ST. MARY'S SCHOOL

ST. MARY'S SCHOOL. St. Mary's School was opened in 1851 with laymen teaching classes in the basement of the church. Lay teachers were replaced by two SISTERS OF CHARITY OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY (BVM) during the pastorate of Father Edmonds, but lay teachers returned in 1855 under the leadership of Father Lentner. The school was closed as a result of the PANIC OF 1857 but was reopened in 1869.

In 1869 Father Meis successfully obtained four FRANCISCAN SISTERS OF PERPETUAL ADORATION who taught in the stone church and a nearby store. Two lay teachers helped the Sisters in the education of more than two hundred students. In 1870 a convent was constructed at 15th and Jackson that served as a convent and school. Two years later, a grade school was constructed and the convent/school was converted into a convent. The new three-story building had twelve classrooms and a nurse's office.

In 1879 the Franciscan Sisters were replaced by another order. In 1900 the enrollment of 550 was aught by thirteen Sisters and one layman who was in charge of the older boys.

In 1907 Brothers of Mary from St. Louis came to Dubuque to establish ST. MARY'S HIGH SCHOOL at 1635 White. Boys in seventh and eighth grades were later accepted as students. Around the same time, girls in grades 6-8 began receiving their education at IMMACULATE CONCEPTION ACADEMY. Some grade students were taught there until 1923 when a frame building was constructed on St. Mary's property.

Soar population by 1950 led to the first floor of ST. MARY'S CASINO to be converted to classrooms. Additional classrooms were established in the church and school basements. Under Father Sigwarth, the Casino was renovated into an entirely new school. While the exterior walls remained hidden under St. Mary's colors of blue and white porcelainized aluminum paneling, the interior was removed. Replacing the old interior were eight classrooms, a library, health room , faculty room, and storage room. A gymnasium and stage were created on the top floor. The basement became a cafeteria and a meeting hall.

In 1965 parishioners and friends of St. Mary's pledged $93,000 towards the Dubuque Franciscan Sisters' Development Campaign in appreciation of eighty-six years of teaching at St. Mary's.

In 1967 St. Mary's had an enrollment of 723 students taught by seventeen Sisters and four lay teachers. A majority of the eighth graders attended WAHLERT CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL to which St. Mary's pledged 9% of the building cost.

For more recent developments see: HOLY FAMILY CATHOLIC SCHOOLS