A major concern of Father Croke, and the parish as well, was the organization of a school to fill the academic needs of the rapidly growing parish. Just behind the church on the corner of Hermitage and Addison streets, a story brick structure was built for the school. Father Croke recruited the Sisters of Providence from Saint Mary of the Woods, Indiana to run the school. This of course, meant Father Croke had to construct a convent to house the sisters. He built that comfortably between the church and the school.
Sister Marie Theodata was the school’s first Mother Superior, or more commonly known as the principal. She and seven other nuns we’re prepared to welcome about 150 students that first year in 1902. Instead nearly 300 children made up Saint Andrew’s original enrollment period and to make matters more chaotic, they shared the premise with students from the neighboring Hamilton public school because their school was undergoing construction as well.
Location of First Buildings
There is no telling what might have occurred had it not been for the patient and organized sister Theodata. She was able to weather the storm, handling all her principal responsibilities while still finding the time to teach the 8th grade.
In 1903, the first graduating class of 8 students, 4 boys and 4 girls, proudly received their diplomas from Father Croke at the school’s first ever commencement ceremonies. In a relatively short period of time Saint Andrew had built a church, a rectory, a school and a convent. Enrollment soon ballooned to 600 students by 1906 and it was time to expand. The parish hall and the school’s 2nd floor were converted into classrooms, which called for more sisters, which also meant enlarging the convent.
The growing pains of Saint Andrews were soothed when Father Croke began creating organizations and social events. He felt it not only important for parishioners to gather spiritually, but also to assemble socially. Before long, a County Fair was sponsored by the church and continued annually. Parishioners were entertained with Irish and German nights and bunco parties. Activities and organizations abounded over the years at St Andrew and its community such as: The Immaculate Conception solidarity the Holy Name Society, the Sacred Heart League, the Convert League, the Altar and Rosary Society and later the Saint Vincent DePaul Society. Before the days of television, Saint Andrew entertained huge crowds with homegrown talent shows. Many of these groups helped to raise money for the church although the greatest source of revenue continued to come from the generosity of the people of Saint Andrew on Easter and Christmas. Another Saint Andrew tradition that remains to this day.
In the meantime, the parish had outgrown the little church. It became woefully inadequate to handle the Sunday crowds. With the permission of Archbishop James E Quigley, a new church was erected on the very ground of the outdated little wooden church. The old church and its rectory were rolled across Paulina street to make room for a more modern Romanesque brick structure with twin towers guarded by the statues of Saint Andrew, flanked by his brother, Saint Peter, and fellow Apostle, Saint Paul. The new church was dedicated by Archbishop Quigley in 1913.
First School at Saint Andrew
