster is the present reverend director of the school.
All Saints' School .- Father Edward F. Barrett erected a school-building in Hammond at a cost of $1,000, and opened a school in September, 1897. The children of the English-speaking parishioners of St. Joseph's church, after their separation, still attended St. Joseph's school, until circumstances made it possible to have their own. The school has 155 pupils, and are taught by four Sisters of Providence, under the direction of Sister Mary Patrice. Tuition fees are exacted as nieans of support. This school is rapidly increasing though still in its infancy, for here the heart is found vibrating in constant and harmonious unison with every accent of the lips and effort of the mind. Here true Chris-
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tian affection of pastor and sister causes the little ones to dearly love their parish school.
St. Casimir's School, for the benefit of the Polish people, is taught by a male lay teacher, the organist of the parish church. It numbers at present forty boys and thirty-seven girls. The school is not a graded school, as most of the pupils come per elec- tric car from East Chicago and Whiting. Hence the attendance in winter is somewhat irregular. The Polish population is of a shifting character and children rarely attend after first holy com- munion. The teacher's salary is paid from funds collected partly by tuition fees and partly from pew rent. Rev. K. Kobylinski is the present director.
HESSE CASSEL, ALLEN COUNTY.
St. Joseph's School. - The first school-house in Hesse Cassel was erected in 1868, by the congregation, at a cost of $1,600. The present school-house was erected in 1880, at a cost of $3, 200, by Rev. H. F. Hueser, D. D. It is a fine two-story brick build- ing, 50 x 26 feet, and contains two nice school-rooms, which have a seating capacity for 120 children. At present but one of these rooms is in use, as the number of pupils does not exceed seventy- five, under the care of three Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart. The average annual expense for supporting the school is about $450, which amount is derived from three sources: Tuition fees, at twenty-five cents a month; the membership fees of the School society, and from pew rent. The annual expense per pupil is about $8. At present the value of the one acre of ground used for school purposes is $300, and the value of the school- building, with its appurtenances, is $3,600. These figures include the value of the teachers' residence, which is connected with the school-house. The present reverend director of the school is the Rev. Max Benzinger.
HUNTINGTON, HUNTINGTON COUNTY.
School of Sts. Peter and Paul .- The first school-house in this parish was built in 1859 by Rev. F. Fuchs, at a cost of $100 in
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excess of the gratuitous labor of the early settlers of the town. The names of the first teachers and the early history of the school are not on record. The present three-story brick school-house was erected in 1873, at a cost of $17,000, by Rev. George Steiner. It contains a hall 66x 38 feet, and five school-rooms, and has seat- ing capacity for 300 children, with an attendance of 188 pupils, who are under the management of four School Sisters of Notre Dame, whose convent is attached to the school-house. The aver- age annual outlay for the school, including the salary of teachers, is $900, which sum is derived mostly from tuition fees of twenty- five cents and fifty cents a month. When the amount collected in this way is insufficient to cover the expense, the balance is sup- plied by funds from the church. The annual expense per pupil is $3.65. The present value of the school ground is $3,000, and the value of the school-building with appurtenances and convent is $25,000. The present reverend director is Rev. J. H. Hueser, D. D.
St. Mary's School .- The new parish of English-speaking peo- ple at Huntington erected a new school, at the cost of $8,000, in the fall of 1897. It is complete in every detail, having all the latest improvements in school-building. There are cloak rooms and wash stands for each room. Play rooms and closets are in the basement. The school is taught by the Sisters of Providence, and is attended by 130 pupils, sixty-three boys and sixty-seven girls. Expenses are defrayed partly by tuition fees and partly from pew rent. Rev. John R. Quinlan is the present reverend director. May this school, year after year, gather an abundant harvest and may each succeeding term find her sending forth youthful souls, who may prove useful citizens and good Christians.
INDIANAPOLIS, MARION COUNTY.
The Sacred Heart School .- Convinced of the great necessity of a parochial school, the reverend Franciscan Fathers had planned from the beginning to build a school as soon as means would permit.
In the year 1876 a beginning was made and the first class put (510)
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into the hands of Sebastian Hoenig. It remained thus until August of the same year. On the 18th day of August, 1877, there arrived; at the request of Rev. P. Ferdinand Bergmeyer, O. F. M., four Sisters of the congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph, at Caron- delet, St. Louis, Mo., namely: Mother M. Claver, superioress; Sis- ter M. Assisium, Sister Cyrilla and Sister Theodora. A good, pious widow lady, Mrs. Frommhold, placed her house and furni- ture at their disposal, where they resided until the following year. She herself a few months later entered the Community and was received in the provincial-house at Troy, N. Y. At the expiration of her two years of novitiate she was admitted to her holy pro- fession, as Sister Clarissa Aurelia. On the first Monday in Sep- tember the sisters entered upon their field of labor, opening school on the same day with an attendance of eighty-five children. These were taught in two class-rooms located in the building, occupied by the Franciscan Fathers. Ven. Br. Leopold, O. F. M., taught the larger boys and also directed the choir. In the year 1882, he was succeeded by Ven. Br. Markus, O. F. M., who remained there until 1894. On June 16, 1878, the Sisters of St. Joseph purchased a few lots on the corner of South Meridian and Palmer streets, whereon they built their residence. On October 4 of the same year the new school-building was solemnly blessed by the Right Rev. Francis Silas Chatard, who was assisted by Rev. P. Ferdinand, O. F. M., Rev. P. Pancratius, Rev. P. Arsenius, Rev. P. Alexius and Rev. D. O'Donaghue, chancellor of the diocese. The Sisters removed to their new dwelling on October 5. Beside the Sisters' apartments, the building also contained three spacious class-rooms, which were opened to the children of the parish on the following day. The attendance at this time numbered about 150 children. In April, 1879, a fourth class-room was opened. As the number of scholars rapidly increased, a new addition was erected, expressly for school purposes. On January 6th, Rev. P. Francis Haase, with the assistance of Revs. P. Augustin Heuseler and P. Arsenius Fahle, solemnly blessed the same. On January IO, the Sisters began their work in the new building with an attendance of 300 children, who were divided into six classes.
In 1891 another wing was built to the school. The number
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of pupils increased so rapidly that, notwithstanding all their build- ings, it became necessary to place a class into the basement. In 1895 there were about 450 children who attended the Sacred Heart school. Now, 1898, there are seven class-rooms in the Sis- ters' building. The highest class of boys, which, till 1895, had been in the convent of the Franciscan Fathers, has now been transferred into the new school-building, north of the church. Ven. Br. Marcus, O. F. M., who, up to this time had taught this class, was sent to the college at Teutopolis. His successor at Indianapolis was X. Vollmer. He also had charge of the choir. Owing to his feeble health he, after one year's teaching, confined himself to the management of the choir. Then the Sisters took charge of all the classes. At present, 1898, the Sacred Heart school consists of ten classes, three of which are in the new school- building. The number of all the pupils is 530. Those pupils that wish to receive a better education are taught in a special high class where the pupils, beside the other branches of learning, are also instructed in fine arts, such as music, painting, etc. The staff of teachers is composed of sixteen Sisters of St. Joseph, under the direction of Mother Ludwina, as principal.
KENTLAND, NEWTON COUNTY.
St. Joseph School was erected in 1876, by Rev. A. Messman, at a cost of $300, was taught successively by M. N. Touskin, Miss Mary O'Donnell and Miss Catherine Cunningham; but it was dis- continued after a few years and not reopened until 1885. Then the old church was remodeled and fitted up in a manner suitable for school purposes, by Rev. W. C. Miller, at a cost of $1,000. This reverend Father procured lay teachers for two years; but in 1867 he placed the school in charge of two Franciscan Sisters from LaFayette. An addition was then built to the teachers' resi- dence, and other necessary repairs were made, which, in all, cost the congregation the sum of $500, and steam heat has since been introduced at a cost of $390.
The school-building is a one-story frame, 24 x 70 feet, contains two well-ventilated class-rooms and has a seating capacity for 100 children, but the present daily attendance does not exceed forty-one
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pupils, now under three Sisters. The annual outlay for the support of the school is derived front tuition fees of fifty cents a month from children who are able to pay, supplemented by funds taken from the church treasury. The present value of the ground used for school purposes is $300, and the value of the school-building, with its appurtenances, $2,000. The present reverend director of the school is Rev. C. Ganser.
KLAASVILLE, LAKE COUNTY.
St. Anthony's School opened with Alb. Weber as the first teacher employed. It is a one-story frame building, 21 x 30 feet, and has a seating capacity for forty-five children. At present there are thirty-five in attendance, under the care of two Sisters of St. Francis, from Joliet, Ill. The average annual expense for supporting this school is $150, raised by subscription or by tuition fees of fifty cents a month. The average annual expense per pupil is about four dollars and seventy cents. The present value of the one-acre lot on which the school-house stands is seventy-five dol- lars, and the value of the school-building with its appurtenances is $600. The house erected for the Sisters by the congregation is worth $700.
KOKOMO, HOWARD COUNTY.
St. Patrick's School .- The old one-story frame school-build- ing was the old church remodeled into a school-house of two rooms. This school accommodation was provided in 1874, upon the completion of the new church, and it cost the congregation about $500 to fit up the building in a manner suitable for school purposes. The building measured 30 x 60 feet, a space which afforded two large class-rooms which could seat about 100 children.
The first teachers employed in St. Patrick's school were Miss Mary Commerford, Miss Lizzie Sheridan, Miss Mary O'Donnell. In 1888 the school was placed in the hands of religious teachers, and at present it is conducted by the Sisters of St. Joseph. A new school-house has been built of brick, stone and slate, with a fine front tower, large basement, and is one of the finest in the state, at a probable cost of $10,000. The annual outlay for sup-
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porting the school, including the salary of the teachers, is $800, which amount is derived from monthly tuition fees of fifty cents from children who are able to pay, and from pew rents. The average expense per pupil is about five dollars, and the attendance is 128.
The present value of the ground used for school purposes is $1,600, and the value of the buildings with their appurtenances is $12,000. The present reverend director of the school is Rev. F. Lordemann.
LAFAYETTE, TIPPECANOE COUNTY.
St. Mary's Boys' School is a substantial brick building situated on South street, in the rear of the church. Here the Brothers of the Holy Cross, from Notre Dame, Ind., began their school for education of the boys of St. Mary's church in 1867. In 1895 the school was put in charge of the Sisters of Providence, from St. Mary's of the Woods, near Terre Haute, Ind. Concerning it we quote from the official report of the diocesan school board :.
Grades, seven; teachers, three; time of school, ten months in the year; terms in year, two; free days (exclusive of Saturdays and holy days of obligation) St. Patrick's, and some national holi- days. Course of instruction: Christian doctrine, sacred history, penmanship, spelling, reading, geography, United States history, grammar, church history, arithmetic, physiology, algebra, geom- etry, natural history. Volumes in library, 200. Rates of tuition per quarter, $5, $3 and $2.50.
St. Boniface's School .- This school occupies two buildings. The boys' school is situated on Ninth street, between Ferry and North, adjoining the church. It is a well proportioned two-story brick building, furnished throughout with a view to its purpose. The girls' school is situated on Tenth street, between Main and Ferry, and rises on the foundation of the church building used up to 1866. It is two stories high and arranged for four classes.
St. Boniface's parochial schools comprise four grades, with 162 boys and 180 girls. The average daily attendance is 270. Teachers, four Sisters of St. Francis, and one male teacher, prin- (514)
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cipal of the boys' school. Time of school, ten months in the year; terms in year, one; free days (exclusive of Saturdays and holy days of obligation), from Christmas to New Years, and the national holi- days.
Course of instruction, English and German: Singing, Chris- tian doctrine, sacred history, penmanship, spelling, reading, geog- raphy, United States history, grammar, arithmetic. Volumes in library, 1,481. Rates of tuition per month, 50 cents.
St. Ann's School. - The great distance from the southwestern part of the city, the notable " First Ward, " to St. Mary's necessi- tated the erection of St. Ann's chapel on Wabash avenue. The children of the district were collected into a school, and in 1868 it was in full operation in the upper story of the chapel on Wabash avenue and Smith street. Later, for the convenience of the little ones, it was decided to remove the chapel to the upper floor and to occupy the ground floor for school purposes. And after the completion of St. Ann's church, whose stately proportions already grace Wabash avenue and Green street, the whole of the old building will be utilized for a school. The official report gives the following information :
Grades, six; average daily attendance, 142; teachers, Sisters of Providence; time of school, ten months; terms in year, two; free days (exclusive of Saturdays and holy days of obligation), March 17th and the national holidays. Course of instruction: Singing, Catholic doctrine, sacred history, penmanship, spelling, reading, geography, United States history, grammar, arithmetic. Rates of tuition per month, fifty cents.
St. Lawrence's school .- This latest addition to the Catholic parochial school system of Lafayette became necessary on account of the growth of the city toward the northeast. St. Lawrence's school was opened in October, 1896, and now averages a daily attendance of 100 children. It is in charge of the Franciscan Sisters. The building, which contains the chapel on the second floor, is admirably arranged for school purposes. It is of brick, with stone facings, and is two stories high. It was erected with a
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view to accommodating a large graded school. The course of instruction is on the lines of the other Catholic schools of the city.
The Catholic parochial schools of LaFayette are all in a flourishing condition. The buildings, grounds and appurtenances are well kept. The reader may judge for himself what an amount of annual expenditure they cause, and might do well to remember that its assumption by his Catholic fellow-citizen saves him just so much on his tax bill.
LAGRO, WABASH COUNTY.
St. Patrick's School. - The present school-house at LaGro is the old frame church remodeled. It contains one room, 30 x 60 feet and is upon the same lot with the $20,000 new brick church, erected by Very Rev. M. E. Campion, in 1871. It is one story in height, and the seating capacity is fifty; but owing to the dis- tance some children live from the school, the average attendance of pupils is but twenty-four. The school, thirty-two pupils, is taught by one Sister of the Franciscan Order, and is free to all children of the parish, for the most of those in attendance are too poor to pay a regular monthly tuition fee. The revenue for the support of the school is derived from private donations and from an annual festival held for that purpose. The present value of the school ground is $200; of the school-house, including its fur- niture, $600; and of the teacher's residence, $500. The Rev. Peter J. Quinn is the reverend director.
LAPORTE, LAPORTE COUNTY.
St. Joseph's School .- The present school-house, the first Catholic school erected in LaPorte, was built in the year 1863, by Rev. M. Scherer. The building is of brick, one story high, and is 60 x 30 feet. It was erected at a cost of $1, 500, but an addition built in 1875, consisting of a hall 30 x 30 feet, has placed the value of the school building at nearly $2,000. The class-room is capa- ble of seating 100 pupils, but the present daily attendance does not average more than eighty. The first teacher of this school was the Rev. M. Scherer, who, realizing the need of early Catholic instruction for the little ones of his parish, gave himself to the
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humble work of training them, with a truly pastoral solicitude. At present the school employs two Sisters of the Precious Blood, and the number of pupils is seventy-two. The money to meet expenses is derived from tuition fees of fifty cents a month, sup- plemented by funds from the church. The present value of the school-ground, including play-ground, is $1,000, and of the school- building with its appurtenances, $2,000. The house erected for the teachers is worth $1,700. The present reverend director is the Rev. Anthony Messman.
St. Rose's school, erected by Sisters of the Holy Cross over thirty years ago, is a large two-story frame structure. Beside dwelling apartments for the Sisters, it contains four school- rooms, with seating capacity for 150 children, but is attended by only eleven boys and twenty-nine girls. The school revenue depends upon the amount of tuition collected by the Sisters. The rate of tuition is $1 per month for those who are able to pay, but poor children are taken free of charge. The average annual expense for each pupil is $10. The present value of the school grounds and buildings, all owned by the Sisters of the Holy Cross, is $6,000. Rev. George Schramm is the present reverend director.
LOGANSPORT, CASS COUNTY.
St. Vincent de Paul School was one of the first parochial schools established in the diocese of Fort Wayne. Early in 1862, when Rev. George A. Hamilton had completed the present beauti- ful church-edifice, he sought, for the little ones of his flock, teach- ers who would mold their hearts and minds into the principles of the Catholic faith, and in response to his invitation the Religious of the Holy Cross opened this school in 1863.
Within a few years the school-house proved to be inadequate for the needs of the parish, and, in 1870, Rev. F. X. Lawler, who had succeeded Rev. Geo. A. Hamilton in the pastorate of the parish, erected, at a cost of $2,500, another building, which was to be used as a parochial school for boys. At this date, 1870, the boys' school was taught by Mr. Von Weller and the girls' school was under the direction of Mother Compassion, with Sister Sebas-
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tian, Sister Augusta, Sister Charles and Sister de Pazzie, as her assistants.
In 1874, the boys' school was doubly enlarged, and continued in charge of a lay teacher until 1880. The Brothers of Holy Cross then assumed charge, but transferred it to the Sisters in 1882, since which time the parochial schools of the parish have been exclusively under the control of the Sisters of Holy Cross.
The two schools, Holy Angels' academy and St. Vincent's boys' school, as they now stand, afford accommodations for 300 children. Holy Angels' academy contains five rooms and St. Vin- cent's school eight rooms, well ventilated and fully equipped with necessary apparatus for teaching. The grounds are ample for exercise during recess, and the location of the buildings is con- venient. The average daily attendance of 300 reaches the full capacity, and is equally divided as to the sexes. The average annual expense for each pupil may be estimated at $5, drawn from a small monthly tuition fee, and any deficit being made up from the general fund of the congregation.
As regards St. Vincent's school-building for the boys, three years ago, in May, 1895, necessity existed to procure a new build- ing. The old building has seen its best days and served its pur- pose. It was during this month of May, 1895, that Very Rev. M. E. Campion concluded to erect a building suitable to the wants of his parish and one which would be a credit to the people of the parish and to the city. Consequently the very reverend father had the old building torn down and the present beautiful building erected. It cost, built and ready for use, furnished with every modern convenience, $16,400, and is three stories high. The first story is devoted to society purposes, the second to school pur- poses, and the third contains one of the finest halls in the state- a veritable little and complete opera house and having a seating capacity of 700. There is every reason for the local pride had in this surpassingly beautiful building. The evening it was dedi- cated the press of Logansport, September 18, 1895, had this to say:
The opening of the new St. Vincent's institute for boys proved all and more than the most sanguine had expected. The audience was large and fashionable, (518)
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the speeches apropos and witty, and the music all that was wanted to complete an evening of rare pleasure and profit. Of the speech making, it can be truly said that it afforded a literary feast of unusual excellence. Such orators as Hon. Pat- rick Keefe, Very Rev. John R. Dinnen, ex-Mayor B. C. D. Reed, Mayor George P. McKee, Hon. D. P. Baldwin and Rufus Magee were on the program and each acquitted themselves most creditably. Very Rev. M. E. Campion officiated skill- fully as master of ceremonies. The Elite Mandolin orchestra furnished music, and vocal selections were rendered by the Carleton quartette, James D. Murphy, Little Nora McHale and Miss Theresa Binder, from Chicago. Frank Hanley also favored the audience with one of his pleasing dances. Throughout the building is wired with electric lights and its appointments are said to be among the finest in the state.
Father Campion and his flock are to be congratulated upon this successful termination of their worthy ambition.
. St. Joseph's School .- The first school in St. Joseph's parish was opened February 2, 1870, in an old building that had pre- viously been used as a hotel. From 1870 to 1877, the school passed under the control of both secular and religious teachers, but was not permanently organized until September, 1877, when it was given in charge to the School Sisters of Notre Dame, from Milwaukee. The school then numbered sixty pupils, but since that time the enrolment has increased to 288 pupils. The beauti- ful building now occupied as St. Joseph's school was erected in 1891, at a cost of $20,000, by Rev. H. Koehne. It is twenty-four feet east of the church, on the corner of Second and Market streets, is built of brick, with stone basement, and measures 70 x 80 feet. The main entrance is on Second street. This new school - contains a hall on the third floor, 64 x 70, six well furnished, airy and commodious class-rooms, with a seating capacity for 350 children, who are in the care of six teachers, Sisters of Notre Dame, under the Ven. Sister Aloysia. The school is supported by a monthly tuition fee of sixty cents from pupils able to pay it, and from the funds of the congregation. The school-ground is ample and its value is estimated at $1, 500. The school itself, with appurtenances, is worth $25,000, and the old school has been remodeled into a dwelling for the teachers, at a cost of $1,000. The present reverend director of the school is Rev. H. Koehne.
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