St. Joseph building closing
But the spirit of those seeking a quality education remains
St. Joseph building closing But the spirit of those seeking a quality education remains Check out this story on thenews-messenger.com: http://ohne.ws/1CdN6CU
Roy Wilhelm Published 5:24 p.m. ET March 13, 2015
The recent announcement that reconfiguration of Bishop Hoffman Catholic Schools will result in the closing of the aging St. Joseph school building is a difficult development for many people, but it is a reflection of reality in a effort to continue to provide quality education.
While the times and local demographics have changed, impacting educators and schools throughout the area, to many this development is much more than the closing of a building.
To alumni, parents, staff and supporters, it's a time for emotions fueled by valued memories.
To volunteers who have happily tackled jobs with rewards far different than a paycheck, it's a time to reflect.
There certainly must be disappointment, but those who support quality education and those who believe in Catholic schools will continue to support quality education and to believe in Catholic schools.
After all they — and their families and predecessors — have been doing it for a very long time.
During the founding years of St. Joseph Parish in the mid-19th Century, members were already determined to provide education for their children. A wooden one-room school was erected on the north side of Croghan Street in 1859. The school, like the church before it, was constructed by parish volunteers. The first school served the parish until 1908 when the current building was opened.
Fifteen years earlier, in 1893, the Tyler Property on the northeast corner of Croghan and Wood streets was purchased. A brick house on that property was remodeled in 1895 and was used as a high school facility until it was torn down in 1907 to make way for the building in use today.
The Fremont News had this to say about the early 20th Century building project: "The new structure will be a credit to the city and will be a handsome and imposing three-story building of brick and stone. The first two floors will be utilized for school purposes and the third floor will contain a large and commodious hall and auditorium."
Charles M. Wolfe, contractor, was awarded the project with a bid of $53,434.75 and the completed building cost about $80,000.
In 1909, eight teachers were employed for 11 grades. A teacher was assigned to each of the primary and intermediate grades; one took charge of the seventh and eighth grades; and one served the ninth, 10th and 11th grades.
The year 1918 marked the beginning of the athletic tradition at St. Joseph High School with an athletic association created in September and the first basketball team organized that fall.
Two years later, the old church at Croghan and Clover was converted into a gymnasium and assembly rooms for the various parish organizations.
As the parish and school continued to grow, additional space was obtained in May 1925. That month, the Adler house on the corner of Wood and Court and the Binsack lot next door on Court Street were purchased. Since the school building opened in 1908 was overcrowded, the Adler house was remodeled to serve as classrooms. Later, the former Adler house was used as a cafeteria and meeting rooms and a portable facility for two more classrooms was located between it and the nuns' house.
More recently, in 1955, the old rectory was torn down and the old church, which had become Educational Hall, was demolished. Once that demolition was completed, construction began on the high school building which was ready for classes in the fall of 1956.
With the high school opened, the St. Joseph building continued to serve as grades one through eight facility until the consolidation of Fremont's Catholic Schools.
Since that time, the school has been the "middle school" of the Bishop Hoffman Catholic Schools, serving grades four through eight.
So, it's easy to see that during the 107 years that the school has served students there have been many changes.
But I think it's fair to say that one thing hasn't dramatically changed in that century-plus of education — a dedication to Catholic education by staff, parents, supporters and volunteers.
Their efforts have created the memories that live today even as the school building is closing.
Roy Wilhelm, retired editor of The News-Messenger, can be reached at 419-332-1495 or by email at roywilhelm@roadrunner.com.
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